Jamaica International Invitational

Kingston-- Jamaica is the sprint capital but track and field is a global sport.  Usain Bolt has not only placed Jamaica in the center of the international media attention and become the latest icon for tourism to his country but he has also renewed global interest in track and field.

So it wasn’t really a surprise last year when Doug Logan, CEO of USA Track and Field proposed two dual meets between Jamaican and American sprinters to take place in their countries which would have occurred this month and next.  However, those tentative meets are currently on hold as other plans are being worked out. 

At the Jamaica International Invitation, last Saturday in Kingston, Stephanie Hightower, president of USATF, sat alongside Ian Stewart, head of endurance for UK Athletics, watching the sold out stadium celebrate Jamaican and international runners.  “We’re looking at a triangular partnership now,” said Hightower.  “The whole nationalism in all of our countries is becoming more popular again.  And so we’re looking at trying to form those different partnerships with different federations.  Whether it be the U.K., whether it be Jamaica -- where we can compliment each other and no one country is dominating the event.”

Invitational meets always host the best foreign talent.  And the Penn Relays has held USA vs. the World for years but now the shift is squarely taking place so that for sprint racing it’s Jamaica vs. the world.  The US, UK and Jamaica are seeking to increase their fans and athletic talent by marketing athletes from these countries, especially in Europe where the sport has a very strong following.

“With U.K. and Jamaica and the U.S. now we might have that kind of synergy between all three of us that might make for good television production,” said Hightower.  “And we could create a good fan base and it’s a way for us to really promote the sport outside of the Olympic Games and that’s what we need to be able do.  Hopefully we can be able to come up with a competitive partnership, as I’m calling it, that’ll be able to promote track and field worldwide.”

Stewart, said “one of the longest standing meets was Great Britian vs. the USA going back to 1946.  It showed that at one time most of the good meets were matches.”

And the match-ups were seen by a packed stadium at the seventh staging of the Invitational.   Fans double parked on the sidewalk and squeezed into the bleachers to see the races between Usain Bolt and Wallace Spearman; Carmelita Jeter and Kerron Stewart and see Tyson Gay and Delloreen Ennis-London.    

Going into the 200m Spearman had said in previous interviews that he knew he couldn’t beat his good friend Bolt especially in front of his home crowd but he wanted to run a good race.  After the race, in which he finished second to Bolt with 19.98, he said running in Jamaica is “like a second home to me, so every time I come here I have fun. I get to hang out with Hugo [nickname for Bolt] at his house.”

Bolt, whose 200m win of 19.56 is the fourth fastest time said, “I went out there to get my confidence and get settled for the season.  I’m not trying to break any records this year.”

Gay chose to run the 400m and not challenge Bolt.  Although he’s Bolt’s main rivalry in the 100m and 200m when his name was announced the fans vigorously cheered for him with the respect due a world champion runner.   “I definitely love the crowd and I couldn’t believe the applause they gave me,” said Gay.  It “gave me some energy to finish strong. “ 

Jeter who finished last season with the second fastest time ever in the 100m, 10.64, said she wanted to compete at the Invitational.  “ I wanted to compete here so I was really excited when Don Quarrie invited me and I decided to come even though I was battling an ankle problem.”  Jeter won the 100m, with 10.94.

For World Champion bronze medalist Ennis-London who finished fourth in her first 100m hurdles of the season there is no rivalry.  “For us it’s fun. We don’t see it as rivalry we just see it as we’re competing and doing our best.”

  

This race was American sprinter, Monica Hargrove’s, first time in Jamaica and running at the Invitational.  Hargrove, came in second in the 400m with 51.42 but said her participation in the meet has been “an amazing experience. 

This is like track heaven, everybody here knows about track.  The crowd is great.  It’s electric, I really love it.  Hopefully, I’m invited back because I really enjoyed myself.”

In reference to the current battle for sprint dominance between Jamaica and America, she said, “I think it’s really great for the sport.  The fan base is increasing and people are running faster so obviously it’s working for our benefit.”

Bolt is the current king of the track but he won’t be forever.  Only time will tell if track and field officials will manage to increase the number of people following the sport and recruit several more Usain Bolts.  

--Connie Aitcheson