This followed confirmation from the Jamaican sprint megastar that he will again this year take part in the men’s 100 metres dash at the meet, which is the third leg of the IAAF Diamond League series.

“I’m training hard,” he said in a media release from the organisers of the meet. “The off season has been good. Everything is going according to plan.

“The aim is to defend my Olympic titles in London. Rome’s race will be a good early-season test and tell me what I need to do on the way to the Olympic Games.”

Bolt, the reigning Olympic 100 and 200 champion, clocked a nifty 9.91 seconds in the 100 before a crowd of 47,732 spectators.

“I am looking forward to returning to Rome and to being back on the fast track of the Stadio Olimpico for the Golden Gala,” Bolt said.

“I have great memories of last year’s edition. It was my first time running in Italy, and I enjoyed the fantastic crowd at the stadium.”

He added: “Someone told me it was the biggest crowd for athletics in the last 10 years, something that made me really happy.

“I remember the huge coverage from the media there. The media conference I had two days before the race was one of the biggest I ever had outside the Olympics or World Championships. I didn’t get to see much of the city, maybe I will get to see some more this year.”

This is the second Diamond League meet for the year at which Bolt, the current world record holder in the 100 and 200, has confirmed participation.

Last week, organisers said that he would contest the 100 at the Bislett Games in Norwegian city of Oslo on June 7.

via JamaicaObserver

‘King David’, as he affectionately called because of his dominance of the track, was securing his fifth lien on the regional drivers’ title.

Summerbell, who holds the Dover lap record at 1.18 seconds, was crowned the 2010 Dover and Thundersport class champion only two weeks ago.

According to reports in the Stabroek News, Summerbell, who drove a Total-sponsored Mitsubishi Evolution 8, finished two points clear of Guyana’s Kevin Jeffrey, ending with 76 points to take the Four-Wheel Drive title.

“It was really good,” commented Summerbell, shortly before departing Guyana yesterday.

Jeffrey, who produced a late burst for a last shot at the title, dominated the Seaboard Marine-sponsored series by winning all three races. He cut a 12-point deficit that Summerbell had going into the final leg of the champioonship at the South Dakota racetrack.

Jamaica’s other entrant, Peter ‘Zoom Zoom’ Rae, surrendered his lead and lost the Two-Wheel Drive title to Guyana’s Paul Vieira.

A key member of the Jamaican team, Doug Gore, did not make the trip. The car he was planning to race was sold in Guyana.

The other members of the team include Andre Anderson and motorcyclist Harlquin Rodney.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday before he left for Guyana, Rae explained that because of the fumes in the atmosphere, he had respiratory problems and that impacted his performance.

Though Jamaica had the least number of drivers participating in the third final leg of the championship, the nation managed to finish second behind Guyana for the over-regional championship, with Barbados in third place.

Source:www.jamaica-gleaner.com

BIRMINGHAM, England (CMC):

Jamaican sprint marvel Usain Bolt has captured one of the top honours at the 29th annual Commonwealth Sports Awards, despite not participating in the Games last month in Delhi.

The 24-year-old, the reigning Olympic and World champion, walked away with the Outstanding Male Athlete accolade at the awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre here on Saturday night.

British heptathlete, Jessica Ennis, the current World and European champion, won the Outstanding Female Athlete award.

Bolt and Ennis were among several elite athletes who opted out of the Commonwealth Games. Neither athlete was present at the ceremony.

Mike Fennell, the Commonwealth Games Federation chief, said it was crucial the organisation continued to recognise the accomplishments of competitors.

“I am delighted to participate in this special awards dinner at the Commonwealth Games Sports Awards for 2010,” Fennell said.

“Congratulations to all the awardees for this year. It is so important that we recognise the achievements of our Commonwealth athletes, and there is so much to be proud of.”

He added: “In October this year, we witnessed the very successful staging of the 19th Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, and once again, the world saw athletes in 17 sports from 71 countries and territories, including Para athletes.

“We now eagerly anticipate the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.”

Veteran Jamaican sports journalist, Tony Becca, of the Jamaica Gleaner, won the newly conceptualised Outstanding Sports Writer prize, sharing the award with the Sunday Times’ Nick Pitt.

There was no such luck for longstanding Jamaican netball administrator, Molly Rhone, who lost out to New Zealand squash icon Susie Simcock for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Delhi gold-winning men’s hockey team walked away with the Most Outstanding Team prize, while New Zealand’s cyclist Sam Webster captured the Outstanding Young Achiever award.

Source:www.jamaica-gleaner.com

Jamaica will boast across-the-board presence in this year’s Major League Soccer (MLS) play-offs, which kick off tonight in the United States.

Each of the top eight clubs in North America’s premier football competition will carry at least one player with strong connections to the island on its roster, ranging from a rookie getting his first taste of post-season action, to veterans with more than a decade of MLS experience and multiple titles.

Tonight’s first-leg matchup between home team Colorado Rapids and Columbus Crew will feature two of Jamaica’s emerging players – striker Omar Cummings of the Rapids and Crew defender Shaun Francis.

St Catherine native Cummings, 28, a fixture among the senior Reggae Boyz, had an impressive regular season, scoring 14 goals – tops for the Rapids and tied for fourth in the 16-team MLS. He led the Rapids to a fifth-place finish in MLS’s Western Conference and the league’s seventh best record overall.

Debut

The Rapids’ roster also includes defender-midfielder Anthony Wallace, a former United States (US) Under-20 World Cup captain, whose parents are from Kingston.

Francis, 24, a former national youth player from Mandeville, who made his senior Jamaica team debut recently against Trinidad and Tobago, entered MLS in 2010 out of Lindsey Wilson College. His confidence and playing time grew as the rookie’s season progressed and he helped the Crew to second place in the Eastern Conference, fourth best in MLS.

When MLS first leg play-off games continue on Saturday, October 30, more Jamaicans will join the action.

Heading the list will be former national player, Andy Williams, who won the 2009 MLS Cup with Real Salt Lake. The crafty 33-year-old midfielder, a 1998 World Cup veteran with a goal and seven assists this season, will take the defending champions – who finished second in the Western Conference – to Texas, where they will face FC Dallas and striker Jeff Cunningham.

Cunningham is from Montego Bay. He played one friendly international for Jamaica in 1999 before becoming an American citizen, making 14 appearances for the US

Cunningham scored 11 goals this year to move his career tally to 132, second most in league history and one behind all-time leader Jaime Moreno. The 34-year-old is also third on the all-time list of MLS games played with 344.

Speedy winger Dane Richards and his New York Red Bulls will travel to the San José Earthquakes on October 30. The in-form 26-year-old from Montego Bay, who like Cummings scored in his final MLS regular season game of 2010, has emerged a star with the Red Bulls, even after the club acquired big name players Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez in mid-season. Richards bounced back from an early season injury to score five goals in 2010.

He will face national teammates Ryan Johnson, a 25-year-old forward, and midfielder Khari Stephenson, who joined the Earthquakes in mid-season after several years in Europe.

The surging Red Bulls won the MLS Eastern Conference title, but San José, sixth in the west and eighth overall, improved with the addition of the 29-year-old Stephenson, who had one goal and an assist.

Johnson has been in solid form for the Reggae Boyz this year, scoring against Argentina and Costa Rica. He scored one MLS goal in more than 1,700 minutes of playing time in 2010, but notched eight assists.

Play-off matchup

The final play-off matchup in the first round, which features home-and-away fixtures with the team scoring the most goals advancing, will be on Sunday, October 31.

National goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts of the Los Angeles Galaxy visits defender Tyrone Marshall and the Seattle Sounders.

Ricketts, 33, followed last year’s impressive MLS debut when he was chosen Galaxy Defender of the Year, with a solid 2010. He recorded 11 shutouts this season while conceding an average of less than a goal per game. Ricketts helped his club to 59 points from 30 games, the best record in MLS.

Teenager Tristan Bowen, a US youth international whose parents are from Jamaica, is also on the Galaxy’s roster.

Former MLS All-Star Marshall has spent over a decade in the league and is a two-time MLS Cup winner with the Galaxy. Recently, he appeared as a substitute in the Sounders’ successful retention of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, North America’s answer to the English FA Cup.

It was the third time that Marshall was winning the knockout trophy. And while the retired international is no longer an automatic starter, his experience has bolstered the second-year club on and off the field.

Source:www.jamaica-gleaner.com

The second and third matches will be played on October 30 and 31, starting at 4 p.m. each day.

Jamaica’s head coach, Dr Michelle Holt, said her team has completed its preparation and is very optimistic going into today’s encounter.

“We are going into this game very confident that whatever it is that the Cubans brings we are up for it,” said Dr Holt. “This first game is a very important game because we don’t intend to lose this game.

“We want to ensure that we come away with a victory because a loss is not on the cards for us,” she said. “To be playing from behind in a three-match series will put a lot of pressure on you.”

Strengths and weaknesses

Dr Holt added that they are going to be placing a lot of their energies on making sure that they understand the Cubans and how they are playing, where their strengths and weaknesses are, and to make sure that they flush them out while there are on the field.

“I think that we are going to have to play good defence to beat them because without seeing the Cuban players, I am pretty sure that they are going to be individually very skilful and able to dribble very well,” Dr Holt stated.

“However, I think that if we are to be successful against them, I think that our defenders must be able up to stand up in front of the Cubans attackers,” she said. “I think that we also have to put away the opportunities that we get, so that we can put the pressure on them,” added Dr Holt.

The Jamaican team will be captained by Dadre Ann Clarke and includes newcomers Ebony McLean (goalkeeper) and Chantel Graham.

The rest of the squad members are Shareeka Elliott (vice-captain), Shakeela Elliott, Chantal Russell, Sauwana Gordon, Sharee Russell, Shackera Williams, Lori Ann McIntosh (goalkeeper), Kamiesha Erskine, Shana-Kay Tullonge, Demi Nicholson, Chakira Airey, Tashana Edwards, Racene Johnson, Trudy Ann Knight and Kamille Griffiths.

Meanwhile, the Cubans, who arrived in the island on Tuesday, are also oozing with confidence ahead of today’s start.

The Hilario Yera Diaz-coached Cubans beat Jamaica on the last three occasions the countries met, including a 1-0 margin at the 2006 CAC Games.

“The team has (been) preparing for three months at very high intensity with the aim of attaining our goals,” said Diaz. “We have prepared ourselves technically, physically and strategically, so we can play in very great shape.

Close contest

“The objective is to win two out of three matches. We are confident that we had good preparation and we will show that we are well prepared,” he added.

Diaz, however, respects the Jamaica team and anticipates a close contest.

“We duly respect our opponents on the field, so taking into account the shape and preparation of both teams, we are very confident that the matches will show great intensity and be a very good exhibition for fans,” Diaz pointed out.

“The purpose of the team is obviously to win. We would like to attain a victory but we are also aware that the Jamaican team is also prepared for this competition.”

In preparation for the play-offs, Cuba hosted Mexico in a three-match series and came away impressive winners as they won all three games (12-1, 7-1 and 3-0).

Source:www.jamaica-gleaner.com

Ten men and 10 women were named in the initial list from which three will be shortlisted with the help of the votes, which will be added to a poll of IAAF Athletics Family members. A shortlist of three finalists will be presented to a special jury of the International Athletic Foundation, who will then make a final selection of the World Athlete of the Year.

The winners will be announced live on stage at the 2010 IAAF World Athletics Gala in Monaco on November 21, a release from the IAAF said yesterday.

Campbell Brown, who was being nominated for the second time after being named in 2004, finished the season ranked number one in the 100m and 200m events.

She won her first IAAF Indoors 60m title this year, led the world with her personal best 10.78 seconds over the 100m and was unbeaten over the 200m where she was also the leader with 21.98 seconds, her second best time ever.

The other female candidates named are Kenya’s 3,000m steeplechaser Milcah Chemos Cheywa; Ethiopia’s World Indoors and Continental Cup 3,000m champion Meseret Defar; Great Britain’s Jessica Ennis, the World Indoor and European champion at combined events with world-leading marks at both Pentathlon (4,937) and Heptathlon (6,823); American 400m runner Allyson Felix; Brazilian pole vaulter Fabiana Murer; Belarusian shot putter Nadezhda Ostapchuk; Kazakhstani triple jumper Olga Rypakova; Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic; and Polish hammer throw, World record breaker Anita Wlodarczyk.

Four Americans are named on the men’s list including shot putter Christian Cantwell who lost just twice in 24 meets while leading the IAAF performance list with 22.41m; sprinter Tyson Gay, who was the only man to beat World Record holder Usain Bolt this past season; sprint hurdler David Oliver who was unbeaten in 15 races along with Bernard Lagat the World Indoor winners at 3,000m and Continental Cup winner and North American records at both 3,000m and 5,000m.

Australian pole vaulter Steven Hooker; French sprinter Christophe Lemaître, the surprise of the season when he became the first Caucasian to run under 10 seconds for the 100m; Kenya’s 800m World Record holder David Rudisha who will start favourite; Eritrean Zersenay Tadese the world record breaker at half marathon; France’s Teddy Tamgho the World Champion and World record holder at Triple Jump indoors at 17.90m; and Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen, winner of 12 out of 14 wins at javelin throw.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won the last two male titles, while Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson are former winners.

Source:www.jamaicaobserver.com

Jamaica won the toss and made a creditable 223, thanks to a whirlwind 58 not out from a limping Christopher Gayle, but the Windwards who made 85 for five off 20 overs when a second shower of rain ended the game after being 65 without loss at the first stoppage, won on a faster run rate.

After a sluggish start by the Jamaicans on a slow pitch and even slower outfield, the game ended in an anti-climax with the weather deciding the winners.

Chasing a sizable 224 for victory, the Windwards were well set at 65 without loss after 15 overs when the first stoppage that lasted two hours and 20 minutes came.

The target was then revised to 113 off 25 overs, but they struggled against a determined Jamaican attack led by Nikita Miller and Odean Brown who took two wickets each, losing five wickets for the addition of just 20 runs off five overs.

A third shower of rain, however, ended the contest and the Windwards were declared winners.

Openers Devon Smith made 42 not out, Jason Charles was run out for 20 by a direct throw from the deep by Marlon Samuels against Miller, who took two wickets for eight runs off four overs and Brown who got two wickets for 10 runs off three overs.

Earlier, Jamaica were off to a slow start, getting to 76 for three wickets off the first 25 overs and got to the 100-run mark in the 32nd over before two good partnerships late helped to lift the scoring rate and the total to over 200 runs.

Tamar Lambert (38) and Danza Hyatt (36) put on 75 for the fourth wicket before Gayle, who hit an unbeaten 58 and Carlton Baugh who was not out on 24, put on 85 for the sixth wicket in quick time.

Gayle, who had retired hurt after facing three balls at the start of the Jamaica innings, came back to savage the Windward Islands bowling, hitting four fours and four sixes, three sixes coming in the final over off Darren Sammy where he scored 23 runs.

Gayle, who injured his ankle and did not field, was dropped twice in the final over, as the Windwards put down four chances — two in an earlier over by substitute fielder Keddy Lesporous.

Source:www.lamaica-observer.com

Although Allen Iverson’s NBA days seem to be numbered, that’s not stopping the once-basketball superstar from seeking a team to play for, even if its overseas.

In September, reports said he was considering the option to play in China. However, his manager told Yahoo! Sports recently that the 35-year-old athlete is in serious talks to play for a Turkish team.

Following short stints in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers last season, Iverson is close to inking a contract to play with the Besiktas, said his business manager.

If the deal is finalized, unnamed sources said he could net as much as $2 million.

“We are in very serious negotiations with [Besiktas],” Iverson’s manager Gary Moore told Yahoo! Sports. “Istanbul is beautiful from everything we’ve learned. It’s not that far from the U.S., and the competition is good, which makes it all attractive.

“Allen wants to play basketball,” he continued.

According to the report, one stipulation Iverson wants on the contract is that there is a cap on what the team can fine him.

Iverson is seeking a cap of less than 1% of a $1.5 million salary for each fine, said the report. His team says they hope to get the contract by the end of the week, though the deal could take up to 10 days to be finalized.

Besiktas is among the top teams in Turkey’s first division, which starts play this weekend.

As far as the NBA, Moore said that Iverson had not been contacted by any NBA team, which they are surprised by

“We’re very astonished, to say the least, that not one team has contacted us with any interest,” Moore said. “I just don’t understand it.”

Iverson played just three games for Memphis last season before he returned for a second stint with the 76ers. In Philly, he averaged 13.9 points for the Sixers before he took a leave of absence in March because of family issues.

In his prime, Iverson was one of the biggest stars in the NBA. His jerseys and sneakers were among the top-selling among all NBA players. Despite his production declining, he was still voted an Eastern Conference All-Star starter last season.

He’s currently 17th on the NBA’s career scoring list with 24,368 points over a 14-year career. Iverson spent his first 10 seasons with the 76ers, before stints in Denver, Detroit and Memphis.

While standing on the podium during the medal presentation of the men’s 200m, Jamaica’s silver medal winner, Lansford Spence, was a picture of unreserved bliss.

The sprinter had achieved what is, up to this point, the most important achievement of his career and everyone could tell how much it meant to him.

“This means a lot to me, It means everything,” said Spence in reference to the shiny piece of silverware that was hanging from his neck.

The 400m specialist has endured some rough days, but he believes that this latest triumph represents a major turning point in his personal and athletic life, a positive foundation on which he can seriously start to lay the blocks to even greater successes in the future.

“For the past couple of years, I’ve been down and it has been rough so this will bring me back closer to where I want to be,” Spence continued. “I’m just looking forward to next year, the sky is the limit and I’m very excited about what I can do.”

Spence, who now runs out of Maurice Wilson’s Sprint Tech Track Club – based at the G.C. Foster College – credited the advice and encouragement of his coach and the hard work that he put in this year for his progress.

“When I got lane nine, I wasn’t too positive about it but my coach told me to just go out there and run the first 100m and give it my all, and that’s what I did,” Spence shared.

Kept momentum

“On the straight, I knew they were going to tighten up and get tired, so I just kept my momentum and pushed through to the line.”

Spence started somewhat slowly and was behind the leading pack after 50 metres, but produced a spirited run towards the end to finish behind England’s Leon Baptiste in 20.49 seconds, a lifetime best for the Jamaican.

When asked if he believes he left his surge towards the end a little too late, Spence seemed quite happy with his race plan and execution.

“I’m very satisfied. It’s a medal and above all a personal best, so I really can’t complain. I’m just going to enjoy this,” said Spence. “I don’t think I left it late at all. I gave it all that I got.”

After making a stamp on the Common-wealth Games, Spence has now set his sights on greater things, starting with next year’s all-important National Senior Champion-ships, which will be used as a qualifier to select Jamaica’s team to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea.

With sprint king Usain Bolt being the defending champion, he is automatically qualified to the event, meaning the country will be able to field Bolt and three other athletes in the event.

Spence is determined to be among the numbers next summer and even believes he has what it takes to pull off a surprise.

He also underlined that he has no intention of abandoning the 400m, informing that he will also pay close attention to the event next season.

“I’m going back next year for the 400m, that’s my event and I have no intention to leave that. I believe I can do very well in that event,” said Spence. “My first goal is to win the national trials and move on from there, I intend to do well in both events.

Jamaica had a slow day on the track yesterday evening at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and, as expected, struggled to send any strong signals, while sprint hurdler Andrea Bliss just missed out on a medal in the women’s 100m hurdles final.

Bliss, who finished second at Jamaica’s National Senior Championships earlier this year, finished a close fourth in the final in 13.28 seconds.

The event was won by Australia’s Sally Pearson, 12.67, while Angela Whyte (Canada), 12.92 took silver ahead of Andrea Miller (New Zealand), 13.25, barely bettering Bliss for the bronze.

“I tried my best and I believe I ran a pretty good race. I was in medal contention until I hit the last hurdle and that’s what threw me off,” said Bliss after the race. “I’m disappointed because I know I can do better than this.”

The men’s 4x100m provided the only real glimmer of hope for the Jamaicans, qualifying for the finals with the third-fastest time, 39.00 seconds. The team of 100m champion Lerone Clarke, Remaldo Rose, Steve Slowly and Rasheed Dwyer finished third behind Canada, 38.45 seconds and England, 38.67, in their heat.

Dwyer told The Gleaner that the team has a lot more to give and will be going all out in the final, as they look to defend the title the country won at the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, four years ago.

“We have some things to work on, we know we can do better and tomorrow we are surely going to do better,” said Dwyer, who ran the anchor-leg for the team.

“Tomorrow (today) is the important day and we will come good.”

The men’s 4x400m relay team struggled to qualify for today’s final, advancing as one of the fastest losers with a time of 3:06.65 seconds after finishing fourth in their heat. They will need a much-improved performance if they are to stand a chance of earning a medal.

Andron Findlay received the baton almost 10 metres clear of his closest opponent after a brilliant third leg by Ricardo Cunningham, but somehow managed to finish down the track.

Davita Prendergast, Nadia Cunningham, Tanice Barnett and Dominique Blake finished sixth in the women’s 4x400m heat in 3:42.31 seconds and will not feature in the final.

The women’s 4x100m relay team will face the starters this morning at 7:25.

Fitness concern

The Jamaican team is expected to come from Yanique Boothe, Shanna Thomas, Audra Segree and sprint hurdler Bliss. There is, however, some concern over Boothe’s fitness as she has been receiving treatment for an injury over the past couple of days.

Jabbari Ennis failed to make a mark in the men’s pole vault final, failing to clear 4.80m with his three attempts.

The Sunshine Girls will look to secure a place in the gold medal match when they face New Zealand in the semi-finals of the netball competition at 4:30 a.m. Jamaica time at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex today.

A win for the Connie Francis-coached girls will pit them against either Australia or England, who will play in the other semi-final.

It was the end of the road for history-making badminton player Gareth Henry, who became the first Jamaican in several years to play at the Round of 16 stage of the competition.

Henry lost 11-21, 14-21 to England’s Carl Baxter after 20 minutes to end what has been described as a run that showed the true potential of the youngster who will be trying to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Garron Palmer joined Henry in the men’s doubles competition and the two only survived 17 minutes, as India’s Rupesh Kallyad and Sanave Arattukulan eliminated them 2-0 (11-21, 7-21).

In table tennis, Kane Watson and Imani McPherson went down 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 7-11 to South Africans Shane Overmayer and Theo Cogill in their doubles clash, while Joseph Dibbs and Simon Tomlinson were also unsuccessful against Scotland’s Craig Howieson and Gavin Rumgay.