The Gibson/McCook Relays is the crucible within which relay performances are developed and then hatched on the global scene. The meet first started in 1973 as a tribute
to the legendary educator, Bishop Percival Gibson. The one-day event of global status is predominantly about relays and now boasts 40 events, over 2500 entries with
250 schools, clubs and institutions. It showcases Jamaica’s promising athletes and teams locking horns on the last weekend in February.
The relay carnival is considered the bedrock of Jamaican baton handling culture that plays host to athletes effecting baton exchanges beyond the visual line of sight at full tilt. By the same token It provides invaluable non-relay competitions that aid all-round athletic development.
Jamaica had the brass neck boldness to displace the mighty USA, whose hegemony in track and field long dated back to the foggy past. In this regard, Jamaicans hold second place to none in what they do. No effort is therefore spared to buck the past trend of dominance by the Americans. Surely, it is stitched in the fabric of the athletes’ DNA to flex their fast-twitched muscles. Noteworthy is the fact that this tiny nation owns four world relay records, namely, the senior men’s 4x100m and 4x200m as well as the 4x100m in the U18 and U20 female categories.
There was no moment of serendipity when Jamaica predictably set the world record in the London’s 2012 Olympics in 36.84s. The foursome of Nesta Carter (9.78s),
Michael Frater (9.88s), Yohan Blake (9.69s) and Usain Bolt (9.58s) went into beast mode, sparing no effort to get the job done. When the dust settled, Jamaica left in its wake their arch rival, USA with a team of Trell Kimmons (9.95s), Justin Gatlin (9.74s) Tyson Gay (9.69s) and Ryan Bailey (9.88s), thereby becoming the first and only team to go sub-37:00 seconds. It was an immersive electrifying experience witnessing a small nation producing such highwater mark in sprint relays.
It’s important to center ourselves on both the magnitude and context of this achievement. Based on combined personal bests, Jamaica’s team, a critical mass of fire power, outmatched USA 36.84 to 37. 04s. Even so, victory was virtually assured through ingrained relay instincts and on the back of disparate mix of relay competitions, not dissimilar to the prestigious Gibson McCook Relay carnivals. The picture is hardly different in the male U20 category in the 4x100m, as Jamaica’s junior males only trail South Africa 38.61s to 38.51s, the USA just a slither behind with 38.62s.
Despite our historic successes that set the bar high, they have grappled with hard moments in recent years. While nations jostled for ranking positions at the perennial world relays event stapled in Bahamas, Jamaica had its worst showing at the meet’s 2024 staging. Coming off the worse for wear, any denial that the country’s performance is forgettable, would be worse than the sub-par performances themselves. There was hardly a time when Jamaica went off the beaten track at a relay meet, notwithstanding some experts perceiving these relays to be illtimed. In all important respects, Jamaica’s showmanship in its participation is deemed better than failing to appear. After all, success is akin to failure averted.
The jury is out as to whether or not our seniors have lost the edge with the baton, despite the gradual rise of the slick-batonhandling juniors to the senior ranks. For the same reason, surface-level skepticisms are emerging. These, however, do not get to eclipse the undeniable successes achieved by our various relay teams at both ages and stages. Beneath the surface, it is apparent that our relay exploits have been meeting all rigorous standards through relentless in-competition practices at the various grass root levels. The black, gold and green standard bearers are known to consistently perform in the clutch, reaping the spoils on the global stage. So, despite the miserable experience both in Bahamas and the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, much is in the offing.
Indeed, our senior relay teams have had their roots at the Gibson McCook Relays. This fittingly provides a positive downstream effect, inspiring the growth from the
embryonic stages of our track and field development. The relay meet itself helps to provide a launching platform to catapult our athletes on the global stage. If history is to remain our guide, then the inspirational impact of our past greats, must be used in return to cascade and instill
hope in the nation’s youths.
Finally, on mature reflection, the country is known to punch above its weight in athletics, in so far as to shift the balance of power globally. The Gibson McCook Relay carnivals, no doubt, continue to be instrumental in ensuring the country’s dominant presence on the global athletic scene. There is neither a shortage of sprinters nor top of the range relay competitions locally. Thankfully, on account of this, national interests remained stirred around the Gibson McCook Relays, it being the standard by which all other relay meets are judged.
athletic scene. There is neither a shortage of sprinters nor top of the range relay competitions locally. Thankfully, on account of this, national interests remained stirred around the Gibson McCook Relays, it being the standard by which all other relay meets are judged.