Earl Simmons tells the story behind his 100m record

Imagine taking up Track and Field seriously in 2021, and within three years you are the holder of the St Vincent and the Grenadines all time Men’s 100m record!

Well that is one of the nuggets of the story of Earl Simmons, a 22- year-old student of GC Foster College, who, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, ran 10.13s at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) All Comers Championships held at the Jamaica National Stadium.

In the process, Simmons knocked off 0.06 seconds from the April 11, 1998 efforts of Joel Mascoll, when he timed 10.19s at the in Norfolk Relays, Virginia, USA.

However, for Simmons it has always been part of his intention to break the record.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT from Jamaica last Tuesday, Simmons said: “ I had expectations of breaking the record and I was eyeing the record since last year”.

Simmons, who hails from Union Island in the Grenadines, made his national debut for St Vincent and the Grenadines at the NACA Under-23 Championships in Costa Rica in 2023.

In Costa Rica he timed 10.35s, which became his best, before he ran 10.32s earlier this year.

Additionally, on May 4, 2024, at another JAAA All Comers Meet, he clocked 10.15s, but that was wind aided, hence could not have counted as the national record.

“ To be honest since Costa Rica, I said that I am going to do what it takes to get the attention of people in St Vincent and the Grenadines of my talent, as I consider myself a baby to the sport,” Simmons added. But with the national 100m all time record in his grasp, Simmons revealed that the mission is not done. He has a major objective and assignment to fulfil.

“ Whilst I am happy, I cannot be overjoyed, because I have at least three more races for the season, during next month (June) and my intention is to get the make it 10s flat and make the Olympic standards and qualify for France this year… It is part of the goal because I want to become the first Vincentian to qualify for the Olympics 100m,” the well- articulated Simmons pronounced.

Simmons would then have fulfilled another of his ambitions in his short but meaningful Athletics career thus far.

Apart from his new claim to owning the St Vincent and the Grenadines 100m record, Simmons is part of the quartet that has the national 4 x100m record, established in 2022, also in Jamaica.

Mc Kish Compton, Javon Rawlins and Sage Primus, completes the joint record holding quartet.