Jamaican sprint sensation Usain 'Lighting' Bolt, once again proved he is still the fastest human being on the planet, outclassing the field in the 100 meters (9.58 secs) and 200 meters (19.19 secs) (both world records) at the recent Track & Field World Championship in Berlin, Germany. In similar style, Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser took home gold in the women’s 100 meters event, beating the other top seven female sprinters in a world leading 10.73 seconds. It was a proud moment for all Jamaicans in the US Caribbean Diaspora including Louis Grant, Executive Director of Irie Jamboree and VP of Irie Jam Radio - Caribbean Media partners for the Reebok Grand Prix athletics meet in New York, where Bolt first broke the World record in the 100 meters on May 31, 2008.
"On behalf Reebok, Global Athletics & Marketing as well as our associate sponsors Heineken, Digicel, Western Union, Jamaica National, Nesta Brand, Eye Collection and the management & staff of Irie Jamboree, I am pleased to extend congratulations to world record holder Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and the entire team for their incredible performance, culminating in Bolt's decisive victory and Powell’s third place finish in Berlin over a field of the world's fastest men" Grant said.
“I must also extend congratulations to our awesome female athletes Shelly Ann Fraser and Kerron Stewart who took home gold and silver medals in the 100 meters; hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Delloreen Ennis-London, 400 m champion Melaine Walker, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Aileen Bailey, Simone Facey and all our Jamaican athletes for holding our region high above the rest of the world and for making us extremely proud" he said.
Grant also sang praises to 21-year old Ryan Brathwaite, who helped his native Barbados win their first ever men's gold medal at the world championships in the 110 meters hurdles with a national record of 13.14 seconds. Other significant performances in Berlin were by Bahamas "Golden Girls" Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Chandra Sturrup, Panamanian 200m men's silver medalist Alonso Edward, Trinidad's Kelly Ann Baptiste (200m) and 17-year-old Jehue Gordon, who finished fourth in the men's 400 meters hurdles final. There were also countless athletes of Caribbean decent who represented other nations, including British Heptathlon Champion Jessica Ennis, Debbie Dunn and Sanya Richards USA (400m) who all won medals.
"Our Caribbean athletes have once again made a bold statement to the rest of the world regarding the future of track and field and the need for other nations to reckon with the region as undeniably the world's superpower in the sprint events" he said.
At last year's Irie Jamboree festival - which was dedicated to Caribbean athletes representing the region at the summer Olympics’ in Beijing - Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown were both honored. Aileen Bailey, Chelsea Hammond and Bert Cameron were among the Olympians in attendance.
Without divulging too much information, Grant hinted that his team is again planning another special tribute for the athletes at Irie Jamboree 2009.
"Over the years, the region has produced many great Caribbean Olympians who have advanced our formidable athletics tradition on the international stage. It is only fitting that their legacy be recognized by us, reggae kindred at North America's premier reggae festival" he noted.
Among the reggae acts slated to perform at Irie Jamboree on Labor Day Sunday September 6 2009 at the York College Outdoor Complex in Queens, NY are Grammy winner Sean Paul, Tarrus Riley, Mr. Vegas, TOK, Assassin, Pinchers, Daddy Lizard, Shinehead, Black Ryno, Jah Vinci, Flourgon, Lady G, Freddy McGregor, Ken Boothe, Sugar Minott, Spice, Chino, Barbee, Anthony Cruz, Laden, Lushy Banton, Steele, Humble and Tasha T from Toronto, Canada.
