Top 10 Jamaican track and field moments in 2022
Published:Sunday | January 1, 2023 | 12:32 AMHubert Lawrence - Gleaner Writer
TRACK AND field fans had their fill of big moments in 2022. Here are the 10 that had me applauding the most.
March 20 – WORLD INDOOR 4X400 GOLD
The splits by Junielle Bromfield, Janieve Russell, Roneisha McGregor and Stephennie Ann McPherson – 52.4, 51.7, 53.5 and 50.9 – meant next to nothing as this win was achieved by controlling the pace. 400 bronze medallist McPherson repelled Holland to seal a victory timed in 3 minutes 20.40 seconds.
April 16 – 42.58 WORLD UNDER 20 RELAY RECORD
When Serena Cole settled into the blocks for the under-20 4x100 metres at the Carifta Games in Kingston, the world under-20 record was 42.94 seconds by Jamaica in the high altitude of Nairobi in 2021. When Cole, Tina Clayton, Brianna Lyston and Tia Clayton were finished, it had been demolished all the way to 42.58.
Sadly, an administrative doping control error rubbed the record off the books. Even though a slightly different team broke the 2021 record in August, the time there was slower than in Kingston.
June 26 – JACKSON 21.55!
We knew Shericka Jackson was fast but at our National Championships, she blasted her 200-metre personal best from 21.81 to 21.55 seconds, becoming the third-fastest woman of all time. She went even faster at the World Championships in Eugene, but the 21.55 made everybody know she was a real danger.
July 17 – 1-2-3 IN THE 100 ... AGAIN
Elaine Thompson Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Jackson went 1-2-3 in the 100 at the Tokyo Olympics. They did it again in Eugene with Fraser-Pryce winning ahead of Jackson and Thompson Herah. It was a thumping reminder that they are the queens of speed.
July 18 – 3 JAMAICAN TRIPLE JUMP FINALISTS!
Field event history was made with three Jamaicans in the final, thanks to runner-up Shanieka Ricketts, Kimberly Williams and Ackelia Smith.
July 19 – MAX EFFORT FOR HYDE
Jaheel Hyde didn’t medal at the World Championships in the 400-metre hurdles, but his defiant effort – a personal best 48.03 – filled me with pride.
July 24 – SILVER FOR ANDERSON
Britany Anderson had set a personal best in the Olympic 100-metre hurdles semifinal, and then faltered in the final, so there was a little worry after her national record – 12.31 seconds – in the Eugene semi. But I almost jumped for joy when she secured the silver in the final.
August 2 – BIG SHOT KOBE
Kobe Lawrence left the 2021 World Under-20 final empty-handed. He made no mistake at the 2022 renewal and fired his shot 20.58 metres to win Jamaica’s first medal in the iron ball event at the junior level.
August 5 – HIBBERT!
Lanky 17-year-old Jaydon Hibbert hijacked the World Under-20 triple jump final with a superb first effort of 17.27 metres to add to his 2021 silver. This win, and the same-day success by Brandon Pottinger in the high jump, were the first Jamaican victories in world under-20 jumping events.
August 6 – DISTIN UP HIGH
Lamara Distin and Kimberly Williamson both made history in Eugene by reaching the high jump final. Distin then became the first Jamaican woman to win the Commonwealth Games gold with Williamson third.
Hubert Lawrence has been making notes at trackside since 1980.