Upon reflection, I must conclude that the most popular question journalist send my way concerns my feeling about the sprint rivalry between Jamaica and the USA. The competitions being waged between these two nations did not begin in Beijing, while the Chinese capital may be the location of a renewal of sorts, there is a long standing history between the two sprint power houses – Jamaica and the USA – dating back to 1948, curiously at the London Olympic Games!
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
