Track and Field Exchange Podcast: Recent Episodes
Donald Smith / Noel Francis
The Track and Field Exchange Podcast is the Caribbean’s first track and field podcast. On the Track and Field Exchange, co-hosts Donald Smith and Noel Francis focus on 100% Track and Field in the Caribbean and global space. The Podcast uses this space to bring all that you need to know about events, current affairs and things to come in the track and field world.
In this week’s episode, our host, Donald Smith along with guests, Dr Jason Strachan and Marlon breakdown the top five in the men’s and women in the 2021 World Athletics Awards. They discuss:
- The favourites for the male and female categories with Ryan Crouser, Warholm, Sydney McLaughlin and Yulimar Rojas being identified as the leaders in their respective categories.
- Rojas’ dominance of the triple jump in meets prior to the Olympics and her subsequent world records was also discussed.
- Elaine Thompson-Herah’s stake to claim for the top title due to her Olympic record and close brush with the 100m world record.
- Thompson-Herah’s role in bringing back spectacle to the women’s sprint and how this compares to actual world record performances such as that of Rojas.
- The snubs from the top five men’s and women’s list including Athing Mu, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Andre DeGrasse.
- The rising stars awards and the top picks.
- Expectations from the top men and women for next season.
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In this episode, our host, Donald Smith and Noel Francis speaks with Jamaica Olympian, Damion Thomas discussing “Obstacles and Lessons”.
Damion Thomas is a 110m hurdler who has represented Jamaica at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. The former Louisiana State University (LSU) athlete equalled Wilhem Belocian's 110m hurdle junior world record of 12.99s when winning the Junior National Championships in Kingston, Jamaica in June 2018. He also won the 110m hurdles at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships.
Damion shares how he got started in track and field and the influence of his parents , who are former track and field athletes on his decision to chose the sport. He also speaks about his decision to represent Jamaica even though he was born in the United States of America
- His struggles with injury in 2019 and how he overcame them mentally and physically.
- The pandemic and the impact on his career
- His mindset for major events and championships
- His transition to Olympic height of the 110m hurdle
The Louisiana State University (LSU) High School alum also discussed one of his biggest disappointments of his career (his placement in the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships) and how he used it to motivate him in preparation for the National Senior Trials in Jamaica.
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In this episode, Christopher discusses his Tokyo 2020 experience from his nerves before the event to his biggest accomplishment, making the 400m final at the Olympics. He also speaks about his mindset in making it through the various rounds of the 400m and the mile relay and not focusing on the lack of crowds at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium.
The 400m runner also shares:
- His top three moments at Tokyo 2020 which included making the 400m final.
- Christopher also discusses his goals and how he has stayed motivated despite the obstacles including career-threatening injuries.
- He shares that his initial plans to stay in Jamaica changed after various incidents locally.
- He speaks about his junior career representing Jamaica and
- The Tumbleweed Track Club’s impact on his career and personal development.
- The transition from his high school athletic career to becoming a professional athlete.
The Calabar High School alum also discussed his asthma issues and how he is doing it in terms of his full health. The 400m runner is also quizzed about the possibility of competing in the shorter sprints.
Christopher also discusses:
- How he handles negativity in social and traditional media.
- Goals for the World Athletics Championships in 2022.
- Working on his branding and how crucial social media is to those goals.
- His biggest motivation, his brother.
- The most memorable moments of his junior career and his professional career so far.
- What he believes sporting administration can improve locally.
- What he wants his legacy to be.
In this episode, our host, Donald Smith discusses “Common Injuries in Track and Field Athletes” with our guest, Dr Jason Strachan.
Dr Strachan is a Senior Medical Research Associate with extensive experience in orthopaedic surgery. Dr Strachan is trained in orthopaedic surgery, emergency medicine, sports medicine, and paediatrics. In 2016, Dr Strachan represented Jamaica’s track and field team as Team Physician for the World Indoor Champions in Portland, Oregon.
- Dr Strachan speaks in detail about the most common type of injuries in including strains, sprains, knee injuries, fractures, back injuries, tennis elbow, shin splints and tears.
- They also discuss how athletes are able to compete with certain injuries.
- Dr Strachan shares his perspectives on the recent announcements of injuries from Jamaican athletes who are currently representing Jamaica at the Tokyo 2020 Games, Aisha Praught-Leer and Danusia Francis and the types of treatments he believes will be necessary for their injuries.
- They also speak about the injury and subsequent surgery for Discus Thrower, Fedrick Dacres and what can be expected from him at Tokyo 2020 Games.
- The types of circumstances that may prohibit an athlete from competitive participation in sporting events.
- Dr Strachan also reacted to reports that the Jamaica track and field athletes were unable to train until days after arriving in Tokyo due to the unavailability of their assigned training venue and how it can affect fitness and increasing the likelihood of injuries.
- An overview was given by Dr Strachan on what is expected of the medical teams at major championships like the Olympics and how the track & field athletes may be utilizing them as well as the other medical services as part of injury management.
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You can listen to the Track and Field Exchange on any podcast directory. Here are a few:
Spotify
Buzzsprout
Apple Podcasts
Feel free to follow us on Social Media for all updates:
YouTube: The Drive Phase Media
Twitter: @thedrivephaseja
Facebook: The Drive Phase
Instagram: Thedrivephase
In our first episode, our hosts, Donald Smith and Noel Francis discuss Tokyo Previews: Must Watch Events and Jamaica’s medal predictions
- The duo discusses the possibility of a 1,2,3 for Jamaica in the women’s 100m.
- Medal prospects for Jamaica including the 100m, 200m women, 400m women, 400m hurdles women, triple jump women, long jump men,100m hurdles, 800m women, sprint and mile relays, men and women.
- Expected performance from the newcomers including Carey McCleod, Candice McLeod and Roneisha McGregor.
- The big showdowns in track including women’s 200m women, women’s 800m, men and women’s 400m hurdles, men and women’s 400m and the 110m hurdles.
- Field events expected to deliver fireworks was also discussed, some of these are women’s triple jump, men and women’s shot put, men’s long jump and men’s discus throw.
- The legacy of Jamaica’s sprint legend, Veronica Campbell Brown who retired from competitive track and field last month with the former athlete, Sherone Simpson also shares her views on the work of VCB.
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You can listen to the Track and Field Exchange on any podcast directory. Here are a few:
Stitcher Podcast
TuneIn
Google Podcast
Feel free to follow us on Social Media for all updates:
YouTube: The Drive Phase Media
Twitter: @thedrivephaseja
Facebook: The Drive Phase
Instagram: Thedrivephase