Jamaican quarter-miler Ackeem Bloomfield has announced his retirement from track and field at the age of 27, Sportsmax.TV has reported.
The two-time World Championship 4x400m relay silver medalist has reportedly informed the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) of his decision and has requested to be removed from the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) with the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO).
Marie Tavares, Executive Board Member of the JAAA, confirmed Bloomfield’s retirement on Thursday, stating, “He has. I got confirmation yesterday, either yesterday or the day before.” Tavares speculated that Bloomfield, a former Kingston College star, might be focusing on his academics but was otherwise uncertain about his motivations.
The second-fastest Jamaican ever over 400m
Bloomfield holds the distinction of being the second-fastest Jamaican ever over 400m with a personal best of 43.94 seconds. He first burst onto the scene as a promising young talent, becoming the first Jamaican schoolboy to break the 45-second barrier, a feat that heralded a bright future in athletics. However, his career trajectory was hindered by a series of prolonged injuries and personal challenges, including the emotional toll of his mother’s death in 2021.
After a standout collegiate career at Auburn University, where he set his remarkable 400m time at the NCAA National Outdoor Championships in 2018, Bloomfield signed with Puma and joined the MVP International training group in Florida. His talent and potential were on full display at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, where he finished eighth in the 400m final with a time of 45.36 seconds.
In 2021, seeking a fresh start and recovery from a debilitating hamstring injury, Bloomfield moved to train with Rana Reider’s Tumbleweed group, where he reunited with high school rival and Calabar star athlete Christopher Taylor. Bloomfield declared himself fully recovered and expressed optimism about his future in the sport.
An intensive rehab process
“It was a really bad injury to my right hamstring. I did an intensive rehab process after I got injured. Even though I shut down my season I was still doing rehab. So, I can say for the most part, right now I’m 100 percent healthy,” he said in an interview with On Point.
Despite his determination, Bloomfield’s journey continued to be marked by transitions. In September 2022, he left Tumbleweed to train under former Jamaican Olympian Sanjay Ayre at Chase Athletics Track Club. However, he departed from Chase Athletics a year later, signaling the turbulence that characterized the latter part of his career.
Bloomfield’s last known competitive performance was at the Tom Jones Invitational in April 2023, where he ran 45.52 seconds to finish sixth. This race marked the end of a career that, despite its ups and downs, offered glimpses of what could have been.
