Track Field in Jamaica is huge. But, if you arrived from Mars, you would have missed an extraordinary period in World Athletics. The most entertaining, record-breaking, norm-shattering, jaw-dropping moments in the sport’s history, 2008-2016.
Jamaicans are track and field fanatics. So it’s only fitting that the most outstanding athlete sprang from its loin. The fastest human on earth and the quickest team on the planet came from Jamaica.
Usain Bolt, the fastest man on the planet and the most remarkable track and field athlete, leads his team, Jamaica, through the sport’s most successful period. Entertaining billions of adoring fans while looking fabulous and having fun.
Mr. Bolt, who retired in 2017, is now enjoying fatherhood, making music, building his brand, and enjoying the fruits of his labor. I am not here to talk about his exploits. They preserve it in films, prints, and music. Rather, I will look at the evolution of Jamaica’s Track and Field over a century. Also, the culture and system responsible for Jamaica’s dominance in the sprints.
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The same environment in Jamaica produces and nurtures talented musicians. Exist for athletes, where their abilities develop naturally in their surroundings.
Children on the Island develop their musical skills at an early age. Imitating famous musicians heard on the radio. They use their environment to produce Reggae infectious beats. Desktops in school, old buckets, tin cans, or anything they can manipulate to create melodies.
Many youths aspire to be like the popular entertainers of their time. Singing in the church choir, concerts, and competitions with peers sharpens their skills. It is hard to find a child in Jamaica who loves music and hasn’t played musical battles with friends or performed at church or school, or community events.
Track and Field in Jamaica is no different. As soon as a child learns to walk, running fast is the next progression. Jamaican children spend a lot of time outside playing. Foot race is typical; someone always tries to prove they are the fastest.
Running an errand for parents is always a quick dash. At school, they are constantly running. They like to be first, first to get to the playground, to join the line. There is always competition to be first at something. Even the games that they play involve a lot of running. Stucky/Tag is one of their favorites.
The culture on the Island ensures children develop and display their athletic talents. Schools, churches, and the community facilitate this development.
It is impossible for a Jamaican child not to participate in organized athletics. There is an avenue for them to compete at every level. Their first encounter starts in kindergarten at three years old.
It is customary for schools to have a sports day once per year where the entire school displays its athletic abilities while earning points for their team.
They customized events for 3 to 6-year-old; sprinting is a major component. The faster students usually come out on top. Ribbons, praises, and points for their team are the rewards. From a tender age, Jamaicans learn it is rewarding to run fast. As a result, speed and competition become a part of their DNA.
Unfortunately, this manifests in other areas where it is sometimes deadly. Despite the laid-back vibe on the Island, everybody is in a rush when driving. It is common for drivers to go twice the speed limit. Overtake dangerously stopped after a few chains.
By the time athletes reach seniors, they will have participated in many competitions. Making it as a professional or doing the sports for recreational becomes a straightforward decision. Many battles with their peers from a young age make the pecking order obvious.
These are competitions an athlete representing Jamaica might have participated in as part of their development.
Organize competitions for 3-6-year-old, sometimes younger. The schools stage internal events in which everybody participates. Then, they select the fastest students to represent their school at Regional or National competitions.
Basic School Championship takes place at the national stadium every year in June. Children compete in relays, sprints, hurdles, and other obstacle events. This competition is fun to watch.
These athletes don’t get specialist training. Instead, class teachers with basic knowledge of Physical Education usually are their coaches.
Exceptional students get recruited for primary school (elementary school) and preparatory school (private elementary school) Track and Field Programs.
This Championship is for students ages 6- 12, held yearly at the national stadium. Although it’s a national event, most schools that take part are from Kingston and St. Catherine because schools in rural areas cannot afford transportation or accommodation for the duration.
The competition takes place over 3 to 4 days, early or late May, and mimics the high school championship. The event has a qualification system of prelims, semifinals, and finals—athletes who make it to the finals score team points that help determine the champion school.
The government organized it through The Institute of Sport (INSport). Primary Champs is the only track meet sponsor and is run by a government agency.
Students take part in several developments for primary schools before the Championship.
The Independent Schools Association (JISA) organizes Prep Champs held at the national stadium every year in late May or early June for three days. It caters to athletes from 6 to 12 years old. They focus on sprints, relays, and jumps. Athletes run prelims, semifinals, and a final. Like the primary school competition, the top eight final finishers earn points.
Although this competition depends on individual athletes to do well, it’s team-oriented. As a result, teams with the fastest athletes don’t always win, but the school that scores the most points.
Parish Championship is another platform for public primary schools (elementary) and all-age schools (junior high) to showcase their talent. It covers the entire Island and involves students from 6 to 15 years old.
Schools are zoned based on their location. The best athletes from each zone compete for a spot on the parish team where the schools are located. Those who make the parish teams compete in the Parish Championship. All fourteen parishes participate, so athletes from all over the Island get to show off their skills.
Because of the rigorous qualification process, only the two best athletes from each parish compete in each event. Therefore, the competition standard is high. It also takes fewer days to complete.
The Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) runs Parish Champs. It has a major sponsor and stage over two days.
These grass-root events play an essential role in track and field development in Jamaica.
Students get exposure to professional Coaches or trained physical education teachers. They also learn how to compete and negotiate the rounds. Some students compete for over four years at this level. By the time they get to high school, most master the basics of athletic training and competition.
Prep Champs, Parish Champs, and Primary Champs are where most of the Island’s top athletes get discovered and recruited to prominent high schools in track and field.
Some of Jamaica’s top Olympians and upcoming stars competed at these meets. Here are a few, Shelly-Ann Frazer Pryce, Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Warren Weir, Kerron Stewart, Raheim Chambers, Christopher Taylor, Veronica Campbell Brown, Merlene Ottey, and many more.
Jamaica has the biggest high school track and field meet in the world. The Inter-Secondary School Association (ISSA) Boys and Girls Championship is Earth’s only of its kind. In terms of competition, rivalry, performance, organization, atmosphere, history, and attendance.
The boy’s Championship started in 1910 at Sabina Park in Kingston with six schools. Principals organized it while volunteers, teachers, and coaches officiated. It grew over the years and is a significant part of the culture.
The Girls Championship started in 1914 but became a consistent fixture in the 1960s. However, in 1999 it merged with the boys because it was doing poorly financially. Although the boy’s event packed the national stadium on Saturdays, the girls struggled to attract support despite consistently putting out high-quality performances.
The merger of both championships in 1999 gave the girls a bigger platform to showcase their talent.
ISSA Boys & Girls Championship is the perfect rehearsal stage for the World Championship and Olympics. Some athletes say the energy at Champs is even more intense than at the Olympics. Jamaica’s star athletes all got their first experience of high pressured competition there.
Some excelled and continued at the senior level, while others improved significantly after Champs. Athletes such as Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell, Yohan Blake, Merlene Ottey, Donald Quarrie, and Herb McKenley flourish at this level.
Shelly-ann Frazer Pryce, Elaine Thompson, and Asafa Powell competed, but they were not standouts. However, they improve significantly after high school.
At Champs, Asafa showed the sign of what was to plague his entire career. Underperformance on the big stage.
In his last year at Boys And Girls Champs in 2001, he was a favorite going into the class 1 boys 100m finals. But unfortunately, he couldn’t handle the pressure. False started and got disqualified. Despite being a favorite, the same scenario happened in 2003 at the World Championship disqualifications from the 100m finals. Again, choking under pressure, an albatross he could not cut loose.
Boys and Girls Champs Final Day
The girls’ competition is fierce among top schools. For almost two decades, Holmwood and Edwin Allen High shared the title. Previously, Vere Technical High School and St. Jago were the dominant teams.
The boys’ rivalry goes back for over a century. Kingston won over 30 times, the most by any school. Kingston College, Jamaica College, Calabar, Wolmers High, and Monroe College, are traditional schools that have been a part of since its inception.
People come to the national stadium to cheer for those teams, especially Jamaica College, Calabar, and Kingston College. However, most of their supporters never attended or connected to those schools.
Each top team fan takes over a section of the national stadium on Friday and Saturday. They religiously pack these sections every year. Spectators wearing purple and white (KC), green and black (Calabar), maroon and gold (Wolmers), blue and white (JC), and yellow and green (Saint Jago) dominate the stadium. The neutral fans and other teams sit in an area by themselves.
Champs’s atmosphere is festive, with outlandish hairstyles, horns, drums, waves, and dancing, worth miles going to see.
A winner of a hotly contested race runs to the section dominated by their supporters to salute, wave and bask in the adoration of fans.
After decimating his competitors in the 100m finals at the 2008 Olympics, Usain Bolt’s celebration was controversial. But this was nothing new to Jamaica track field fans. Tromping the chest to show dominance after winning a fiercely contested sprint is a part of Champ’s culture.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jamaica’s track and field athletes shocked the world. Everybody was in awe of Usain Bolt’s performance. Not only was he winning and destroying records, but he was also having fun. Something alien to the track and field, where everyone is tense and focused at the start. His Lightning Bolt pose and the latest dancehall moves at the end of his races were infectious.
Usain Bolt’s teammates were also impressive; Shelly-Ann Frazer-Pryce won the female 100m finals. If that wasn’t great enough, her compatriots were both placed second.
They showed dominance by winning the women’s 200m and 400m hurdles and silver and bronze medals in other events.
The Island had been competitive for years, but it was the first time it dominated the USA in the sprints. This had the world asking, how do Jamaicans run so fast? What is their secret?
Success did not start for Jamaica in 2008, as some people might think. On the contrary, it started a long time before. Jamaica won four medals at its first Olympics in 1948, one gold and two silver in Track and Field. In 1952, Jamaica won two gold and three silver medals in the following Olympics.
Every Jamaican knows about Arthur Wint, Jamaica’s first Olympic gold medalist. He won the 400m in the 1948 games in London. Also, the 1952 Olympics Games heroes in Helsinki, Finland, Arthur Wint, George Rhoden, Leslie Laing, and Herb McKenley. They dramatically defeated the USA in the men’s 4x400m relay, breaking the world record.
Their legacy is preserved in books and films to inspire generations.
Aurther Wint Winning Jamaica’s First Gold Medal at The Olympics Ahead of Teammate Herb Mackenly (National Media Museum from the UK, via Wikimedia Commons)
Although Herb McKenley never won an individual gold medal at the Olympics, he is the godfather of Jamaica’s track and field success. A versatile sprinter who ran the 100m, 200m, and 400m at a single Olympic game. An exceptional coach who molded many young minds and helped to build Jamaica’s track and field structure. He was president of the JAAA and coached the national team for many years.
As Jamaicans affectionally called him, Herb Mac ran the 100m as warm for the 400 and almost won. He broke the world record several times and was the first to run under 46 seconds for the 400m. His split of 44.6 seconds on the 4x400m at the 1952 Olympics was the fastest. After that, nobody ran a faster leg until the 1968 games.
Hon Herb McKenley’s inspirational athletic career, excellent coaching and motivation skill, national team leadership, and the JAAA set the foundation for Jamaica’s dominance in Track and Field.
The performances of the 1948 and 1952 Olympic teams were the blueprint for Jamaica’s track and field success. Jamaica failed to win a medal at only two Olympic games after 1952, the Melbourne game in 1956 and Tokyo in 1964. They didn’t take part as a nation in the1960.
Jamaica came close to repeating its Gold medal-winning performance of the 1940s and 50s when Lennox Miller came second in the 100m finals at the Mexico games in 1968. Then, Donald Quarrie won Jamaica’s first Olympic gold medal at the 1976 Montreal games since independence. He won the 200m and finished second in the 100m. This reignited Jamaica’s passion for Athletics and influenced the next star, Merlene Ottey.
Merlene Ottey never realized her dream of being an Olympic Champion. She came close several times. The closest and most controversial was finishing second in 100m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Many people still believed they cheated her out of the gold medal.
She is an inspiration for Jamaica’s female athletes. Won many races, set many records and motivated countless people. Since winning Jamaica’s first female Olympic medal at the 1980 Masco Olympics, she medaled at every game except Seoul, Korea, in 1988.
The last time she represented Jamaica was at the Sydney games. At age 40, she won a bronze in the 100m and silver with the 4x100m team. Running on that relay team was a young Veronica Campbell Brown.
Deon Hemmings became Jamaica’s first female Olympic gold medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Setting an Olympic record and raising the bar for the Island’s female Track and Field.
Her performance was special because she defeated American favorite world record holder Kim Batten in her backyard. However, she was not hot on Jamaica’s Track and Field radar, taking a different route to success.
Female athletes that came close to being Jamaica’s first Gold Medalist are Grace Jackson Small, second in the 200m at the 1988 Seoul Games, and Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, who came second in the 100m and 200m at the 1992 Barcelona games.
Ironically, a 400m hurdler and not a sprinter gave Jamaica its first female gold medal. Also, by someone not popular in Jamaica’s Track and Field culture. It almost mirrors Arthur Wint when he won the island gold medal in the 400m.
Some people regard 2004 to 2016 as Jamaica Track and Field’s Golden era. The Athens Olympics was the start of Jamaica’s most successful period. Veronica Campbell Brown was the catalyst, winning Jamaica’s first Gold medal in the female Sprints. Victory in the 200m and 4x100m put her above Merlene Ottey.
The accomplishment of VCB and her teammates only open the appetite of a track-crazy nation. They were hungry for more success.
On the Jamaica team were two athletes that changed world athletics, Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt. Bolt, 17 years old, ran the 200m prelim. He finished fifth and didn’t advance. A favorite for the men’s 100m title, Powell came fifth in the finales.
One year later, he broke the world record. The first Non-American sprinter to accomplish this feat after Canadian Donavon Bailey. This proved that Jamaican athletes could train and develop on the Island through local coaches.
Asafa broke or equaled the world record several times. Although he never won an individual Global title, he is one of Jamaica’s greatest sprinters.
His achievement gave local senior coaches and athletes confidence that they could be the best and didn’t have to play second fiddle to the USA. This set a wave of talented athletes opting to study at local universities and train with local coaches.
MVP Track Club based at the University of Technology and Racers Track Club at the University of the West Indies were two major players.
When Usain Bolt started to dabble with the 100m in 2008, things got crazy. He not only recorded phenomenal times but when against conventional wisdom. This says tall athletes cannot run fast over 100m because their height hinders them from getting the explosiveness needed for quick speed build-up.
He put all doubts to rest, shattered the world record, destroyed a world-class field while tromping his chest, and looked behind, 20m from the finish line setting a new mark of 9.69.
Broke the 200m world record by running 19.26 and 4x100m. However, because of his teammate Nesta Carter’s drug suspension, he returned to the 2008 4x100m gold medal in 2017.
Usain Bolt’s performance was an inspiration for his teammates. Everyone performed beyond expectation. Shelly-Ann Frazer Pryce introduced herself to the world, winning the women’s 100m title. Her teammates were both placed second, giving Jamaica a clean sweep of the medals.
Jamaica won 6 Gold medals, the most in the Island’s history, thus, staking its claim as a track and field superpower.
The success of Jamaica’s sprinters motivated local coaches and athletes to explore other events. The Island now wins medals in the long jump, shot put, and other field events. Tajay Gayle surprised the world by winning the 2019 World Championship long jump title.
Usain Bolt Statue At Jamaica’s National Stadium
Track and Field clubs have been around since the 1970s. Alcan Track Club (Windalco), Racer Track Club, Kirkvine Track Club, Mobay Comets, Jamalco, and Bolts Of Lighting were a few that existed. The JDF and JCF also had a vibrant track program that allowed members to train and compete at national meets. There were also police youth clubs that took part in community events.
Alcan Track Club, Jamalco, and Kirkvine were all supported by bauxite companies. Some athletes worked for these organizations. Track clubs provided an opportunity for talented Jamaican athletes who could not get into US colleges.
The launch of the MVP Track Club in 1999 revolutionized Jamaica’s track and field. It brought professionalism and showed that staying home and competing against the world is possible.
JAAA, the local governing body for Track and Field, did not want to change things. They saw no reason to interfere with what had worked for decades. The most talented athletes from the Island go to the US collegiate system for development; then, a few represent their country.
Although the American Collegiate system is the best, it didn’t always work for Jamaica’s young talents. Many got lost in a system with little interest in their athletic career after university. A busy collegiate schedule also took a toll on their body. As a result, they weren’t at their best when representing their country.
MVP was an option for athletes who wanted to live and train in Jamaica. Also, athletes that completed their studies in the USA didn’t have support to transition. Brigitte Foster-Hylton was the first athlete who returned and trained with the club. She won gold in the 100m hurdles at the 2009 World Championship.
Dennis Johnson, Jamaica pioneer in modern track and field training and the first to align track club to university. He played a major role in getting Stephen Francis to move his base at The University of Technology.
Stephen Francis, head coach and co-founder of the MVP Track Club, used Utech to attract young talents who would have been eying college overseas. Instead, they develop while representing the institution, then transition to the club when they complete their studies.
It was an easier sell to athletes and their parents than the club itself. This widens the pool of talents he could access, resulting in more world-class athletes from his club.
Glen Mills has been coaching Caribbean athletes for decades. He trained two athletes who won medals at the World Championship in the 100m. Jamaican Raymon Stewart, 1987 silver medalist, Saint Vincent sprinter, Kim Collins 2003 winner.
Usain Bolt teaming with Glen Mills and his success at the 2008 Olympics brought in a wave of new talent to Racer Track Club. They launched the Racer Track Club in 2009 with the structure of a professional organization.
The success of the MVP and Racers Track Club showed local athletes that they didn’t have to go overseas to become world-class athletes. Instead, they could stay in Jamaica and be successful.
Other professional track clubs sprang after.
There are eight professional track clubs on the Island most of the senior athletes representing Jamaica belong to one of them.
Swept Track Club
Camron Blazers
TITANS International Track Club
The Gibson relay
Western Relay
Boys and Girls Champs
JAAA Invitational
Racers Grand Prix
The National Senior and Junior Trails.
Check this website for dates and venues for these events
Running is a natural part of all Jamaican children’s life. From informal to organized competition, all pass through these phases.
Jamaica’s track and field culture began in 1910 with the staging of the first Boys and girls champs. It laid the foundation for future success and made track an important part of the Island’s culture. Champs is a cultural phenomenon and have existed for over a century. It is the only of its kind in the entire world.
Jamaica’s greats excelled or took part in this competition and used it to launch their careers. The merger of Boys and Girls Champs in 1999 allowed the girls to showcase their talents in front of a larger audience. Thus, elevating their performance and inspiring more girls to enter the sport.
Herb McKenley, George Rhoden Laing, and Arthur Wint set the foundation for Jamaica’s international track and field at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics. Their performance inspired all those who followed.
Lennox Miller and Donald Quarrie continued the tradition with success in the sprints. Then inspired Merlene Ottey, the first female Olympic medalist. Next, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn took it further by winning double silver medals. Finally, Deon Hemmings started the golden age for females when she won the first gold medal for Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Veronica Campbell-Brown, inspired by Merlene Ottey, who attended Vere Technical High school, ushered in the golden generation. She won two gold at the Olympics in 2004.
The creation of MVP, the first professional track club on the Island, changed Jamaica’s fortune in athletics forever. Asafa Powell, coached by Stephen Francis, founder of the MVP track club, broke the world record. This gave confidence to local coaches and athletes. They realized it was possible to dominate the world without leaving Jamaica.
This was an inspiration for Bolt and the Racers Track Club. Bolt dominated the sprints from 2008 to 2016, breaking all records and setting new boundaries. Many Jamaican athletes did well at international competitions. Shelly-Ann Frazer Pryce, Jamaica’s most successful female athlete, dominated the 100m at World Championships and Olympics Games.