Jamaica Olympic trails: Athletes at peak form, prepared for Paris Olympics

Jamaican Olympic trails is on its last phase as the four-days long event is about to be dropped curtains on. The aim of the Jamaican Athletic Association for Day four (June 30) of the trials will be to see their team qualify for the Men’s 4×400 metres relay, to be held in the Paris Olympics next month. They focus on getting more athletes qualify for the Olympics In addition with the ones who have already qualified.

As of June 29, the third day of the trails, Shericka Jackson, a Jamaican sprinter competing usually in 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres, has already cleared the first semifinal of women’s 200 metres and is aiming to win the national sprints double consecutively for the third time. In the 200 metres, she holds an impressive record of the second fastest woman ever in history. As for the 100 metres, she is the fifth fastest woman of all time.

Stacey Ann Williams, a Jamaican athlete who has once already competed at the Summer Olympics 2020 in the women’s 4 x 400 metres relay event, has yet again won the Heat 3 of the women’s 400 metres in just 50 .93 seconds at the Jamaica Olympic trails and is getting herself prepared to compete at the Olympics next month. While for the Heat 1 category, Nickisha Pryce tops the table with a clocking of 49.63 seconds.

As for the section of male athletes, Traves Smikle has won the national men’s discus throw title for a consecutive third time with a throw of 67.08 metres and is ready to compete in the Olympics for the third time. He has already competed in the London Olympics 2012 and Tokyo Olympics 2021. He has won the national men’s discus throw title for a total of six times.

In Heat 3 category of Men’s 110 metres Hurdle race, Orlando Bennett has qualified for the Paris Olympics with a record timing of 13.28 seconds. He had made into the semifinals of the World Athletics Championship 2019. He also has been a part of the Summer Olympics 2020 and has won Gold medal in the 110 metres Hurdles at the NACAC U23 Championship 2021.

As for the men’s 100 metres, Kishane Thompson secured his debut Olympic qualification and maintained his unbeaten record with his lifetime best of 9.77 seconds. He made his Diamond League debut in July 2023, competing in the 100 metres and secured the fifth place at a clocking of 10.04s. He also participated in the World Championship 2023 and finished it at the fourth position.

With all the mentioned qualifications, The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) is looking forward to getting as many athletes as possible to compete at the Paris Olympics. The schedule for the final day of the trials includes events like Women’s hammer throw finals, Men’s hammer throw finals, Women’s heptathlon long jump finals, Men’s triple jump finals, Women’s heptathlon javelin finals and many more.