Lanae-Tava Thomas

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Lanae-Tava Thomas
Personal information
NationalityJamaica
Born (2001-01-28) 28 January 2001 (age 23)
Saint Andrew, Jamaica
Sport
SportAthletics
EventSprint
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)100m: 11.06 (Sacramento, 2023)
200m: 22.38 (Austin, 2023)
400m: 51.22 (Gainesville, 2023)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
Pan American U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 San José 200 m

Lanae-Tava Thomas (born 28 January 2001) is a Jamaican track and field athlete who competes as a sprinter. She finished third at the Jamaican national championships over 200 metres in 2023.[1]

Career[edit]

Junior career[edit]

Born in Jamaica and educated at Vaz Prep School in Kingston, Jamaica,[2] She was also schooled at Rush–Henrietta Central School District,[3] and was a member of Max Velocity Track and Field Club.[4] She was an 11-time New York State Champion in the long jump and sprint events. She attended the University of Southern California where she was part of a winning NCAA 4x100m relay team.[5] She represented the United States at the 2019 Pan American U20 Athletics Championships in Costa Rica, winning gold in the 200 metres.[6] In 2021, she won the NCAA 4x100m relay for a second time in three years.[7] That year, the USC women won the overall NCAA title.[8] She later transferred to the University of Texas.[9]

Senior career[edit]

She is coached by Eldrick Floreal. After changing her international registration to Jamaica, she finished third in the 200m at the 2023 Jamaican National Championship.[10] However, she was unable to compete at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest due to administrative difficulties over her registration. She signed an endorsement deal with Puma in 2023.[2]

In January 2024, she won 400 metres at the Dr. Martin Luther King Collegiate Invitational, in a time of 51.97 seconds.[11] In February 2024, she was selected to run for Jamaica at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.[12] She ran the opening leg in the final of the 4x400m relay in Glasgow.[13]

Personal life[edit]

Born in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, she moved to Rochester, New York in 2012. Her parents are called Michelle and Lancelot. She has brothers Howard Bailey and Giovanni, and a sister called Lorriel.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lanae-Tava Thomas". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Levy, Leighton (January 19, 2024). "From heartbreak to triumph: Sprinter Lanae-Tava Thomas' transfer to Jamaica opens door to 2024 Paris Olympics". Sportsmax.tv. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  3. ^ Moriello, John (26 January 2018). "Best in Upstate: Lanae-Tava Thomas sprints, jumps way into New York history". Pressconnects.com. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. ^ Johnson, James (28 July 2017). "Rush-Henrietta's Lanae-Tava Thomas sets USA Junior Olympic long jump record". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Lanae-Tava Thomas Returns Home After taking Gold in Costa Rica". Spectrum Local News. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  6. ^ Johnson, James (20 July 2019). "Rush-Henrietta grad Lanae-Tava Thomas has first international track and field gold medal". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  7. ^ "USC women's track team wins 2nd NCAA outdoor title in 3 years". ocregister. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  8. ^ "USC women win NCAA outdoor track and field team title". LA Times. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  9. ^ "40 names you should know before the 2022 women's outdoor track season". ncaa. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  10. ^ Johnson, James (July 19, 2023). "Former Rush-Henrietta track star is on a path to compete for a world championship". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  11. ^ Levy, Leighton (January 21, 2024). "Lanae-Tava Thomas triumphs in 400m at Martin Luther King Memorial as plan emerges for pre-Olympic preparation". Sportsmax.tv. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Ackeem Blake, Shashalee Forbes lead Jamaica's 19-member team to World Indoors". Sportsmax. February 23, 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Women's 4x400m Results - World Athletics Indoor Championships 2024". Watch Athletics. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Girls Athlete of the Week: Lanae-Tava Thomas". USA Today. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2024.