Briana Williams receiving her Heritage Award from Consul General Oliver Mair
Tokyo Olympics relay gold medalist Briana Williams was among several persons honoured with Heritage Awards in Sunrise, Florida on Sunday. The 19-year-old Olympian was recognized for her youth leadership and her broader influence across the globe.
The Consulate General of Jamaica's Heritage Award was established to recognise outstanding and dedicated service by individuals and businesses to the Jamaican community.
Consul General Oliver Mair confirmed that the national junior 100m record holder was among 10 individuals and two organizations honoured as part of the Heritage Awards.
“She is a shining example of excellence not only to Jamaicans at home and abroad of what you can achieve with hard work, dedication, commitment backed by God-given talent,” Mair told Sportsmax.TV.
“We must also thank her mother, Sharon, for her guiding role and supporting Briana each step of her journey. I am very proud of our home-grown hero.”
Mair said members of Williams’ South Florida community of Miramar and beyond held watch parties during the Olympics in Japan where she ran the lead-off leg for Jamaica’s gold-medal-winning 4x100m relay team that set a national record of 41.02, the third-fastest time in history.
“Briana will always be our little baby so the reward for us was that she got her gold medal,” said Consul General Mair, who revealed that Williams also danced to the music of the Tenors, who provided entertainment for the evening.
When the group sang “Ride You Donkey”, Briana took to the dancefloor and had a good time, the Consul General said.
Williams said she was honoured to be recognized among the other awardees and that she enjoyed the occasion.
“Thanks always to the Consul General. He is fun to be around. I enjoyed myself and meeting the other nominees. It was a pleasure being there and it was great to be awarded. I will always try my best to make Jamaica proud,” Williams said.
“For me, every season I want to show what young people like myself can achieve through hard work. And at the end of it, it's always nice to be recognized, so I'm grateful for this award.”
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Kenenisa Bekele says London Marathon field will be ‘remembering’ Kelvin Kiptum
Kelvin Kiptum will always hold a special place in the hearts of all marathon runners, according to veteran three-time Olympic track champion Kenenisa Bekele.
Kenyan long-distance runner Kiptum won last year’s London Marathon for the third time, but was killed in a car accident in February at the age of 24.
The death of Kiptum, who had gone on to become the first man to run the marathon under two hours and one minute in Chicago, sent shockwaves through the sport.
In winning last year, Kiptum set a new London Marathon record time of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds. He is to be remembered before Sunday’s race with 30 seconds of applause.
Ethiopian Bekele – who won Olympic gold in both the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres at the 2008 Games in Beijing – has run the London Marathon five times, and was runner-up in 2017.
The 41-year-old, who also has five World Championship titles on the track, has seen plenty of talent come through during his long career, but is in no doubt of the lasting impact made by Kiptum.
“Kelvin of course, all of us miss him,” Bekele said. “Even within his short time, he has been setting an amazing history.
“The course record is also under his name and we are all remembering him.
“We put him in a special place in our heart because in a really within a short time he has done a lot for our sport.”
Bekele feels a lot of factors will come into play if Kiptum’s course record is to be challenged.
“Most of the time in London, maybe the first half is a very fast start because of pacing, but with me it can depend,” he said.
“I can read my body, listening to my feelings and of course the circumstances – like with the weather.”
Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola comes into London as the reigning New York Marathon champion, which followed on from his victory at the 2022 World Championship in Eugene.
Tola, who claimed 10,000m bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, feels in good shape heading into Sunday’s showpiece race.
“I have been working hard to prepare my body for the marathon in London,” he said.
“My training is OK and my body is okay, so we will see (what happens) on Sunday.”
Olympics selection could also be secured this weekend, but Tola will not let that distract his focus.
He said: “If I am selected for the Olympics, I will be happy, but it will depend on our race – and after Sunday we will know.”
World record holder Tigst Assefa out to make history in first London Marathon
World record holder Tigst Assefa hopes to set a new women’s-only best time in the TCS London Marathon on Sunday and believes it will be tougher to win than this year’s Paris Olympics.
Ethiopian Assefa smashed the world record in September when she finished the Berlin Marathon in two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds.
Next in Assefa’s sights is success in her maiden London Marathon and the women’s-only record, which is 2:17:01 and was set by Kenyan Mary Keitany at the 2017 event.
“I am very happy to be in London for the first time,” Assefa said via a translator.
“I did train very well for Berlin and I have trained well for this one. God will show how good I am on Sunday.
“I have prepared very well for this race and I am sure I can beat the course record here. As I am sure all my competitors here will feel as well.
“Regardless of whether it is London or Berlin, it will not change my strategy at all.
“I am here to win.”
Assefa took part in pre-race press duties on Thursday and was joined at the media centre in St James’ Park by Brigid Kosgei, Ruth Chepngetich and Peres Jepchirchir.
View this post on Instagram
Kosgei of Kenya held the world record until Assefa broke it in September but has won the London Marathon twice.
All four athletes were asked if victory in Sunday’s 26.2-mile race would be harder than winning the marathon at the Paris Games after London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher suggested that would be the case on Wednesday.
Only Kosgei felt the Paris Games would be harder with Assefa, Chepngetich and Jepchirchir all in agreement this weekend’s strong field made Sunday’s race the most difficult to win.
After Kosgei failed to finish last year’s race due to injury, she revealed preparation this time had gone well.
“I am happy to be here again this year,” Kosgei said. “Last year when I reached here I was not feeling well.
“I have been preparing well in Kenya and I am ready.”
Olympic champion Jepchirchir finished third in 2023 and backed a women’s-only record to be set this weekend.
Jepchirchir added: “On Sunday I know the field is strong and I know it is not easy. We are running with strong ladies.
“For myself, when I see the field is strong, I see the (course) record on Sunday. Yes, may the best win.”
Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville eager for clash with 100 World Champion Noah Lyles at Racers Grand Prix
Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville is gearing up for an electrifying showdown against world champion Noah Lyles at the upcoming Racers Grand Prix on June 1, setting the stage for a thrilling test of readiness ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Seville, who finished fourth at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest where Lyles clinched his first 100m world title, is optimistic about his chances this season, having managed to steer clear of injury thus far. Seville's coach, Glen Mills, revealed earlier this year that an injury at a crucial stage last season hindered Seville's performance in Budapest, where he clocked 9.88 seconds, narrowly missing out on a medal.
Reflecting on his preparation for the upcoming races, Seville expressed confidence in his improved health and training regimen this season. "This year I have taken some drastic steps with regards to my injuries and injury management. I am cautious with what I'm doing so I am healthy at this point, and everything is going well," Seville explained at Tuesday's launch of the Racers Grand Prix at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston.
Seville's recent performances, including a 47.44-second 400m and a 20.17-second 200m, demonstrate his dedication and hard work leading into this pivotal season. "The 47.44 and the 20.17 that I ran show my dedication and hard work, so it is a possibility that I can make it onto the medal podium if things work out as planned," Seville remarked.
“Last year, I didn’t get to train the way I really wanted to but this year I got to train the way I wanted so everything is working out. I am stronger because I have got more chances training wise to do things I didn’t get the chance to do last year because of some niggles that I had.
“I had some issues with my back and stuff which caused me not to be able to lift weights as much as I could but I got it sorted out now and I am good.”
Looking ahead to the Racers Grand Prix, where he will face off against Lyles and training partner Zharnel Hughes, Seville expressed excitement about the opportunity to race against the world's best. "The last time I competed against Lyles was at the World Championship finals, so it's good to run with him before the Olympics to get a feel of what is to come," Seville emphasized.
The clash between Seville, Lyles, and Hughes at the Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium in Kingston, promises to be a thrilling preview of what's in store for the Olympic Games in Paris, as Seville aims to secure his first global medal.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
