In this episode, we explore the inspiring journey of Ramone Barnswell, a Jamaican sprinter who continues to compete at the masters level. We discuss his experiences, the significance of representing Jamaica, and the broader world of masters athletics.

The world of athletics is often filled with dreams, aspirations, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. In this episode, we explore the journey of Ramone Barnswell, a Jamaican sprinter who embodies these qualities, sharing insights about his career and what it means to compete on the world stage.

## A Journey Begins

Ramone began his journey at UTEC, where he decided to pursue track, a sport he didn't explore much during his high school years. He recalls, "I didn't do much in high school... I wanted to try and see what I can do when I got to university." This desire to push his limits resonates with many athletes, illustrating how the right environment can unlock hidden potential.

## The Pride of Wearing the Colors

Competing for Jamaica carries a deep sense of pride. Ramone expressed, "There is a level of pride that we take when we actually wear those colors." For him, representing Jamaica was not just a dream but a surreal experience. He recalls, "Those moments will live forever with me." This sentiment of pride in competition is universal among athletes, yet it holds a particularly deep meaning for Jamaican sprinters, who have carved out a legacy in track and field.

## The Love for the Sport

What drives Ramone to continue competing, even as a Masters athlete? "I love it. I love running. I love the sport," he says passionately. This love keeps him motivated, as does the belief that he can still improve. He reflects, "What if one day everything becomes perfect?" This delusional optimism fuels his journey, reminding us that passion often leads to persistence.

## The Championship Experience

At the World Masters Championship, Ramone delivered an impressive performance, running a time of 10.44 seconds. He expressed mixed feelings about his time, stating, "I wanted to go a little faster than that... I was hoping for maybe 10.2 seconds." Yet, he acknowledged his satisfaction with the run itself, highlighting the importance of the journey over the outcome.

As we close this reflection on Ramone Barnswell's journey, it's evident that the path of an athlete is not just about the medals but the experiences, the friendships, and the love for the sport. For those interested in diving deeper into his story, the full episode is a treasure trove of insights from a true champion.

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In the latest episode of Mainathlet International, we look ahead to the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships 2027 in Gainesville, Florida. Michelle Lieberman, County Manager for Alachua County, together with Steven Rodriguez and Jolene Kentori Miller from the local organizing team, explain what they learned from the 2025 championships and what improvements athletes, their families, and the entire Masters community can expect in 2027.

The quality of the competition remains the top priority. At the same time, the organizers want to further develop the championships as a shared experience and create an atmosphere in which the international Masters family feels welcome. One important legacy of the 2025 event is West End—a former golf course that has been transformed into a public park featuring World Athletics-compliant throwing facilities and a cross-country course. Improvements are also planned inside the main arena to provide greater comfort, better movement, and a smoother overall event experience.

The guests also discuss the successful location of the medal ceremonies in 2025, which was close to shops, cafés, and restaurants. Another topic is the use of rubber throwing implements for indoor competitions in the United States—a regulation that initially came as a surprise to many European athletes.

Registration for 2027 is already open. More than 4,000 athletes are expected to take part, compared with approximately 3,500 in 2025. To encourage early registration, there are three entry deadlines. The first deadline is December 31 of this year, while registration fees will increase for later entries. The discussion also covers international travel and visa-related concerns. The organizing team wants to support athletes who encounter visa issues and recommends applying as early as possible.

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What happens when a 35+ sprinter runs 10.40 seconds, athletes compete at more than 100 years old, and temperatures climb towards 37°C?

In this episode of the MainAthlet International Podcast, Benjamin and Boyke look back at the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea – twelve intense days full of world-class performances, world records, extreme weather conditions and unforgettable moments from the international Masters Athletics community.

Daegu 2026 showed just how high the level of Masters Track and Field has become. One of the standout performances came in the men's M35 100 metres, where Jamaican sprinter Ramon ran an incredible 10.40 seconds with legal wind – even faster than Benjamin's own lifetime personal best of 10.49 seconds.

But the sporting performances were only one part of the story.

With temperatures between roughly 28 and 37 degrees Celsius and extremely high humidity, the conditions pushed athletes to their limits. Competitors collapsed during the championships, one German athlete had to be taken to hospital after the cross-country race, and even experienced athletes struggled with the heat.

Despite those conditions, Daegu produced outstanding performances across sprinting, middle-distance running, throws, jumps and relays.

Boyke also takes us behind the scenes of the championships: from an opening ceremony with around 20,000 spectators, pouring rain and a huge reception for the Korean team to thousands of volunteers supporting athletes throughout the event and an emotional closing ceremony where competitors from countries all over the world celebrated together.

The World Masters Athletics community also reached far beyond the stadium. WMA generated around 2.8 million social-media views within 30 days, while thousands of people followed athletes competing at 60, 70, 80 and even more than 100 years old.

For Boyke, this may be one of the biggest stories of Daegu 2026: people seeing Masters athletes compete and thinking, “Maybe I could do this too.”

So is Masters Athletics becoming a genuine global movement?

Benjamin and Boyke discuss the biggest sporting moments of Daegu 2026, the performances that surprised them most, the extreme conditions, the growing international Masters community and what comes next for World Masters Athletics as the focus already shifts towards the next championships in Florida.

An episode about Masters Athletics, Track and Field, sprinting, world records, healthy ageing, longevity, competitive sport and why athletic ambition doesn't have an expiration date.

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