Texas junior Ackelia Smith produced an NCAA leading performance to take top spot on day one of the Texas Invitational at the Mike A. Myers Stadium on Friday.

The 22-year-old reigning NCAA champion produced a season’s best 7.10m, her first jump over 7m this season, to win ahead of Trinidadian Puma athlete Tyra Gittens (6.72m) and UTSA’s Ida Breigan (6.65m).

This is a welcome return to form for Smith who suffered a torn hamstring at the NCAA Indoor Championships in early March.

Smith was Jamaica’s national champion in the long jump in 2022 and was a finalist in both the long and triple jump at that year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Dom Rep’s Marileidy Paulino followed up her triumph at the season’s Diamond League opener in Xiamen last week with another victory at the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday.

The reigning World champion produced 50.89 to win ahead of American Talitha Diggs who ran 51.77 and Bajan two-time World Championship bronze medallist Sada Williams who ran 52.00 in third.

Paulino’s winning streak in the 400m has now stretched to seven races.

It was déjà vu in the women’s 100m hurdles as reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho Quinn just pipped World Indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record holder Devynne Charlton on the line, just as it played out in Xiamen last week.

Camacho-Quinn ran 12.63 compered to Charlton’s 12.64. Two-time World champion Danielle Williams was third in 12.74.

The men’s 110m hurdles saw American Daniel Roberts get his second win in a row to kick off the Diamond League season. His winning time was 13.12, comfortably ahead of Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya (13.23) and Olympic champion Hansle Parchment’s season’s best 13.26.

Edwin Allen had to settle for second position in the Championships of America high school girls’ 4x800m, as they were soundly beaten by New Jersey-based favourites Union Catholic in the final on day two of the 128^th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.

Not only did Union Catholic defend their title, but the team of Jimmiea King, Peyton Hollis, Sophia Thompson, and Paige Sheppard did so in emphatic fashion, clocking a National Record of 8:41.20. They lowered the previous mark of 8:43.12 set in 2008 by Roosevelt.

Edwin Allen’s quartet of Tanesia Gardiner, Monique Stewart, Kevongaye Fowler, and Rickeisha Simms, gave a credible effort in second at 8:50.76, while Virginia-based South Lakes (8:50.8), were third.

The other Jamaican schools, Holmwood Technical (8:58.94) and Alphansus Davis (9:13.83), placed fifth and ninth respectively.

Hydel High successfully defended their Championship of America 4x400m title on day two of the 128^th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.

The quartet of Alliah Baker, Jody-Ann Daley, Nastassia Fletcher and Abigail Campbell combined to run 3:34.78 to win ahead of Bullis School (3:35.17) and Union Catholic (3:41.75).

Hydel captain Alliah Baker reacted to her second gold medal of the meet.

“I am not shocked but I’m very excited. This is my last year and I’m very happy to finish my last year with two gold medals,” she said.

Hydel have now won this event three straight times and five times in the last six years.

Hydel High successfully defended their High School Girls Championships of America 4x100m relay title, as Jamaican schools swept the podium on day two of the 128^th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.

The team comprising Shemonique Hazel, Alliah Baker, Shania Myers and Jody-Ann Daley, clocked 44.71s in victory, as they fended off the challenge of Edwin Allen’s quartet Trezeguet Taylor, Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, Renecia Edwards and Jounee Armstrong of Edwin Allen, who clocked 44.96s. St Jago's team of Briana Campbell, Adora Campbell, Bryana Davidson and Quanna Walker, placed third in 45.14s.

Hydel’s captain Baker beamed with delight at the feat.

“We came out here to win and we executed we always say that we are one team, we are here for each other and so we just came out and delivered. We were confident, so we just told each other to stay calm and trust God,” she said shortly after the race.

Munro College’s Chad Hendricks and JC’s Chavez Penn and Balvin Israel all secured wins on day two of the 128^th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.

Hendricks, a silver medallist at both the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships and the Carifta Games, threw an excellent 66.17m to take top spot in the High School Boys’ discus ahead of Bergen Catholic’s Benjamin Shue (61.55m) and Christian Brothers’ Ashton Hearn (58.42m).

Penn, who won the high jump and triple jump double at both the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships and Carifta Games, produced 15.38m to comfortably win the triple jump ahead of Wolmer’s Boys’ Nicardo Grey-Clarke (14.52m) and Cornwall College’s Obrien Bowen (14.49m).

Israel added to his long jump gold medal at Champs with 7.24m to take top spot Friday. KC’s Nathan Wade, who took silver at Champs, was once again second with 7.09m while Calvert Hall College’s Antoine McNair Jr was third with 7.09m.

A host of Jamaican schools will line up in the final of the High School Boys Championships of America 4x100m final, as they successfully navigated the qualifiers on day two of the 128th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.

Leading the qualifiers was the Excelsior quartet of Ryeem Walker, Damor Miller, Malike Nugent and Lennon Green, which clocked a brisk 40.62 seconds to top their heat.

They will be joined by local rivals Kingston College (41.30s), St Jago (41.35s), St George’s College (41.42s), Calabar High (41.70s) and Jamaica College (41.73s), and Wolmer’s Boys (41.84s). The other two lanes in the medal event will be occupied by Washington DC-based Archbishop John Carroll (41.49s) and Virginia-based West Springfield (41.77s).

Meanwhile, the High School Boys International final, also scheduled for Saturday, will see six Jamaican schools going up against those from Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines and The Bahamas, respectively.

St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) headlines that field, after they posted the fastest qualifying time of 42.26s, followed by Cornwall College (42.53s) and the Bahamian school Queens College (42.61s). St Benedict’s, of out the twin island republic, and Munro College, both clocked 42.83s, while St Vincent Grammar (43.11s), Petersfield (43.14s), St Catherine (43.26s) and Vere Technical (43.55s), are the other qualifiers.

Speculation surrounding the participation of five-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah at the highly anticipated USATF Bermuda Grand Prix has been dispelled by her agent, Marvin Anderson of Andi Sports Management. Despite earlier excitement and anticipation, Thompson-Herah was never officially booked or confirmed for the track meet scheduled for this Sunday at the Flora Duffy Stadium.

The revelation comes after recent reports sparked fervent anticipation among fans, particularly within Bermuda's Jamaican community, who were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to witness the "fastest woman alive" compete alongside other elite Caribbean athletes.

Yackeisha Weir, president of the Jamaican Association of Bermuda (JAB), expressed the community's high expectations and emphasized the honor of hosting Thompson-Herah ahead of the Paris Olympics. However, Anderson's statement to Sportsmax.TV on Friday shattered these hopes, clarifying that Thompson-Herah's presence at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix was never confirmed.

"She was never booked. She was never confirmed," Anderson asserted, addressing the confusion surrounding Thompson-Herah's potential appearance.

“I asked the meet organizers if they had put out something and they said no, so I don’t know where that was leaked from. I know they had an interest way back, but no.”

Despite this setback, Anderson assured fans that Thompson-Herah has been diligently training and is gearing up for a successful upcoming season. While Thompson-Herah's name was notably absent from the start lists for Sunday's meet, other Jamaican athletes, including Alana Reid and Kemba Nelson, are set to showcase their talents in the 100m event. Ashanti Moore is the only Jamaican down to contest the 200m.

Jamaican track & field powerhouses Jamaica College and Kingston College both secured spots in the final of the High School Boys 4x800m on day two of the 128^th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.

JC’s quartet of Nellie Amberton, Samuel Creary, Rasheed Pryce and Kemarrio Bygrave combined to qualify fastest with a time of 7:45.38.

KC (Schevorn Wardlow, Nahashon Ruto, Brian Kiprop, Jaquan Coke) ran 7:53.86 to finish second in their heat and advance as the eighth fastest school overall.

As they continue their preparations for Jamaica’s national championships in June, Olympic champion Omar McLeod and World Championship silver medallist Britany Anderson, were both winners at a La Fratellanza 1874 meeting in Italy on Thursday.

McLeod, who celebrated his 30^th birthday on Thursday, won the 100m in a brisk 10.32 in a race that also included Britain’s Adam Gemili. Obviously elated over his victory, the 2017 world champion, declared on Instagram, “A win today in the 100m was all I had on my birthday wish list.

“10.32 in an ankle freezing 15-degree weather is a solid opener. Beyond excited for what is to come this season.”

Meanwhile, Anderson, in only her second hurdles race back from injury and knee surgery that saw her miss the entire 2023 season, clocked 13.34 into a 1.4 m/s headwind in a dominant victory in which she widened her lead at each hurdle.

As the meeting concluded on Thursday, things are looking up for the Jamaican sprint hurdlers looking to reclaim their places among Jamaica's elite as the Olympics approach this summer.

Contrary to recent reports that five-time Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah would be making her season debut at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix on Sunday, the athlete’s name does not appear on any of the start lists for the event.

Checks by Sportsmax.TV indicate that Thompson-Herah is not listed in the 100m or 200m events at the meet where several other Caribbean athletes are down to compete. According to the start lists published on the meet’s results page, Jamaica’s Kemba Nelson and Alana Reid are set to contest the 100m in a quality field that also includes Tamari Davis and Javianne Oliver of the United States.

In the 200m, Ashanti Moore is the only Jamaican listed.

Meanwhile, Stacy-Ann Williams, Rushell Clayton and Junelle Bromfield, are the Jamaicans listed for the 400m.

Just recently BerNews reported that anticipation is palpable among Bermuda's Jamaican community, with Yackeisha Weir, president of the Jamaican Association of Bermuda (JAB), expecting a strong showing of support for Thompson-Herah at the Flora Duffy Stadium. Weir emphasized the significance of Thompson-Herah's presence, particularly with the upcoming Paris Olympics on the horizon.

"The anticipation is high this year, especially as we have the fastest woman alive competing," said Weir in an interview with BerNews. "With the Olympic Games taking place this summer, Bermuda has a chance to see a preview of Paris. It’s an honour to have Elaine on the island."

However, based on the start lists that have now been published that anticipation among the Jamaican community would have been for naught.

The excitement is building for the upcoming Jamaica Athletics Invitational, set to take place on May 11 at the National Stadium in Kingston, as 2016 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad joins the list of confirmed international stars for the event. Muhammad, a former world record holder and two-time world champion, brings her stellar track record to Kingston following her silver medal performance at the Tokyo Games.

Alongside Muhammad, a host of emerging Jamaican talents will also grace the track, including standout sprinters Alana Reid, Briana Williams, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, and Sandrey Davison.

Reid has been training alongside World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson in Florida and will be looking to make an early statement on her form leading into the national championships in June.

Williams, under the mentorship of distinguished coach John Smith in California, is an Olympic sprint relay gold medalist and a two-time World Championship silver medallist who is eager for a return to form.

Nkrumie, who last year became the first Jamaican schoolboy to break the 10-second barrier, and Davison, both formidable sprinters in their own right, add depth to sprint line up with Davison currently holding the title of fastest Jamaican over 100m this year.

Marvin Anderson, Athletes' Liaison for the Jamaica Athletics Invitational, expressed his enthusiasm for the calibre of athletes set to compete. "We are pleased with the confirmed list to date and excited about the level of competition the athletes and fans should experience," he remarked.

Anticipation is high for a thrilling series of events both on the track and in the field.

Tickets for the May 11 event are already available online, with ticket locations opening on May 4. Grandstand tickets are priced at $3,000, while bleacher seating is free of charge. The meet is scheduled to run from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, followed by an after-party to celebrate an evening of world-class athletics.

The Jamaica Athletics Invitational promises to deliver top-notch competition and showcase the immense talent within the track and field community. With international stars like Dalilah Muhammad and rising Jamaican sensations like Alana Reid and Briana Williams, fans can expect an unforgettable evening of athletic prowess at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Caribbean athletes showcased their prowess in the field on the opening day of the 128^th edition of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Thursday. Chief among them were the Jamaicans who enjoyed podium places in the high jump and triple jump events with the Bahamas taking gold in the javelin.

Shaniqua Williams and Danielle Noble, both of Wolmer’s Girls, secured a 1-2 finish in the keenly contested high school girls high jump. Williams’ winning mark of 1.73m was also cleared by Noble and Alysa Carrigan.

However, she won on the basis of a cleaner record during the rounds.

Williams said it was cold and her muscles were lazy but she knew what she had to do to win.

“Despite that I came out here and did what I had to do which was focus on my technique,” she said. “The weather was very cold and I am not used to this kind of weather so I had to take a long time to warm up.”

The Jamaicans were not alone in their dominance as Taysha Stubbs who attends Queens College in the Bahamas showcased her incredible skill and strength in winning the high school girls javelin with an outstanding throw of 47.17m.

Stubbs was several metres better than her main rivals in Sophia Scott of Omaha Burke, who took second place with a throw of 44.79m. In a close third place was Eliana Schneider who produced a best mark of 44.78m.

Jamaicans Marla-Kay Lampart and Kimeka Smith were second and third, respectively in the high school girls shot put that was won by Jessica Oji of Livingston with an impressive throw of 14.01m.

Lampart of Claredon College threw 13.64m for second place while Smith mustered a throw of 13.46m for third place.

Jamaica’s girls won the top four places in the high school girls triple jump competition.

Jade-Ann Dawkins of St Jago finished atop the podium with a distance of 13.01m. Jadea Robinson of Immaculate Conception was in second position with her jump of 12.70m just ahead of Celine Riddle of Holmwood Technical (12.69m).

Richelle Stanley of St Elizabeth Technical (12.55m) was fourth.

Nahjahda Seymoure of Excelsior High threw an impressive 48.08m to finish in second position in the high school girls discus competition that was won by Layla Giordano of NV Old Tappan who hurled the implement out to a winning mark of 51.17m.

Able Mills of St Catherine High threw 48.01m for third place.

Mills’ teammate Rohanna Sudlow jumped 5.83m to finish in third place in the high school girls long jump.

Jamaica's rising triple jump sensation Jaydon Hibbert is set for his professional debut at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday.

From holding both the indoor and outdoor NCAA records to becoming the first Jamaican and the youngest athlete to win the coveted Bowerman Award, Hibbert's journey has been an exciting display of exceptional talent in the jumps. He eagerly awaits the Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday,

"Finally, I'll be opening my season. I'm grateful and happy that I am ready to compete and I'm excited to see where I am in my preparations. I've never visited Bermuda before, but I expect it to be fun. I've heard it's an electrifying stadium, which jumpers need, so I look forward to the crowd support," he exclaimed.

The 19-year-old won the gold medal at the 2022 World U20 championships and is the holder of the U20 indoor and outdoor triple jump world records at 17.54m and 17.87m, respectively. He went undefeated during his freshman year at the University of Arkansas in 2023 before transitioning to the professional ranks in January.

"Since I started doing the sport, I've been looking forward to competing professionally. I can't wait to get out there and make my coach and family proud. I'm praying for a great season!" he exclaimed hardly able to contain his excitement.

The Bermuda Grand Prix, also known as the "Prelude to Paris", will start at 3 pm Jamaica time at the Flora Duffy Stadium. Action is live on Peacock via NBC Sports.

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Hydel High, Wolmer’s Girls, St. Jago High, Edwin Allen High, Holmwood Technical and St. Mary High all secured spots in the Championship of America High School Girls 4x100m final on day one of the 2024 Penn Relays at franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Hydel’s team of Alliah Baker, Shania Myers, Shemonique Hazle and Juwonna Whitehorne combined to run 45.99 to win heat 13 and advance with the fastest time overall.

Holmwood Technical (Regina Bailey, Kiara Meikle, Sadeena Holder, Monique Proudlove) combined to run 46.38 and advance as winners of the ninth heat ahead of St. Mary High (Akeeliah Barnes, Kaliesha Bell, Shagay Sheppy, Tianna Rhoomes) who also made it through with 46.46.

St. Jago High (Rae-Annia Williams, Kryshell Hoolong, Seanagaye Leslie, Tamara Bailey) with 46.55, Edwin Allen (Trezeguet Taylor, Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, Jounee Armstrong, Shanique Cassanova) with 46.59 and Wolmer’s Girls (Mikayla Gardner, Tianna Marshall, Natrece East, Abigayle Wolfe) with 46.72 will also be in Friday’s final.

Hydel are defending champions in the event.