Jamaica’s Nayoka Clunis threw a personal best 71.18m to finish second in the women’s hammer throw at the 2023 Harry Jerome Track Classic in Langley, Canada on Friday.

Clunis, who won her fourth Jamaican hammer throw title last week, entered the meet with a personal best of 71.13m done in June. She is getting ever so close to the automatic World Championship qualifying distance of 73.60m.

On Friday, the 27-year-old was beaten by Canadian World Championships silver medalist and Commonwealth champion, Camryn Rodgers, who threw 76.12m while the USA’s Jill Shippee threw 70,83m for third.

Clunis’ countrywoman and this year’s silver medalist at the CAC Games, Erica Belvit, was fourth with 68.90m.

Elsewhere, Lloydricia Cameron threw 17.14m for second in the shot put behind Canadian Commonwealth champion, Sarah Mitton’s 19.83m. The USA’s Rachel Fatherly was third with 17.02m.

On the track, Adidas’ Shane Brathwaite ran 13.65 for second in the men’s 110m hurdles behind CYG Elite’s Louis Rollins (13.60). Jackson Cheung was third in 14.20.

Bahamian Shakeel Hall-Smith ran 49.25 to win the men’s 400m hurdles ahead of Roxroy Cato (50.02) and Justin Rose (51.51).

Rohan Watson, Sada Williams and Jonielle Smith were the Caribbean winners at Friday’s International Meeting of Athletics Solidarity Sport, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meet in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy.

Watson, who shocked many Track and Field fans when he produced a personal best 9.91 to win the 100m title at Jamaica’s National Championships last week, ran 10.11 to take first place ahead of Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi (10.17) and Cuba’s Yenns Fernandez (10.20).

Jonielle Smith ran 11.19 to lead a Jamaican 1-2-3 in the Women’s equivalent. Natasha Morrison, who finished second at the National Championships to book a place on Jamaica’s 100m team to Budapest, ran 11.25 for second while Krystal Sloley ran a personal best 11.41 in third.

Barbados’ Commonwealth Champion in the 400m, Sada Williams, ran a meet record and season’s best 50.80 to take the event ahead of Jamaican Charokee Young (51.13) and the USA’s Kaylin Whitley (52.01).

Jamaica’s national record holder in the 400m, Rusheen McDonald, ran a season’s best 44.83 to finish second behind Botswanan sensation Letsile Tebogo, who ran a personal best 44.75 to take the win. South African Lythe Pillay was third in 45.57.

In the field, Christoff Bryan produced a best jump of 2.19m for third in the high jump behind Italy’s Manuel Lando (2.25m) and Marco Fassinotti (2.22m).

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the legendary Jamaican sprinter, has signed a deal with Swiss luxury watch company Richard Mille. The 36-year-old, who is a five-time World Champion at 100m and two-time Olympic 100m gold medallist, signed a three-year deal with the esteemed watchmaker on July 1.

This is Fraser-Pryce's first international sponsor, outside of her shoe sponsor Nike. The deal will also help fund her Pocket Rocket Foundation which provides scholarships annually to Jamaican high-school student-athletes.

There are plans to have Fraser-Pryce wearing a Richard Mille watch when she takes to the track at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month, where she will be vying for a record-extending sixth 100m title.

She joins such esteemed members of the Richard Mille family that includes Yohan Blake, Rafael Nadal, Wayde van Niekerk, Didier Drogba, and Fernando Alonso.

Over an illustrious career spanning almost two decades, Fraser-Pryce has established herself as arguably the greatest female sprinter of all time. In 2008, she became the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic 100m title. She followed up by winning the 100m title at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

She added a second Olympic 100m title in 2012, joining Wyoma Tyus and Gail Devers as the only women to have won consecutive Olympic titles. Her compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah joined that pantheon at the Tokyo Olympics after winning her first 100m title in Rio, Brazil in 2016.

In Moscow in 2013, Fraser-Pryce became the first woman to win the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at a World Championships. She added a fourth 100m title in Helsinki in 2015.

Despite a toe injury in 2016, Fraser-Pryce won a bronze medal in the 100m at the Rio 2016 Olympics and became the only woman to win medals in the 100m at three consecutive Olympic Games.

She gave birth to her son Zyon in 2017 after which she returned to the track in 2019 to win her fourth 100m world title in Doha, Qatar. She followed up with a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and extended her record when she became the only woman to win medals in the 100m at four consecutive Olympic Games.

She added to her incredible legacy at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon where she won the 100m in a championship record of 10.67 and because the first running athlete to win five gold medals in the same event at a World Championships. The Pocket Rocket then added a silver medal in the 200m, running 21.83 to finish behind compatriot Shericka Jackson who won gold in 21.45, the second-fastest time ever run by a woman over the distance.

That same year, Fraser-Pryce added to her already considerable legacy by running below 10.7 seconds for the 100m, a record seven times. She is the only woman ever to accomplish that feat.

This new deal with Richard Mille is a testament to Fraser-Pryce's status as one of the greatest athletes of all time. It is also a sign of her continued dominance in the world of sprinting. With this new partnership, Fraser-Pryce is sure to continue to inspire and amaze fans for years to come.

Yohan Blake and his management team have unequivocally denied any validity to a widely-circulated article stating that the 2011 World Champion will be taking legal action against the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) over a timer malfunction at the recently-concluded National Championships at the National Stadium.

The article which is said to have been published on Wednesday, July 12, derived from the fact that Blake ran by himself in an attempt to make the men’s 100 metres semi-finals, after he was initially disqualified for a false start.

During his run against the clock, Blake, the World’s second-fastest man over the distance was clocked at 10.32 seconds, which was not good enough to see him through to the next round.

While it was rumoured that the 33-year-old was not pleased with the time, his manager Timothy Spencer has since cleared the air.

“Yohan has no intention of suing anyone,” Spencer told Sportsmax.TV.

Blake, who is in Silesia, Poland also rubbished the 'report' stating, "I dont know where this is coming from. I have moved on already and I'm focussing on the races ahead of me. In my head I'm already thinking about 2024 and hope I can represent Jamaica in the Olympic Games in 2024 in Paris."

Meanwhile, when contacted JAAA’s president Garth Gayle said the article "is not credible because we have no official documentation."  

Jamaica's Olympic 110m hurdles champion, Hansle Parchment, expressed his enthusiasm for the young hurdlers coming up in the sport after his retirement.

At the Jamaican national championship that concluded on Sunday, July 9, Parchment ran a season-best time of 13.12 seconds, finishing second behind 22-year-old Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Broadbell, who clocked a world-leading 12.94 seconds. In third place was another rising star, 23-year-old Orlando Bennett, with a season-best time of 13.19 seconds.

After the race, Parchment, 33, shared his thoughts on his performance and the future of Jamaican hurdling. He stated, "That's my season best, as you can see, I'm improving. I know I have a lot more work to do if I want to beat those young boys, and they will be there. I'm looking forward to competing with them and having some fun."

The field of hurdlers vying for places at the World Championships in Budapest in August also included Olympic bronze medallist Ronald Levy and former Jamaica College star Tyler Mason, 27, who ran 13.22 after resurrecting his career after years of challenges but missed out on a place to Budapest by 0.03s.

 Also in the field was 2023 NCAA champion 24-year-old Phillip Lemonious, who clocked 13.24 to win his first collegiate outdoor title in early June and former NCAA champion Damion Thomas, who is 24, and 23-year-old De’jour Russell.

When asked about the prospect of a new generation of hurdlers taking over once he steps aside as the Olympic champion, Parchment confidently replied, "Easily, that's nothing to think about. I know that everything is covered because these boys will dominate the world. I'm looking forward to seeing that as well."

Parchment acknowledged the increasing depth in Jamaican hurdling, stating, "For the past 3-4 years, it has become a lot more competitive. We see more people taking interest in the 110m hurdles and putting in serious work, showing the world the depth that we have."

Looking ahead, Parchment revealed his upcoming plans for further preparation and competition. "Next, I have a race in Budapest, a gold challenge, if I remember correctly. It should be on July 18th. If all goes well, I will be there," he shared.

Two-time Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya is “elated” to have won her case at the European Court of Human Rights, saying the ruling had been “a long time coming”.

The 32-year-old South African – who won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016 – was legally identified as female at birth, but has a condition which means her body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone than women without the condition.

Semenya has been unable to compete at her favoured distance since 2019, following the introduction of limits on testosterone levels for female athletes by World Athletics which would have forced her to use medication.

Earlier legal challenges at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Swiss Federal Court had been rejected.

However, on Tuesday, the ECHR found Switzerland had not afforded Semenya “sufficient institutional and procedural safeguards” to allow her to have her complaints examined effectively.

The court said because of the “high stakes” involved for Semenya, it “should have led to a thorough institutional and procedural review”.

Semenya had been unable to obtain such a review, therefore the ECHR was “unable to determine whether the DSD (differences in sex development) regulations, as applied in the applicant’s case, could be considered a measure that was objective and proportionate to the aim pursued (of protecting fair competition for female athletes”.

It said her complaints of discrimination as a result of World Athletics’ regulations were “substantiated and credible”.

The judgment does not bring into question DSD regulations, nor will it allow Semenya to compete over 800m, but Semenya believes it is a significant step in her continuing legal fight.

“The European Court of Human Rights ruled (on Tuesday morning) that I was discriminated against, that my human rights were violated and that there are ‘serious questions’ about the validity of the rules set out by World Athletics,” Semenya said on Wednesday in a statement via her legal team in South Africa.

“I am elated at the outcome of the ruling. It has been a long time coming. I have and will always stand up for discrimination of any kind in sports.

“I have suffered a lot at the hands of the powers that be and have been treated poorly.

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“The hard work that I have put in to being the athlete I am, has been questioned, my rights violated, my career impacted. All of it so damaging – mentally, emotionally, physically and financially.”

Semenya added: “Justice has spoken, but this is only the beginning.

“My case at the European Court of Human Rights was against the ruling handed down by the government of Switzerland, and not World Athletics itself, but this decision will still be significant for all sportspersons in throwing doubt on the future of all similar rules.

“My hope is that Word Athletics, and indeed all sporting bodies, reflect on the statements made by the European Court of Human Rights and ensure that they respect the dignity and human rights of the athletes they deal with.”

The seven ECHR judges found by a majority of four to three that Semenya’s rights under article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which concerns discrimination, had been violated by Switzerland.

The Swiss state was also found to have violated article 13 in not providing Semenya effective remedy against discrimination.

World Athletics released a statement on Tuesday saying its regulations were “a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair competition in the female category”.

The governing body said it would encourage the Swiss state to refer the matter to the Grand Chamber of the ECHR for a final judgment.

Sanya Richards-Ross is adding another member to her family after a long journey.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 38, is expecting her second baby, she reveals in the season 15 mid-season trailer for the series, released Friday.

Handing husband Aaron Ross a pregnancy test casually, he takes a closer look and says, "No way!"

"This is real?" he asks, to which she nods as she starts jumping up and down, cheering, "I'm pregnant!" before hugging everyone in the room.

The new arrival will join the couple's son Aaron Jermaine, who turns 6 next month.

During an episode of the Bravo series that aired last fall, the retired track-and-field star revealed that she made the decision to remove her IUD and work on baby No. 2 with the former NFL star, 40.

Richards-Ross was born in Kingston, Jamaica and began running at the age of seven before migrating to Florida at 12.

During her exemplary Track & Field career which ended in 2016, Richards-Ross was a four-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion.

Richards-Ross still holds the American record in the 400m with 48.70 done in 2006.

Ackera Nugent, the NCAA 100m hurdles champion, has made a significant decision in her athletic career. Despite still pursuing her degree, Nugent has chosen to go professional and embark on a new chapter in her journey as a track and field athlete.

Balancing her athletic aspirations with her commitment to education, Nugent remains determined to excel both on the track and in the classroom.

"I'm staying in school because I feel like getting my degree is very important. But I felt like me going back to college was not needed anymore because I've accomplished everything that I wanted to accomplish," Nugent said after confirming her four-year deal with the German sports apparel manufacturer.

"So the decision between me and my coaches was to take the next step to fulfill my purpose in sports. So we made the decision of going professional."

While completing her degree in Advanced Communication, Nugent will also dedicate herself to professional athletics. She recognizes the significance of continuing her education while pursuing her dreams on the track.

Nugent's decision to go professional signifies a new and exciting phase in her career. Guided by her trusted coach, Chris Johnson, Nugent has honed her skills and experienced remarkable growth as an athlete. Johnson's expertise and support have been instrumental in Nugent's development, allowing her to reach new heights in her discipline.

"I have had a huge growth, not only as an athlete but also as a person, and I think that played a major factor in making the transition from Baylor University to Arkansas, where Coach (Chris) Johnson has a lot of experience in getting athletes to where they need to go and knowing how to fix the little things," Nugent shared.

Her journey under Coach Johnson's guidance has been fulfilling, despite the challenges that come with pushing one's limits.

Following the collegiate indoor season, Coach Johnson revealed that Nugent also possesses great potential as a 100m sprinter but as she embraces the professional realm, she maintains a clear focus on the 100m hurdles.

While her versatility allows her to excel in other events, Nugent and Coach Johnson agree that channeling her energy into the hurdles will yield the best results.

“Coach Johnson wants me to trust my speed between the hurdles and I haven’t really reached my maximum potential with that yet,” explaining that running the flat race helps her with her speed.

“He’s trying to make me get comfortable with my flat speed and stuff like that. And, he’s like when you finally hit 10 (seconds) you’ll understand what it feels like to be faster between the hurdles, but it’s a learning experience. I am going into the professional world and I am a rookie.”

The 21-year-old made her first Jamaican senior team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August after finishing second in a time of 12.67 behind Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper, who crossed the finish line in 12.64.

Danielle Williams, the 2015 World Champion qualified for her sixth World Championships appearance when she finished third in 12.82.

Coach Travis Geopfert of the University of Arkansas had every reason to be elated as his star jumpers, Wayne Pinnock and Carey McLeod, delivered outstanding performances at Jamaica's national championships on Saturday. Pinnock secured a remarkable victory with a leap of 8.32m, while McLeod claimed the third spot on the podium with a commendable mark of 8.20m. Both athletes showcased their exceptional talent and skills before their home crowd.

In a post-competition interview, Coach Geopfert expressed his satisfaction with the overall performance of his athletes. He acknowledged the challenging conditions caused by swirling winds but commended McLeod's ability to adapt and make adjustments to his approach, resulting in a solid jump.

"I was happy the way Carey worked on the transition of his approach and got a decent jump in at the end because it was a little all over the place," Geopfert shared.

"Turning his attention to Pinnock, Coach Geopfert couldn't contain his pride and admiration for the athlete's consistent excellence.

"I've been coaching for a long time, and I've never seen a 27-foot jump (8.23m) into a minus-two wind. I'm telling you, he's a special kid and really coachable," Geopfert remarked, highlighting Pinnock's exceptional abilities.

As both Pinnock and McLeod continue to impress with their performances, Coach Geopfert emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between training and competition as they approach the World Championships in Budapest in August.

"If there's a good opportunity (to compete) half-way in between, we'll do something, you know? If there's not, I'm not going to force it. We'll try to mimic stuff in practice. I think we do a really good job of that," Geopfert explained.

Looking beyond the national championships, Coach Geopfert shared his aspirations for Pinnock and McLeod as they prepare for the upcoming World Championships. He emphasized that their participation in the national championships was merely a stepping stone towards their ultimate goal of winning medals on the global stage.

In a jaw-dropping turn of events last Friday night at the National Senior and Junior Championships held at Jamaica's National Stadium, Rohan Watson, a rising star from MVP Track Club, emerged as the surprise victor in the highly anticipated men's 100m race.

Watson, a relative unknown in the sprinting world, delivered an exceptional performance, crossing the finish line with a new personal best time of 9.91 seconds.

The shocking upset saw Watson triumph over Ryiem Forde, who secured second place with a personal best time of 9.96 seconds, and the renowned Oblique Seville, a fourth-place finisher at last year's World Athletics Championships, who finished in third place with a time of 10.00 seconds.

The unexpected triumph of Watson sent shockwaves through the athletics community, capturing the attention of fans and experts alike. However, the discovery of this "diamond in the rough" was no accident. Coach Stephen Francis, renowned for his ability to identify and nurture talent, was instrumental in Watson's development and guided him to this remarkable victory.

While speaking exclusively to Sportsmax.TV about Watson's journey, Francis revealed the challenges they faced in finding promising sprinters who were willing to join MVP Track Club.

"None of the so-called brand name sprinters in high school wanted to come to us," Francis explained candidly.

“They said the training is too hard, if your girl up there we can’t do what we want, we can’t buy big cars, we can’t go out at night. They shy away from us.”

Faced with those challenges, Francis said he instructed his team to find him a sprinter who could run 10.5 or 10.4.

“We’ll work with them because a lot of people who have done well with us that’s what times they run. We don’t get people who run 10.1, 10.2 or 10.3.”

It was during a race at Jamaica College (JC) last year that Francis first spotted Watson, who demonstrated promising speed and determination.

Watson, who had completed his high school education at York Castle, displayed enthusiasm when approached by Francis and eagerly joined the MVP Track Club. Despite initially appearing smaller in stature than his counterparts, Watson's dedication and positive attitude set him apart.

“He was very interested and he came but even when I saw him in September for the first time on the training field I thought he was very small. We have had very good success with small sprinters but he looked small.”

However, Francis emphasized the importance of attitude and commitment over raw talent. "It is all about what you do, how you learn, and your willingness to sacrifice," he explained.

Watson exemplified these qualities, showcasing steady progress throughout the year. Observing his discipline and dedication, Francis became increasingly confident in Watson's abilities, foreseeing the potential for a sub-10-second performance.

Watson's victory at the national championships affirmed Francis' belief in his athlete's capabilities. As they approach the World Championships in Budapest, scheduled for August, Francis envisions Watson as a genuine medal contender.

The coach noted that the track conditions during the national championships were not particularly fast, indicating that Watson's time could improve further in more favorable circumstances.

Assessing the global sprinting landscape, Francis acknowledged that the field is wide open, with a few key contenders such as British champion, Zharnel Hughes and potentially Fred Kerley, the reigning world champion. However, he expressed confidence in Watson's prospects, given his impressive performance in a championship setting and his ability to maintain his form over multiple rounds.

“I don’t know what Fred Kerley is looking like and Zharnel is looking looks very, very good but apart (from those two), I think he has as good a shot as everybody else.”

Natoya Goule-Toppin ran 1:58.89 to claim her ninth Jamaican 800m title on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium inn Kingston on Sunday.

The multiple-time Olympic and World Championship finalist comfortably won ahead of 1500m champion, Adelle Tracey, who ran a season’s best 2:01.11. Clemson’s Jessica McLean was third in 2:05.76.

On the men’s side, Rajay Hamilton, who entered the championships as Jamaica’s leader in the event with 1:45.91, got the better of last year’s winner and the national record holder, Navasky Anderson, with a 1:47.28 effort.

Anderson ran 1:47.67 in second while Mississippi State’s Tyrese Reid ran 1:48.45 for third.

Shericka Jackson and Andrew Hudson both defended their respective 200m titles as the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Championships ended at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

Jackson, who ran a world leading 10.65 to take the 100m title on Friday, produced another world-leading effort, 21.71, to complete the sprint double for the second consecutive year.

Five-time World 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran a season’s best 22.26 for second while Texas’ Lanae Tava-Thomas ran 22.55 for third.

On the men’s side, Hudson, the reigning NACAC champion, produced a season’s best 20.11 to take the title ahead of Rasheed Dwyer (20.26) and Tyquendo Tracey (20.48). Yohan Blake, the second fastest man of all time in both the 100m and 200m, was fourth in 20.51.

Olympic bronze medalist, Megan Tapper produced one of her customary big-hearted performances to claim her third national 100m hurdles title on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

Tapper got her usual bullet start and held off NCAA Champion and the fastest Jamaican in the world this year, Arkansas’ Ackera Nugent, to win in 12.64. Nugent’s time in second was 12.67 while 2015 World Champion, Danielle Williams, was third in 12.82.

On the men’s side, Commonwealth champion Rasheed Broadbell ran the second fastest time ever by a Jamaican to claim his maiden national title in the 110m hurdles.

Broadbell, Jamaica’s National Sportsman of the Year for 2022, fought off the fast-finishing Olympic champion, Hansle Parchment, to win in a personal best and world-leading 12.94.

Parchment ran a season’s best 13.12 for second while Orlando Bennett was third in a personal best 13.19.

Nickisha Price and Sean Bailey were crowned as Jamaica’s national 400m champions on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

Price, an NCAA Champion this year in the 4x400m for the University of Arkansas, produced a personal best 50.21 to claim her maiden national title.

400m hurdles champion, Janieve Russell, continued her excellent form at the championships with a personal best 50.76 for second while Candice McLeod, the defending champion, was third in 51.01.

On the men’s side, Bailey, who entered the championships as Jamaica’s season leader in the event with 44.43, ran slightly slower than that with 44.48 to claim his second national title.

Bailey fought off a very game Antonio Watson, who ran a personal best 44.54 for second while Jevaughn Powell, the defending champion, was third in 45.19.

Jaydon Hibbert successfully defended his men’s triple jump title on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Arkansas freshman, who already won the SEC and NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles this season, produced a best effort of 17.68m, a stadium record, for the win. Jordan Scott was second with a best jump of 16.32m.

Hibbert will enter the Budapest World Championships in August as one of the favorites for gold. He is currently the world leader in the event courtesy of his personal best and world under-20 record 17.87m done to win the SEC outdoor title in May.