Back then, the battles were primarily among the men with only Una Morris, Rosie Allwood and Marilyn Neufville being major factors on the female side of things. While the men continued matching strides with the Americans in the 70′s that decade also saw for the first time the presence of an athlete, who in addition to being my track role model, became one of the all-time great female sprinters, Merlene Ottey. Her wonderful accomplishments are well documented and she paved the way for the Grace Jacksons, Juliet Cuthberts and Jackie Puseys of the island to match with the best the USA could offer including Evelyn Ashford, Florence Griffiths-Joyner and Gwen Torrence.

As long as athletics live, we will witness sprint rivalries, if not between the two current sprint giants, it will be between some other countries. I have witnessed, from near and from afar, the rivalry intensifies over the years and something tells me that the rivalry between Jamaica and the USA will continue for a very long time. The talent pool is just too deep in Jamaica and the resources and talent are just too aplenty in America for this rivalry to cease anytime soon.

Boxing has had Ali-Frazier, tennis has Nadal-Djokovic and track and field has USA-Jamaica. What would sports be without great rivalries? The greater the competitions the brighter the future of our sport and the more exciting it will be for fans and spectators as they anticipate and eagerly awaits each “match-up.”

2012 will be another great year for athletics, and may the rivalry be both pleasant and intense!

Until next time

“God bless”

Veronica

As a world class sprint athlete, I must say that the amount of preparation that is required for me to perform at my best, at the highest level, is quiet strenuous on my body. As a result, it is imperative that I am in good health to undertake the workload, so as to remain on top of my game.

Whether you are young, old, athletic or non-athletic, good health is essential to enable you to perform at your best in your daily tasks. There are numerous ways to live a healthy lifestyle and of course, the benefits are wonderful! Believe it or not, good health starts with both our mindset and our attitude – positive mindset and attitude that is! To explain further, good health is more than just caring for one’s body. It begins with a positive attitude towards self and a positive mindset towards the world in which we live. A positive view on life, can no doubt aid in good health.

I am by no means saying that is the only way to be healthy, I am merely saying that a positive attitude and mindset are great foundations on which to begin your journey to living a healthy life.

I am fully aware of the fact that good health takes time and effort but I am certain that it is worth the investment. As a result, it is important to eat the right types of food, get an adequate amount of sleep (experts believe that eight hours per night is ideal), exercise daily as physical activities are one of the best ways to develop a fit and healthy body. It is also a great way to maintain that lovely feminine physique………lol. Additionally, physical activities will boost your mood, energize your body and allow you to live a more vibrant and happy life.

“Healthy” keys to remember:
1. Maintain a positive mindset and attitude
2. Engage in regular physical activities
3. Eat healthy food
4. Get adequate sleep

Until next time,

VCB