NATIONAL representatives Oshane Bailey and Shereefa Lloyd were among nine record breakers at the Camperdown Classic at the Usain Bolt Track at the University of the West Indies yesterday.
Bailey of Akan Track Club clocked 10.47 seconds to win the Open men's 100m, smashing the old mark of 10.61 set by former world champion Kim Collins in 2005.
Lloyd clocked 53.17 seconds to win the women's 400m Open
Kevean Smith of Jamaica College sprints to victory in the Class One Boys 100 metres in an impressive 10.63secs at the Camperdown Classic at the Usain Bolt Track at the UWI Bowl yesterday. Bernardo Brady of Camperdown (10.84) and Nicholas Griffiths of St George’s (10.95) were second and third respectively in the time final.
Lloyd clocked 53.17 seconds to win the women's 400m Open 1/2
Bailey won ahead of Kemar Bailey Cole of Racers in 10.56 and Anthony Drysdale, 10.95.
World championship bronze medallist Lloyd clocked 53.17 seconds to win the women's 400m Open, erasing the 55.01 set by Jenice Daley in 2008.
Lloyd finished ahead of Davita Prendergast in 54.56 and Schillonie Calvert, 54.91.
Vere Technical's Shericka Jackson clocked 12.09 seconds in the Class Two Girls 100 metres to lower the previous mark of 12.15 by Immaculate's Samantha Elliott in 2008.
Melissa Williams of St Jago posted 12.18 for second ahead of Chanice Bonner of Queen's, 12.44.
Jamaica College (JC) posted a record 44.67 seconds to win the Class Three Boys 4x100m, breaking their own mark of 44.68 set two years ago.
Calabar finished second in 45.19 and JC Striders in 45.82.
St Andrew and Excelsior both clocked 49.47 seconds to claim the Class Four Girls 4x100m, smashing the old mark of 49.49 set by St Jago last year.
Camperdown were third in 50.46 seconds.
Chantal Duncan of Vere clocked 2:15.92 in the Class One Girls 800m, breaking the 2:19.20 set by C Cousins of Immaculate in 2007.
Lavaughn Palmer of GC Foster, 2:16.66, finished second, while Rushell Clayton of Vere, 2:18.66, was third.
St Jago's Shevel McDonald clocked 2:15.46 to smash the 2:17.05 time set by Neisha Morgan of Manchester High in 2006 in the Class Two Girls 800.
Taska Johnson and Olivia James, both of Vere, were second and third -- Johnson in 2:16.23 and James in 2:20.22.
In the field, Kemarki Absolam's 2.10m was a record in the Class One boys high jump, bettering the 2.00m posted by Calabar's Andrew Riley in 2008.
Chanice Porter cleared a record 1.80 metres to win the Class Two Girls high jump ahead Krista-Gaye Taylor of Alpha and Chenell Palmer of Vere with 1.70m each.
Meanwhile, Kevean Smith of JC posted a blistering 10.63 seconds to win the Class One Boys 100 ahead of Bernardo Brady of Camperdown in 10.84 and Nicholas Griffiths of St George's, 10.95.
Ashley Stephens captured the Class Three Girls 100m in 12.48 ahead of Janeal Brown of Manchester, 12.80, and Renee Smith of Alpha, 12.81.
Rushell Burton of St Andrew secured the Class Four event in 12.67 ahead of Jody Ann Petrie of Excelsior, 12.76, and Randese Ennis of Camperdown, 13.05.
Racers had a one-two-three in the Men's 400m Open as Edino Steele posted 46.16 with Mario Forsythe second in 46.90 and Yohan Blake third in 47.01.
Shanice Clarke of Vere won the Class Three Girls 800m in a time of 2:19.84 ahead of Shanieke Watson of Holmwood in 2:20.10 and Roshae Burrell of St Jago in 2:20.83.
The boys equivalent went to Dirk Williamson of JC in 2:06.09 followed by Ryan Holmes (2:06.39) of Edwin Allen and Calabar A's Malcolm Campbell (2:06.84).
Kendon Guy of St George's claimed the Class One Boys event in 1:56.90 ahead of Shavon Barnes of Camperdown (1:57.34) and Waquar Dacosta of JC (1:57.86).
In Class Two, Calabar's Jorel Bellafonte claimed the top spot in 1:58.45, with Robert Thomas of Monk Street boys second in 2:00.64 and Romaine Headman of JC in 2:00.94.
The Class One Girls 4x100m went to Holmwood in 46.67 seconds ahead of St Jago 47.81 and The Queen's in 49.32.
St George's won the boys equivalent in 41.62 with Calabar second in 41.63 and Monk Street boys third in 42.09.
St Jago was victorious in Class Two in 48.14 ahead of Queen's in 48.36 and St Andrew in 48.49.
Calabar captured the boys equivalent in 42.83 as St Jago finished second in 43.00 and JC Striders third in 43.49.
The Class Three Girls sprint relay was won by Camperdown in 48.54 ahead of Holmwood, 48.95, and St Jago, 49.13.
The Class Four Boys race was won by Calabar in 47.28 ahead of JC, 47.70, and Camperdown, 48.82.
Vere's Marsielle McBean cleared 1.65m to win the Class One Girls high jump ahead of Kimberley Golding of Alpha and Jami-Lee Gordon of Manchester tied for second with heights of 1.55m each.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Olympians Asafa Powell and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce lit up 33rd Milo Western Relays
Olympians Asafa Powell and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce lit up yesterday's 33rd Milo Western Relays at the Catherine Hall Stadium, in Montego Bay, displaying dazzling speed in anchoring their respective teams to victory in the male and female 4x100 metres for clubs and institutions.
However, while Powell's magnificent burst of speed anchored his team to a record 38.53 seconds, the 43.68 done by Fraser-Pryce and her teammates fell short of the record 43.46, which the 2006 MVP team established.
Powell, who looked extremely fit, was quite pleased with his performance, describing the burst of speed that took him across the finish line in front as a "good run". Powell's effort was supported by Nester Carter, Ainsley Waugh and the veteran Michael Frater.
"I felt quite good out there. It is always a pleasure to come down here to Montego Bay and perform for my fans on this side of the island," said Powell, as he tried to make his way through a sea of autograph-seeking fans.
"It is good that we got the record," he added.
Fraser-Pryce, who recently completed a short IAAF ban, was a picture of composure as she got the baton in front after good early legs by Ayana Wilson, Sherone Simpson, and Sherika Williams, and raced to the finish line without being seriously challenged.
"I am happy with the way I ran today and the fact that the fans appreciated our effort," said Fraser-Pryce. "I always enjoy running here in Jamaica."
While he was pleased with the calibre athletes that were on display, meet director Ray Harvey was somewhat disappointed with the turnout of fans.
"It was good to see the likes of Asafa and Shelly-Ann coming here and running real fast," said Harvey. "It is a pity that we did not have a bigger turnout of fans but we just have to keep plodding along because we need an event like this here in the west."
One of the early highlights of yesterday's meet was the presentation of The Gleaner's/Youthlink award, which had three recipients for the first time. The three awardees were world junior 100m champion Dexter Lee, Youth Olympic 100m gold medallist, Odean Skeen of Wolmer's Boys' School and Herbert Morrison High's rising star athlete, Seidatha Palmer.
However, while Powell's magnificent burst of speed anchored his team to a record 38.53 seconds, the 43.68 done by Fraser-Pryce and her teammates fell short of the record 43.46, which the 2006 MVP team established.
Powell, who looked extremely fit, was quite pleased with his performance, describing the burst of speed that took him across the finish line in front as a "good run". Powell's effort was supported by Nester Carter, Ainsley Waugh and the veteran Michael Frater.
"I felt quite good out there. It is always a pleasure to come down here to Montego Bay and perform for my fans on this side of the island," said Powell, as he tried to make his way through a sea of autograph-seeking fans.
"It is good that we got the record," he added.
Fraser-Pryce, who recently completed a short IAAF ban, was a picture of composure as she got the baton in front after good early legs by Ayana Wilson, Sherone Simpson, and Sherika Williams, and raced to the finish line without being seriously challenged.
"I am happy with the way I ran today and the fact that the fans appreciated our effort," said Fraser-Pryce. "I always enjoy running here in Jamaica."
While he was pleased with the calibre athletes that were on display, meet director Ray Harvey was somewhat disappointed with the turnout of fans.
"It was good to see the likes of Asafa and Shelly-Ann coming here and running real fast," said Harvey. "It is a pity that we did not have a bigger turnout of fans but we just have to keep plodding along because we need an event like this here in the west."
One of the early highlights of yesterday's meet was the presentation of The Gleaner's/Youthlink award, which had three recipients for the first time. The three awardees were world junior 100m champion Dexter Lee, Youth Olympic 100m gold medallist, Odean Skeen of Wolmer's Boys' School and Herbert Morrison High's rising star athlete, Seidatha Palmer.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
102-year-old Canadian gospel singer to be honoured at Grammy Awards
TORONTO - In 1966, George Beverly Shea claimed his first — and what he figured would be his last — Grammy Award. After all, he was happily settling into what he naturally assumed would be the twilight of his long, illustrious career.
He was 57 years old then, when the eighth annual instalment of the Grammys was conducted concurrently in Los Angeles, Nashville, Chicago and New York.
Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler's patriotic ode "Ballad of the Green Berets" was atop the charts in the U.S. at the time, while the Vietnam War raged halfway around the world.
Shea always felt out of place in Hollywood and this night was no exception. He liked to refer to himself as "just a psalm singer" from the small town of Winchester, Ont. He watched as the event's big awards were scooped up by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Herb Alpert, Tom Jones (who, believe it or not, won for best new artist), and a 23-year-old Barbra Streisand.
Shea shared the honour for best gospel or other religious recording with Anita Kerr. The award was presented to the duo by the master of ceremonies, comedian Jerry Lewis.
Though back then the Grammys weren't televised live, Shea didn't need video evidence of the incident to crystallize it in his mind. He savoured every detail. After all, he knew he wouldn't be back.
"Oh my, never," he said now, reached via telephone from his home in North Carolina.
"It was a privilege to be there once. You know, that's the way we looked at it."
But he was wrong. He will be back. At 102 years old, George Beverly Shea is going to be recognized by the Grammys again.
The gospel singing legend will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at a ceremony on Saturday, the evening before the 53rd Grammy Awards.
Shea will be feted alongside Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton and the Ramones.
"You consider all those famous people in that category, it makes me think of the farmer that wanted to put his mule in the Kentucky Derby race — they said, 'Well, you know, he'll lose.' And the farmer said, 'Well, yeah, but look at the company he's keeping!'" Shea said with a chuckle.
"That's the way I feel a little bit, you know."
Of course, that's not exactly fair, given Shea's own achievements, and the way his rich bass-baritone voice has enabled him to explore every corner of the world, to become acquainted with generations of famous singers and to maintain a career for more than 70 years.
But he still prefers to look back on his achievements with a modesty instilled at an early age by his father, a Wesleyan Methodist minister.
Shea was born Feb. 1, 1909 in Winchester, a small community in Eastern Ontario. The fourth of eight children, Shea's family moved around several times, including a stay in the United States, but Shea mostly grew up around Ottawa.
He played violin, piano and organ but his vocal talent emerged early, and he became a fixture in the choir at his father's church. Later, when Shea attended Houghton College in Western New York, he sang with the glee club.
It was back in 1940 when Shea's hobby began to become something more. He was 31 years old, working as a radio announcer at a small station in Chicago. There, he met an ambitious 21-year-old college student and pastor at a local church who hosted a show called "Songs in the Night."
The student's name was Billy Graham. Shea liked him, so he helped him with his show.
When Graham became involved with the religious movement Youth for Christ International, he decided Shea's sonorous voice would be the perfect accompaniment to his sermons. But Shea wasn't so sure.
"I said: 'The only gospel singers I know would sing a couple verses and then stop and talk a while — would I have to do that?'" said the notoriously shy Shea. "And (Graham) chuckled, and he said: 'I hope not.'
"We didn't know it would last all these years."
As Graham steadily grew his following, Shea was always there, his booming solos setting the table for Graham's crusades around the world, from New York's Madison Square Garden to London's Wembley Stadium to a gathering of more than a million people in Seoul, Korea.
Now, Graham and Shea live about a couple kilometres apart in Montreat, North Carolina.
"It's a great privilege to work with him," Shea said of his longtime colleague. "He's a wonderful man. He's so unselfish. And when he was well and strong, he was the kind of man who would be first to the door to open it for you — you know, that kind of a man."
"I (still) talk to him. He sent me a letter just the other day. But it's hard to read his writing," he adds, chuckling.
During his work with Graham, Shea quietly assembled an impressive catalogue of original gospel music, including several songs that have, over the years, become well-known: "I'd Rather Have Jesus," "The Wonder of it All" and "I Love Thy Presence, Lord." Meanwhile, his rendition of "How Great Thou Art" is widely considered the gold standard.
"To write hymns that stand the test of time or sing hymns that you introduce and make standards, that is a tremendous achievement of longevity," said Paul Davis, the U.K. author of the authorized biography, "George Beverly Shea: Tell Me the Story," in a telephone interview.
"It's a legacy, isn't it?"
Indeed. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Shea has cumulatively sung for 220 million people over the course of his lifetime — a record, of course.
Shea seems satisfied by the distinction, though he's quick to brush it aside.
"You know, they didn't come to hear me," he said. "They were a captive audience who had to listen to me sing a couple verses of a song.
"But that was kind of nice that somebody wrote that up."
Aside from his consistent humility, what stands out immediately about Shea is his sense of humour.
Knowing that this journalist was ringing from Canada, Shea answered the phone and immediately launched into a booming rendition of "O Canada." He and his wife of 25 years, Karlene, call their home the "Sheasonian" — because, of course, it houses valuable relics.
After discussing his 102nd birthday celebration (his wife made a "great big cake"), he morbidly added, "I don't know if I'll make the 103rd one!" Then he chuckled to himself.
And at one point, Shea — whose friends call him Bev — pointed out that there were three boys in his hometown who shared the name Beverly.
"That's a girl's name, isn't it?" he asked mischievously. He then relayed a story about a time in the 1950s when, after landing a singing gig on ABC, he needed to join a union.
"I got a letter from them saying: 'Ms. Beverly Shea, a couple of ladies from the union are getting together. Bring your bathing suit,'" he recalled. "I should have done it!"
Yet he speaks with a more serious reverence when discussing Canada, though it hasn't been his home for more than 70 years.
He still brings his grandchildren to his cottage near Ottawa every summer. While nothing ever came of his applying to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a teenager, he still displays an RCMP hat and pin given to him years ago in his home (he notes that guests like to try the hat on).
"We just have a marvellous attachment to Canada," he said. "We can hardly wait to get back there again."
He plans to be in L.A. for the presentation of his award this weekend.
Given that he's the type to thank a reporter profusely just for taking an interest in him, it's no surprise when he says he can't quite get his head around the fact that the Grammys even remembered who he was at all.
Though he once accumulated 10 Grammy nominations, all that happened a lifetime ago — well, a lifetime for most people, anyway.
"It's just kind of surprising," he said. "Inever had an agent — most people had agents, you know. ... What a surprise to see the call from the president of the Grammy Awards, you know? 'Cause I didn't think anything like that would ever come up again."
"But they say that this kind of an award is not given because of the number of recordings you've sold. It's just something else.
"I guess, well, it's just your whole lifetime
He was 57 years old then, when the eighth annual instalment of the Grammys was conducted concurrently in Los Angeles, Nashville, Chicago and New York.
Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler's patriotic ode "Ballad of the Green Berets" was atop the charts in the U.S. at the time, while the Vietnam War raged halfway around the world.
Shea always felt out of place in Hollywood and this night was no exception. He liked to refer to himself as "just a psalm singer" from the small town of Winchester, Ont. He watched as the event's big awards were scooped up by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Herb Alpert, Tom Jones (who, believe it or not, won for best new artist), and a 23-year-old Barbra Streisand.
Shea shared the honour for best gospel or other religious recording with Anita Kerr. The award was presented to the duo by the master of ceremonies, comedian Jerry Lewis.
Though back then the Grammys weren't televised live, Shea didn't need video evidence of the incident to crystallize it in his mind. He savoured every detail. After all, he knew he wouldn't be back.
"Oh my, never," he said now, reached via telephone from his home in North Carolina.
"It was a privilege to be there once. You know, that's the way we looked at it."
But he was wrong. He will be back. At 102 years old, George Beverly Shea is going to be recognized by the Grammys again.
The gospel singing legend will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at a ceremony on Saturday, the evening before the 53rd Grammy Awards.
Shea will be feted alongside Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton and the Ramones.
"You consider all those famous people in that category, it makes me think of the farmer that wanted to put his mule in the Kentucky Derby race — they said, 'Well, you know, he'll lose.' And the farmer said, 'Well, yeah, but look at the company he's keeping!'" Shea said with a chuckle.
"That's the way I feel a little bit, you know."
Of course, that's not exactly fair, given Shea's own achievements, and the way his rich bass-baritone voice has enabled him to explore every corner of the world, to become acquainted with generations of famous singers and to maintain a career for more than 70 years.
But he still prefers to look back on his achievements with a modesty instilled at an early age by his father, a Wesleyan Methodist minister.
Shea was born Feb. 1, 1909 in Winchester, a small community in Eastern Ontario. The fourth of eight children, Shea's family moved around several times, including a stay in the United States, but Shea mostly grew up around Ottawa.
He played violin, piano and organ but his vocal talent emerged early, and he became a fixture in the choir at his father's church. Later, when Shea attended Houghton College in Western New York, he sang with the glee club.
It was back in 1940 when Shea's hobby began to become something more. He was 31 years old, working as a radio announcer at a small station in Chicago. There, he met an ambitious 21-year-old college student and pastor at a local church who hosted a show called "Songs in the Night."
The student's name was Billy Graham. Shea liked him, so he helped him with his show.
When Graham became involved with the religious movement Youth for Christ International, he decided Shea's sonorous voice would be the perfect accompaniment to his sermons. But Shea wasn't so sure.
"I said: 'The only gospel singers I know would sing a couple verses and then stop and talk a while — would I have to do that?'" said the notoriously shy Shea. "And (Graham) chuckled, and he said: 'I hope not.'
"We didn't know it would last all these years."
As Graham steadily grew his following, Shea was always there, his booming solos setting the table for Graham's crusades around the world, from New York's Madison Square Garden to London's Wembley Stadium to a gathering of more than a million people in Seoul, Korea.
Now, Graham and Shea live about a couple kilometres apart in Montreat, North Carolina.
"It's a great privilege to work with him," Shea said of his longtime colleague. "He's a wonderful man. He's so unselfish. And when he was well and strong, he was the kind of man who would be first to the door to open it for you — you know, that kind of a man."
"I (still) talk to him. He sent me a letter just the other day. But it's hard to read his writing," he adds, chuckling.
During his work with Graham, Shea quietly assembled an impressive catalogue of original gospel music, including several songs that have, over the years, become well-known: "I'd Rather Have Jesus," "The Wonder of it All" and "I Love Thy Presence, Lord." Meanwhile, his rendition of "How Great Thou Art" is widely considered the gold standard.
"To write hymns that stand the test of time or sing hymns that you introduce and make standards, that is a tremendous achievement of longevity," said Paul Davis, the U.K. author of the authorized biography, "George Beverly Shea: Tell Me the Story," in a telephone interview.
"It's a legacy, isn't it?"
Indeed. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Shea has cumulatively sung for 220 million people over the course of his lifetime — a record, of course.
Shea seems satisfied by the distinction, though he's quick to brush it aside.
"You know, they didn't come to hear me," he said. "They were a captive audience who had to listen to me sing a couple verses of a song.
"But that was kind of nice that somebody wrote that up."
Aside from his consistent humility, what stands out immediately about Shea is his sense of humour.
Knowing that this journalist was ringing from Canada, Shea answered the phone and immediately launched into a booming rendition of "O Canada." He and his wife of 25 years, Karlene, call their home the "Sheasonian" — because, of course, it houses valuable relics.
After discussing his 102nd birthday celebration (his wife made a "great big cake"), he morbidly added, "I don't know if I'll make the 103rd one!" Then he chuckled to himself.
And at one point, Shea — whose friends call him Bev — pointed out that there were three boys in his hometown who shared the name Beverly.
"That's a girl's name, isn't it?" he asked mischievously. He then relayed a story about a time in the 1950s when, after landing a singing gig on ABC, he needed to join a union.
"I got a letter from them saying: 'Ms. Beverly Shea, a couple of ladies from the union are getting together. Bring your bathing suit,'" he recalled. "I should have done it!"
Yet he speaks with a more serious reverence when discussing Canada, though it hasn't been his home for more than 70 years.
He still brings his grandchildren to his cottage near Ottawa every summer. While nothing ever came of his applying to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a teenager, he still displays an RCMP hat and pin given to him years ago in his home (he notes that guests like to try the hat on).
"We just have a marvellous attachment to Canada," he said. "We can hardly wait to get back there again."
He plans to be in L.A. for the presentation of his award this weekend.
Given that he's the type to thank a reporter profusely just for taking an interest in him, it's no surprise when he says he can't quite get his head around the fact that the Grammys even remembered who he was at all.
Though he once accumulated 10 Grammy nominations, all that happened a lifetime ago — well, a lifetime for most people, anyway.
"It's just kind of surprising," he said. "Inever had an agent — most people had agents, you know. ... What a surprise to see the call from the president of the Grammy Awards, you know? 'Cause I didn't think anything like that would ever come up again."
"But they say that this kind of an award is not given because of the number of recordings you've sold. It's just something else.
"I guess, well, it's just your whole lifetime
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