Jamaican teenage sprinters Johan-Ramaldo Smythe and Shanoya Douglas from Holland High School delivered extraordinary performances at the Puma New York International Showcase 2026 on Saturday, setting new national junior indoor records in their respective events.
Smythe demonstrated exceptional speed in the 200-meter invitational, clocking an impressive 21.18 seconds to claim victory in his heat. Despite his remarkable time, he secured second place overall as American athlete Brady Pineo from Wesley Chapel High School edged ahead with a winning time of 21.02 seconds in the final standings. Smythe also showcased his versatility by dominating his 60-meter heat with a swift 6.91 seconds, though he faced disqualification in the final where Pineo again triumphed with 6.82 seconds.
Douglas emerged victorious in the 300-meter event, establishing her new national record with a blistering time of 36.98 seconds. She finished well ahead of her closest competitor, Rhia Randolph of West Orange High School, who completed the race in 38.16 seconds. The victory carried additional significance as Douglas responded decisively to pre-race challenges from competitors.
Coach Garth Smythe expressed immense pride in his athletes’ accomplishments, particularly given the travel challenges they faced. ‘We are grateful that the athletes got to compete at this elite level despite arriving in New York late morning without adequate rest due to jet lag,’ he stated. ‘Their performances truly spoke for themselves under these circumstances.’
The coach revealed that Douglas’s victory contained an extra layer of satisfaction as she had received competitive threats during a press conference approximately two weeks prior. ‘We took it personally,’ Smythe acknowledged, ‘and she addressed it emphatically by defeating that competitor by nearly two seconds.’
Regarding his son’s performance, Coach Smythe explained that Johan-Ramaldo’s indoor time of 21.18 seconds translates to approximately 20.7 seconds outdoors, suggesting even greater potential. The young sprinter reportedly could have achieved faster results but was unfamiliar with indoor track conditions, essentially jogging through significant portions of his race.
The athletes, who followed Coach Smythe from Muschett High to Holland High, maintain their established training regimen. The team now focuses on fine-tuning techniques and preparing for upcoming competitions including the Carifta Trials, Carifta Games, and championship events.