A Perfect Transition: The Next Generation of Jamaican Women’s Sprinting
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A tiny island at the constant epicentre of the athletics world, a seemingly endless conveyor belt of elite sprinting talent and in particular, truly otherworldly women. Since Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce announced herself to the world, winning gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Jamaica has had a 100m medalist on the women’s side at every major world track event bar one (World Championships 2017). Yet even with this constant success, Jamaica looks set for the future with possibly the most exciting crop of young sprinters we’ve ever seen waiting in the wings.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson swept the 100m final at this year’s World Athletics Championships and represent the crème de la crème of the women’s sport. But quietly, in the fold, were two members of the 4x100m relay team, both 22 or younger and both now with World Championship/Olympic medals under their belt. Kemba Nelson, World Championships silver medalist and Briana Williams, Olympic gold medalist are two women at the forefront of this new age and are already clocking times that place them in the upper echelon of sprinters in the world.
Paul Francis in an article for the NY Times remarked, “This is a golden era of Jamaican women’s short sprinting”, adding, “It’s just a difference in attitude” when lauding the women’s work ethic. The head coach of the famed MVP track club is one of many who has a massive hand in the cultivation and actualization of the nation’s talent.
This is a huge reason why so many are excited that sprint sensations Tia and Tina Clayton, formerly of Edwin Allen High, have gone professional straight out of high school and will train with MVP. Tina, who at 18 already has a sub-11 clocking under her belt at 10.95 seconds, which for context would have had her not only make the world championship final but finish 7th in an incredibly quick field. She looks nailed on to become a cornerstone of Jamaica’s future. Both twins have represented Jamaica internationally and Tina is the current World U20 100m champion.
Surely that’s enough talent to suffice, right? Well, you’d be remiss not to mention a big piece of this starlet jigsaw, 18 year old Brianna Lyston. She is the reigning World U20 200m champion, and a regular challenger of one Tina Clayton. They waged most of their battles at the ISSA Grace Boy’s and Girl’s Championships, more affectionately known as “Champs”. An annual high school athletics event in Kingston, Jamaica, which consistently garners both national and international plaudits.
There is a massive belief both in Jamaica and internationally that champs is a big reason the island nation continually churns out world class sprint talent. ISSA President Keith Wellington, speaking last year, lauded champs as “the biggest sporting event in the country” and having that level of national scrutiny and pressure on young athletes can make or break them. Those that shine through tend to emerge on the professional scene with immense poise and confidence, which bodes well for their transition to competing internationally.
The true extent of this international dominance, on both youth and senior levels, can be seen as Jamaica currently holds ten major sprint titles on the women’s side.
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Even without mentioning the nation’s premier young hurdlers, Kerrica Hill and Alexis James, both with world U20 gold medals to their name we can see a clear line of succession starting to emerge. The ages of this sprinting core ranges from 35 – 17 with the “old guard” showing very little signs of slowing down. As the world’s best 200m runner, Shericka Jackson, is still right in her prime (29), she serves as the perfect bridge to sustain Jamaica’s dominance over the short sprints as the young women find their feet.
Assuming that all these women will hit the lofty heights of their expectation is a reach. Nevertheless, the sheer volume of talent Jamaica has in this department is staggering. With the decade plus of dominance from Jamaica’s women we’re in, it’s not a stretch to suggest we could be on the brink of a new era of excellence for years to come.
