Texas A&M’s Lamara Distin, fresh from her silver medal performance in the high jump at last weekend’s NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, is targeting the Olympic standard of 1.96m when she competes at the Jamaica National Championships beginning June 26.
After overcoming injury early in the season, Distin rebounded to clear a personal best height and end her sophomore season on a high. Now, she is looking for more.
“Well, I’m definitely trying to get the Olympic standard of 1.96m,” she said responding to whether she will be competing at the national championships.
“I’m continuing to be patient with myself and hoping for the best. I am young and still have a bright future ahead of me.”
Distin cleared a personal best of 1.90m to finish second to South Carolina freshman Rachel Glenn, who needed a personal best of 1.93m to take the gold medal and head of teammate Tyra Gittens, who cleared 1.87m for third.
Distin said she was grateful she was able to achieve one of her main goals for the season.
“All I can say God is good. Before the start of the season my main goal was to jump 1.90 or higher so finally being able to jump it and also at the biggest meet of my collegiate career is one I’ll never forget,” she said.
“I always try to stay patient even after a rocky start to my season. I have my coaches and teammates to motivate me, which helps me a lot. It was a very great experience competing at the biggest collegiate meet and jumping with some great athletes.”
In the heat of battle and as the bar was raised higher and higher, Distin and Glenn maintained clean records. As the contest neared its climax, the former Hydel and Vere Technical jumper, revealed that she harboured the belief that she could pull off the win but knew she had to do something special to achieve it.
“Actually, I did at some point, but I knew it would take over 6ft 2inches to win. We are both great jumpers and at a point, I thought count-back would determine who wins the competition. If I had cleared 6ft 4in on my first attempt, then I would have definitely thought I had it in the bag,” she said.
“I honestly did not want to put any pressure on myself thinking about high bars because doing that can hinder me from doing what’s important such as my run-up and my technique.
“However, I took it one step at a time. Each time the bar got higher, it’s just to always make it on my first attempt. My focus was to just go out there and get a personal best and I know for sure if I did it would take a big jump to do that. Although my target was to get the Olympic qualifying standard of 1.96m, I am still pleased with my performance.”
Having Gittens, the NCAA’s leading high jumper also in the competition was also a boost. Each offering the other words of advice and reassurance.
“Yes, we always do because we know what we are capable of doing. If it comes to the point where we miss an attempt, we just forget about it and talk about how to correct the mistake. We’re also very supportive of each other regardless of the outcome,” she said.
Overall, it was a good end to a season that came with significant challenges, Distin said, happy that she was able to close on a high note.
“The start of the indoor season, I had a minor injury which kind of slowed down the process of performance. I was putting pressure on myself because I know what I am capable of doing and it just wasn’t happening but I stayed true to myself and stayed patient,” she said.
“I qualified for the indoor championship at the very last meet before indoor SEC because of not competing and trying to get back healthy. Overall, I definitely met my expectations for the outdoor season but I am eager for more as I am starting to surpass my goals.”
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.
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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.
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