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FRA | Jul 29, 2024

Azaleah Campbell | Are field events being overshadowed by track events?

/ Our Today

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Reading Time: 3 minutes
Lamara Distin of Jamaica competes in the women’s high jump final during the athletics in the Alexander Stadium at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Throughout the decades, Jamaica has been dubbed the hub of track and field, but in reality, field events tend to get overlooked much too often.

Field athletes put just as much time and effort into perfecting their craft as their track counterparts, so what’s with the partiality?

While the affinity Jamaicans have with track, particularly sprinting and hurdling events, is by no means an indication that the island lacks quality athletes in the field, there is something, or rather some things, that reel viewers in more when the gun sounds than when a flag goes up.

Locals love a tooth and nail fight. It can be seen in the dominoes tournaments, cock fights and even plain driving.

FILE PHOTO: Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Men’s Long Jump – Final – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – August 2, 2021. Tajay Gayle of Jamaica in action REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Whereas many field events exude more of a slow crescendo with athletes making multiple attempts before getting it right, the doted-on track events cut directly to the chase with no deliberations, identifying clear winners in a matter of seconds. Little to no understanding of technicalities is needed to enjoy the show.

Track events also hold a lot more speed. As soon as a race begins, it’s over. This makes for a dramatic head-to-head rivalry among participants, who must quickly reach and maintain their peak performance for the duration of the race, building up tension and excitement along the way.

When you put this all together, you get Jamaica’s sporting culture.

Usain Bolt (JAM) of Jamaica looks at Andre De Grasse (CAN) of Canada as they compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Men’s 100m Semifinals at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 14, 2016. (Photo: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File)

There are three things that globally set off Jamaican alarms: reggae, Bob Marley, and the legendary Usain Bolt.

There’s no escaping the iconic combination. Sprinting and hurdling have left an indelible mark on national history, with Jamaicans looking forward to the country continuing in that direction.

Even with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games that recently got underway, many locals await August 1, 2024, with baited breath to watch track and express a total disinterest in what happens before or in between.

All hope, however, is never lost for our fielding friends. There are still several upcoming stars who find the field equally or even more entertaining than the fast track.

Who knows what the next generation may bring.

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