For Grenadian athletics fans, the names Elisha Williams and Rickyle Telemaque sparked much conversation during the 2023 athletic season. Their rivalry, once defined by individual triumphs and heart-stopping finishes, has taken an intriguing turn, blurring the lines between competition and collaboration. Let's delve into the heated track-and-field saga and explore what the future holds for this dynamic duo.

At the return of Intercol Games in 2022 Williams and Telemaque were set to face off in Heat 1 of Senior 100m. Williams was unfortunately disqualified from the heat due to a false start while Telemaque would go on to win the heat and claim gold in the finals with a 10.93 finish. What fans missed in the 100m, they were treated to, over 200m, when Williams and Telemaque squared off once more. Despite a spirited performance from the field, Telemaque secured another gold medal (21.63), while Williams settled for the bronze, behind Samuel Green of the Presentation Brothers College. Williams, known for his devastating 400m dominance, roared back, securing gold in the 400m Senior Event in a time of 50.45s.

Then came the weekend of March 11th and 12th and their inevitable clash at the Ariza National Championships 2023. With an utterly electric atmosphere inside the Kirani James Athletic Stadium, Williams and Telemaque met again in the 200m dash. This time Wiliams grabbed the gold! Complete with a celebratory finish line taunt; a show of confidence and jubilant redemption, Elisha Williams had proven to fans of the sport and to himself that he was as good if not better. If Williams’ performance was meant to put a stamp on the rivalry, his win and taunt only added fuel to the fire and raised expectations for their next clash to a fever pitch. Much to the dismay of fans and the athletes themselves, disqualification woes plagued Williams at the 2023 Republic Bank Intercol Games. False starts in the finals of 100m and Heat 5 of the 200m took Williams out of the running and denied fans their opportunity to see this rivalry evolve. Telemaque went on to claim gold in both events, completing the Senior 1100m dash in 10.58s* (+3.1) and the 200m dash in 21.50s while Williams took the 400m title improving on his 2022 performance with a winning time of 48.05.

Given their performances at the 2023 Ariza National Championships and Republic Bank Intercol Games, both athletes would earn their place on Team Grenada at the 50th edition of the Carifta Games 2023 held in Nassau Bahamas.

Rivals now turned teammates, it is here that their journey takes an intriguing twist. Neither athlete managed to make it to the finals of the 200m event however by the next locally staged meet, Whitsuntide Games 2023 Telemaque, formerly a member of the Fusion Athletics now competed alongside Williams and the rest of the St. David Track Blazers. While details surrounding the change of coach and club remain sketchy, this shared space presents a fascinating question – has the rivalry morphed into a collaborative pursuit of excellence? Could they push each other to even greater heights, united under the same banner? Only time will tell. Whether they fuel each other's fire on the track as fierce competitors or push boundaries together as teammates, their journey promises to be an exciting one for Grenadian athletics.