Sanjay Ayre
Encyclopedia
Sanjay Claude Ayre is a world-class Jamaica
n sprinter
specializing in the 400 meters.
Puma North America Signed Ayre to an undisclosed record 3 year contract in June 2003. Together with Brandon Simpson
, Lansford Spence
and Davian Clarke
he won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay
at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics
. Sanjay Ayre won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games along with Haughton, Blackwood, Mcfarlene, and Mcdonald. This bronze was later upgraded to a silver medal in 2008. A successful college athlete, Ayre was a 14-time All-American while attending Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama
and was also named the "NCAA Indoor Freshman of the Year" in 2000. He earned a gold medal at the 2004 World Indoor Championships in the 4 × 400 meters relay event. Ayre also competed in the 400 meter event and was a finalist in the 4 × 400 meters relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Sanjay Ayre graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology.
in St. Andrew, Jamaica
where he was an all around athlete, as well as DeWitt Clinton High School
in the Bronx
, New York
, and participated in multiple sports. In addition to his track & field accomplishments, he was recognized for his outstanding athletic ability in soccer and swimming
. Under the coaching of Edward Hector, he was voted the "1999 High School Athlete of the Year" after winning the 400 meter title at the Indoor and Outdoor National Scholastic meets. At the age of 18, Ayre made his senior debut representing Jamaica in the 4 × 400 meters relay at the 1999 World Indoor Championships
in Maebashi, Japan. This team went on to break the Jamaican National Record. Sanjay Ayre also won gold medals at the 1999 Junior Pan American Games and remains as the only Jamaican junior athlete to win the 400 meter title.
While enrolled at Auburn University
, he quickly established himself as a collegiate sprint talent under the guidance of Ralph Spry, who also coached Auburn alumnus and 400 meter World Champion Avard Moncur
.
As a freshman, Ayre won the 2000 SEC 400 meter Indoor title and achieved five All-American honors. Somewhat hampered by injuries throughout his sophomore year, Ayre regained form late summer 2001, and competed for the Jamaican World Championship team in the 400 meter and 4 × 400 meters relay events. As a junior, he continued his stellar collegiate career receiving multiple All-American honors and went on to compete in the 400 meter and 4 × 400 meters relay events at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
in Manchester, England. In his final season as a collegiate athlete, Ayre finished as the NCAA 400 meter Indoor Runner-up and received additional All-American honors during his 2003 outdoor campaign.
After an outstanding collegiate career, Sanjay turned professional and remained at Auburn to be coached by Ralph Spry until 2005. Following a successful 2005 season, Ayre moved on to be coached by world-renowned 400 meter coach, Clyde Hart.
in Santo Domingo, DR where he earned a gold medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay. In 2004, Ayre competed at the World Indoor Games where he earned another gold medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay. For Sanjay Ayre, success continued throughout 2005 as he maintained a top-ten world ranking at 400 meters. After a disappointing 2006 season, Ayre rallied back to win a gold medal at the Central American & Caribbean Games in the 4 × 400 meters relay.
In 2007 he filled the summer with dominating 400 meter performances culminating with the 2007 Jamaican National Championships where on 24 June 2007 he would win the 400 meter title in 45.07 s and go on to compete in the 4 × 400 meters relay at the 2007 World Championships
in Osaka, Japan and ultimately finish his season with another top-ten world-ranking.
In 2008, Ayre was a member of the Jamaican Olympic team that recorded dominating performances in the sprint events at the Olympic Games
in Beijing, China. While there, Ayre competed in the 400 meter and 4 × 400 meters relay events. Sanjay Ayre along with teammates Michael Blackwood
, Ricardo Chambers
, and Lansford Spence
finished a disappointing eighth place after being favored to win a medal.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
specializing in the 400 meters.
Puma North America Signed Ayre to an undisclosed record 3 year contract in June 2003. Together with Brandon Simpson
Brandon Simpson
Brandon Simpson is a sprinter who represents Bahrain, having previously represented Jamaica. He has won a bronze medal in 4 x 400 metres relay at three world championships; 2001, 2003 and 2005. He finished 6th in the individual 400 metres contest in 2005, and 5th at the 2004...
, Lansford Spence
Lansford Spence
Lansford Spence is a Jamaican sprinter. Together with Sanjay Ayre, Brandon Simpson and Davian Clarke he won a bronze medal in 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. He also competed in the individual contest, but was knocked out in the semi final. In 2006 the relay team...
and Davian Clarke
Davian Clarke
Davian Clarke is a Jamaican athlete, who mainly competes in the 400 metres. He won the bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1996 Olympics, and many relay medals followed, before he won his first individual medal at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships.-Achievements:-External links:*...
he won a bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay
2005 World Championships in Athletics - Men's 4 x 400 metres relay
The 4 x 400 metre relay at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on August 13 and August 14.-Medals:-Qualifying:...
at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
. Sanjay Ayre won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games along with Haughton, Blackwood, Mcfarlene, and Mcdonald. This bronze was later upgraded to a silver medal in 2008. A successful college athlete, Ayre was a 14-time All-American while attending Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
and was also named the "NCAA Indoor Freshman of the Year" in 2000. He earned a gold medal at the 2004 World Indoor Championships in the 4 × 400 meters relay event. Ayre also competed in the 400 meter event and was a finalist in the 4 × 400 meters relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Sanjay Ayre graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology.
Early career
Ayre attended Calabar High SchoolCalabar High School
Calabar High School is an all-male, secondary school in Kingston, Jamaica. It was established by the Jamaica Baptist Union in 1912 for the children of Baptist ministers and the children of the poor blacks and was named after the former slave port Calabar, now in Nigeria...
in St. Andrew, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
where he was an all around athlete, as well as DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn...
in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and participated in multiple sports. In addition to his track & field accomplishments, he was recognized for his outstanding athletic ability in soccer and swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
. Under the coaching of Edward Hector, he was voted the "1999 High School Athlete of the Year" after winning the 400 meter title at the Indoor and Outdoor National Scholastic meets. At the age of 18, Ayre made his senior debut representing Jamaica in the 4 × 400 meters relay at the 1999 World Indoor Championships
1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 7th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held in the Green Dome Maebashi stadium in Maebashi, Japan from March 5 to March 7, 1999. It was the first time the Championships were staged outside Europe or North America. Primo Nebiolo, president of the IAAF, characterized the...
in Maebashi, Japan. This team went on to break the Jamaican National Record. Sanjay Ayre also won gold medals at the 1999 Junior Pan American Games and remains as the only Jamaican junior athlete to win the 400 meter title.
While enrolled at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, he quickly established himself as a collegiate sprint talent under the guidance of Ralph Spry, who also coached Auburn alumnus and 400 meter World Champion Avard Moncur
Avard Moncur
Avard Moncur is a Bahamian athlete competing in the 400 metres. He was born in Nassau.Moncur's most successful year came in 2001 when he won the gold medal in the 400m and the 4x400m relay at the 2001 World Championships...
.
As a freshman, Ayre won the 2000 SEC 400 meter Indoor title and achieved five All-American honors. Somewhat hampered by injuries throughout his sophomore year, Ayre regained form late summer 2001, and competed for the Jamaican World Championship team in the 400 meter and 4 × 400 meters relay events. As a junior, he continued his stellar collegiate career receiving multiple All-American honors and went on to compete in the 400 meter and 4 × 400 meters relay events at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
in Manchester, England. In his final season as a collegiate athlete, Ayre finished as the NCAA 400 meter Indoor Runner-up and received additional All-American honors during his 2003 outdoor campaign.
After an outstanding collegiate career, Sanjay turned professional and remained at Auburn to be coached by Ralph Spry until 2005. Following a successful 2005 season, Ayre moved on to be coached by world-renowned 400 meter coach, Clyde Hart.
Professional career
Ayre commenced his professional career while still considered a collegiate athlete. However, his first appearance as a professional athlete was at the 2003 Pan American Games2003 Pan American Games
The 14th Pan American Games were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 1 to 17 August 2003. The successful bid for the games was made in the mid-1990s, when this country had one of the highest growth rates in Latin America....
in Santo Domingo, DR where he earned a gold medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay. In 2004, Ayre competed at the World Indoor Games where he earned another gold medal in the 4 × 400 meters relay. For Sanjay Ayre, success continued throughout 2005 as he maintained a top-ten world ranking at 400 meters. After a disappointing 2006 season, Ayre rallied back to win a gold medal at the Central American & Caribbean Games in the 4 × 400 meters relay.
In 2007 he filled the summer with dominating 400 meter performances culminating with the 2007 Jamaican National Championships where on 24 June 2007 he would win the 400 meter title in 45.07 s and go on to compete in the 4 × 400 meters relay at the 2007 World Championships
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
in Osaka, Japan and ultimately finish his season with another top-ten world-ranking.
In 2008, Ayre was a member of the Jamaican Olympic team that recorded dominating performances in the sprint events at the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Beijing, China. While there, Ayre competed in the 400 meter and 4 × 400 meters relay events. Sanjay Ayre along with teammates Michael Blackwood
Michael Blackwood
Michael Blackwood is a male track and field athlete from Jamaica, who specializes in 400 Metres, his personal best being 44.60 set in Madrid in 2002. He is the brother of Catherine Scott.-Achievements:...
, Ricardo Chambers
Ricardo Chambers
Ricardo Chambers is a Jamaican track and field athlete who specialises in the 400 metres.Hailing from Trelawny Parish in Jamaica, he moved to the United States to study on a sports scholarship at Florida State University...
, and Lansford Spence
Lansford Spence
Lansford Spence is a Jamaican sprinter. Together with Sanjay Ayre, Brandon Simpson and Davian Clarke he won a bronze medal in 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. He also competed in the individual contest, but was knocked out in the semi final. In 2006 the relay team...
finished a disappointing eighth place after being favored to win a medal.
Personal bests
| Event | Time (seconds) | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 meters | 20.81 | Dallas, Texas Dallas, Texas Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States... , United States |
15 April 2006 |
| 300 meters | 32.81 | Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , Australia |
14 September 2000 |
| 400 meters | 44.92 | Kingston Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island... , Jamaica |
22 June 2002 |
| 400 meters (indoor) | 45.92 | Fayetteville, Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks... , United States |
11 March 2000 |