History of Jamaican athletics
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This article is about the rise of Jamaica's national athletics programs.
In 73 years Jamaica has won 38 Commonwealth Golds, 7 World Golds and 7 Olympic gold medals in athletics alone. Jamaica has a population of 2,600,000 people, 138th biggest country in the world by population. Their current Gross domestic Product (GDP) nominally is $9.37 billion which ranks 101st in the world.
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[edit] Chronology
[edit] 1930s
In 1930 Jamaica entered its first-ever athletics team into an international competition. It was the 1930 Central American and Caribbean Games. Joseph Mackenzie won a silver medal in the high jump (1.75m). In 1934 Jamaica entered their first ever team into the British Empire Games (now known as the Commonwealth Games) the team won a silver in swimming and Bernard Leopold Prendergast won a bronze in the shot put. This was their first major athletics medal.
[edit] 1940s
The first part of the forties was interrupted by the Second World War. 3 years after the war in 1948, Jamaica made their first ever Olympic appearance at the London Olympics and surprised the world by winning 1 gold and two silvers. These medals were won by Arthur Wint and Herbert Mckenley and started a great sprinting tradition. These two are regarded as the pioneers of Jamaican athletics. In the 400m final McKenley ran out of steam in the last 100m and Wint passed him to become Jamaica’s first Olympic Gold Medallist. Wint narrowly missed out on a Gold in the 800m but still went home a hero.
[edit] 1950s
In the 1952 Helsinki Olympics Jamaican heroes Arthur Wint and Herb Mckenley were back along with George Rhoden and Leslie Laing. Together these four made up the gold medal winning 4x400m team, which to this day is the only 4x400m team that have beaten the USA without the Americans dropping the baton. George Rhoden led a Jamaican one,two with Herb Mckenley in the (individual) 400m and Mckenley won his second silver in the closest 100m in Olympic history. Wint also won silver in the 800m. Jamaica finished a remarkable 13th in the medal table ahead of the likes of Japan, Great Britain and Canada.At the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Jamaica one won gold courtesy of Keith Gardner in the 120 yard hurdles. At the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 Jamaica won no medals. At the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Jamaica won a record haul of 4 gold’s, 2 silvers and 1 bronze. Paul Foreman won gold in the long jump, Emle Haisley won gold in high jump and Keith Gardner won two golds in the 100yards and 120yards hurdles.
[edit] 1960s
Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados entered a joint team known as the British West Indies Federation (BWI). The team won two bronzes from George Kerr in the 800m and the men’s 4 x 400m relay team. At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Jamaica won two athletics golds. One in the Men’s 440 yards, George Kerr and one from the Men’s 4x440yards team. Kerr then followed up with silver in the 880 yards. Unfortunately at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 Jamaica failed to win any medals. 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were the first to be held in Jamaica and the first outside the “White Commonwealth”. Much to the disappointment of the Kingston crowd, Jamaica didn’t win any gold medals. Carmen Smith and the Jamaican Men’s 4x110yards team both got silvers and there were another three bronzes won by the team on the track. After the 1968 Olympics in Mexico only Lennox Miller came back with a medal. The medal was silver and was won in the 100m.
[edit] 1970s
In 1970 Jamaica equalled its record haul in the 1970 British Commonwealth Games of 4 golds 2 silvers and a bronze. Marilyn Neufville won gold for Jamaica in the 400m after switching to Jamaica from her adopted nation, Great Britain. A nineteen year old Donald Quarrie won two golds by winning the sprint double and led a one-two with Lennox Miller in the 100m. The men’s 4x100m also won gold.At the 1972 Olympic Games it was once again Lennox Miller that won the sole medal this time it was bronze. The 1974 British Commonwealth Games were held in Christchurch, New Zealand. Quarrie retained his Commonwealth Gold Medals.In 1976 Donald Quarrie managed to become Jamaica’s first Olympic champion in 24 years when he won the 200m at the Montreal Olympics. Donald also finished second in the 100m, which earned him a silver medal. In 1978 Donald Quarrie won the 100m Commonwealth Gold for the third time in a row. The Men’s 4x400m relay team won silver. Colin Bradford and the Men’s 4x100m team both won bronze medals.
[edit] 1980s
At the 1980 Moscow Olympics Jamaica won a bronze medal in cycling and won two more bronze medals in athletics. Thanks to Donald Quarrie in the 200m and 20 year old Merlene Ottey-Page became the first female athlete from an English speaking Caribbean island to win an Olympic medal after winning bronze in the 200m. The 1982 Commonwealth Games was where Ottey won her first gold medal, in the 200m. She also won silver in the 100m and helped the Jamaican women’s 4x1oom team to bronze. Bertland “Bert” Cameron became 400m Commonwealth champion winning him Jamaica Sportsman of the year. In 1983 the first ever World Championships in Athletics were held. This gave Jamaican athletes more opportunities to win major medals. Bert Cameron became the first ever 400m World Champion. Merlene Ottey also got silver in the 200m. At the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 Merlene Ottey was back, she won two bronzes. The Men’s 4x100m team won Olympic silver as well. Jamaica did not take part in the 1986 Commonwealth Games but they were at the 1987 World Athletics Championships. There were no gold medallists but Raymond Stewart won silver in the 100m and Merlene Ottey won two more bronzes to put in her medal cabinet. The Men’s 4x100M team won another bronze to add to the medal tally. At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul Grace Jackson won one silver and so did the men’s 4x100m relay team. Merlene Ottey didn’t win any medals at these games.
[edit] 1990s
The early nineties was a successful time for Jamaican athletics with Merlene Ottey on top form. The decade started with the Commonwealth Games in Auckland. Ottey won the sprint double just like Quarrie had done 26 years before her. Both men’s relay teams won bronzes to finish off the games. Next up was the 1991 World Championships in Japan the only gold was the women’s 4x100m team. Winthrop Graham managed silver in the 400m hurdles and Merlene Ottey once again won two bronzes. The next Olympics were in 1992 and Jamaica had many athletes capable of winning the Olympic Gold medal but none rose to the occasion. Juliet Cuthbert came close but could only manage two silvers and Winthrop Graham won silver in the 400m hurdles behind record breaking Kevin Young. Merlene Ottey won a fourth Olympic Bronze and many were starting to say she should retire.
A year later Ottey proved the critics wrong by becoming world 200m champion at the age of 33. She then won silver in the 100m. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games two young athletes were the only gold medallists 25 year old Michelle Freeman won gold in the sprint hurdles and 22 year old Inez Turner won gold in the 800m. Merlene Ottey retained her 200m crown at the 1995 world championships in Gothenburg. Once again she won 100m silver.
Many believed the 1996 Olympics would be Ottey’s last as she was now 36. Ottey however won two silvers in 100 and 200 and showed no signs of stopping. At this Olympics Ottey’s achievements were overshadowed by Jamaica’s first Olympic champion since Donald Quarrie and first female Olympic champion. Her name was Deon Hemmings and she won the 400m hurdles in a new Olympic record of 52.82. James Beckford also managed a long jump silver medal. The next year at the 1997 world championships, Jamaica won no golds but managed 3 silvers. Alexandra "Sandie" Richards won silver in the 400m. Olympic champion Deon Hemmings won silver in the 400m hurdles and women’s 4x100m team won silver. In Kuala Lumpur for the 1998 Commonwealth Games Jamaica managed 4 golds Gillian Russel set a new commonwealth record in the 100m hurdles. Sandie Richards won gold in the 400m. Dinsdale Morgan won gold in the 400m Hurdles and the men’s 4x400m team won gold to cap off a successful games. The 1999 Worlds were the last championships before the new millennium. Jamaica won no golds but Beverly McDonald won silver in the 200m. The rest of the team won 5 bronzes.
[edit] 2000s
There was a lot of controversy before the Millennium Olympics which almost resulted in Jamaica being thrown out of the competition. The reason was that there were protests in the Olympic village because they believe Merlene Ottey had bullied herself into the team as she had finished fourth in the trials but made the team ahead of Peta-Gaye Dowdie who finished ahead of her in the trials. Jamaica won no gold medals at the Millennium Olympics but Lorraine Fenton (400m), Deon Hemmings (400m hurdles), women’s 4x400m relay team and the women’s 4x100m team featuring a 40 year old Merlene Ottey all won silvers. A year later Ottey started competing for Slovenia. The 2001 World Championships was next and Jamaica won gold thanks to the women’s 4x400m team world leading run. Christopher Williams and Lorraine Fenton both got well earned silvers.
2002 was a record breaking year for Jamaica as they won a record haul of medals. In total they won 4 gold medals 6 silvers and 7 bronzes. Claston Bernard won the Decathlon gold. Elva Goldbourne leaped to long jump gold. Michael Blackwood sped to 400m gold and Lacena Golding-Clarke glided to 100m hurdles gold. 2003 was disappointing for Jamaican athletics they won no golds at the world championships but James Beckford (long jump), Lorraine Fenton(400m), Brigitte Foster-Hylton (100m hurdles) and the Men’s 4x400m team all won silver.
2004 was lit up by Jamaican golden girl Veronica Campbell, first she won bronze in the 100m, next she won gold in the 200m then she anchored the 4x100m to a famous victory she also became the first Caribbean woman to win a sprint event. Danny McFarlane then won a surprise silver medal in the 400m hurdles.
In 2005 Jamaica received a record haul of medals they won 1 gold medal 5 silvers and 8 bronzes. Trecia Smith won the gold in the triple jump. Jamaica finished 5th in the medal table ahead of Great Britain and Germany.
More records were broken at the 2006 Commonwealth Games as Jamaica got 10 golds more than double the previous record. In total they won 10 gold medals 4 silvers 8 bronzes. Gold medallists was the then World 100m record holder Asafa Powell(100m), Sherri-Ann Brooks(100m), Maurice Wignall(110m hurdles), Trecia Smith (triple jump), Tanto Campbell (Men’s seated discus throw), Omar Brown(200m), Brigitte Foster-Hylton(100m hurdles), Men’s 4x100m team and Women’s 4x 100m team.
2007 was yet another record breaking year for Jamaican athletics as there was another record haul at the 2007 World Championships Veronica Campbell won the only gold but in total the team won 1 gold medal 6 silver and 3 bronze.
In 2008 21-year old Usain Bolt has proved in the 100m which isn't his favoured event first running 9.76 and becoming second on the all-time list and then on 1st June 2008 he ran 9.72 breking the 100m world record held by compatriot Asafa Powell two hundredths.
[edit] Youth athletic development in Jamaica
Most Jamaican schools have an athletics program in the curriculum, so Jamaican children are into athletics at a young age. Budding young athletes have to impress at primary school level as this can get them recognised by good athletics schools like Kingston College and Vere Technical High. The most important athletics event in Jamaica is the VMBS Boys and Girls Athletics Championships which begun in 1910, these championships are a chance for athletes under 19 show off their talents to national and overseas coaches. Dominant athletes are normally picked for the Penn Relays which is a competition where the best Jamaican schools and universities compete against the best American schools and universities. Herb McKenley entered the first Jamaican high school team in to the Penn Relays in 1964 and since then Jamaicans have won more than half the events.
[edit] Jamaicans in America
Many Jamaican athletes chose to train in the United States to use the better facilities. There are currently 21 Jamaican coaches in American universities. The American university system gives athletes the chance to continue their academic studies and train to become an international athlete at the same time. Over 200 Jamaican athletes train in America. Almost all of Jamaica’s successful athletes came through the American collegial system, including Jamaican pioneers Herb McKenley, who attended the University of Illinois, Leslie Laing, who attended University of California and George Rhoden, who attended Morgan State University.
[edit] Coaching in Jamaica
In recent years Jamaican athletes have decided to stay in Jamaica to train. Stephen Francis a Jamaican coach created the MVP (Maximising Velocity and Power) club in 2001 based in University of Technology (Utech), Kingston. He created this club because he felt Jamaican athletes were becoming Americans not interested in coming back to Jamaica. In 2001 Bridgette Foster-Hylton came from America and joined this club. Foster was an unknown in the first year so no one was interested in sponsoring her. Francis sold his car to keep funding the club. In late 2001 Asafa Powell an athlete with a personal best of 10.70 joined the club. In the years to come Asafa Powell smashed the 100m world record twice. Bridgette set a new national record in the 100m hurdles and is now Commonwealth champion. Sherone Simpson hadn’t won a race since joining the club she is now one of the world’s top sprinters. Francis has also influenced the careers of Ainsley Waugh, Michael Frater and Germaine Mason. If Jamaica can continue producing coaches like Stephen Francis they could win a lot more medals. A few years ago the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) built the High Performance Training Centre in Utech to try to get athletes to stay in Jamaica since it was built there is now several high profile athletes from all over the Caribbean training there.
[edit] Jamaican-born athletes who have competed for other countries
Many Jamaican-born athletes have chosen to compete for other nations. Linford Christie was born in Saint Andrew, Jamaica he immigrated to Britain at the age of seven and competed for them. He won three European Championship golds, three Commonwealth golds, one World gold and an Olympic Gold medal in the 100m. Tessa Sanderson was born in Saint Catherine, Jamaica she immigrated to Britain she won two Commonwealth golds and an Olympic Gold for her adopted nation. Former world record holder Donovan Bailey was born in Manchester, Jamaica but immigrated to Canada at the age of 13. He went on to win 3 World Championship golds and 2 Olympic Golds for Canada. Sanya Richards was born in Kingston, Jamaica she moved to America at twelve years old. Despite being the daughter of a Jamaican football player Sanya chose compete for the United States. In 2005 she won a silver medal at the World Championships. Canadian drugs cheat Ben Johnson was born in Falmouth, Jamaica and immigrated to Canada at the age of 15 he has won to Olympic bronzes. Angella Taylor was born in Jamaica but competed for Canada. She won two Commonwealth golds it was later discovered that she was part of a doping regime with Ben Johnson.
[edit] Athletes who have Jamaican parentage
There are also some star athletes with Jamaican parentage. Kelly Holmes’s father is Jamaican. Kelly won two Olympic Golds in 2004 and has won two Commonwealth Golds. Denise Lewis’s mother was born in Hanover, Jamaica. Denise won Olympic gold in 2000. She also won a European Championship gold and two Commonwealth golds. Both of Colin Jackson’s parents were born in Jamaica. American sprinter Inger Miller is the daughter of Jamaican Olympic legend Lennox Miller. Inger won two World Championship golds. Italian long jumper Fiona May has Jamaican parentage. Fiona won two World Championship golds.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
Personal Best by Denise Lewis Published by London:Century 2001 ISBN:0712677372
[edit] Sources
Jamaican Amateur Athletics Association
