作者： admin

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A new chapter is unfolding for Jamaica’s table tennis community, as lifelong sports enthusiast Lacey Gordon has stepped into the key leadership position of director of sponsorship at the Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA), turning her decades-long passion for athletic pursuits into tangible action for the nation’s sporting growth.

Though Gordon built her core career in the real estate sector, she brings a robust, transferable skill set that positions her perfectly to drive the JTTA’s partnership and fundraising goals. Her professional background has honed sharp strategic planning abilities, disciplined project execution, and a proven talent for cultivating long-term, mutually beneficial professional relationships — all assets that are widely expected to strengthen the association’s work in building impactful collaborations with external partners. Driven by her genuine love for sports, Gordon has made clear that her work will center on creating shared value that lifts up both Jamaican table tennis athletes and the stakeholders that partner with the association.

Across every level of the sport, from local grassroots development programs that introduce young Jamaicans to table tennis to high-profile commercial partnerships that raise the profile of elite competition, Gordon is committed to supporting sustainable growth for athletes, teams, and the JTTA as a whole. Her professional experience in real estate has given her a unique results-driven mindset that she plans to leverage to expand the association’s sponsorship reach.

In her new role, Gordon will prioritize building intentional connections between the JTTA, global and local brands, potential investors, and key industry stakeholders. She has outlined a vision that balances two critical goals: ensuring all sponsorship partnerships deliver long-term financial stability for the association, while also aligning with the core mission of growing the sport’s reach and visibility across Jamaica and the Caribbean. Her approach is rooted in intentional purpose, unwavering professionalism, and a long-term outlook focused on creating lasting impact rather than short-term gains.

Aubyn Henry, chief strategy and development officer at the JTTA, expressed strong confidence in Gordon’s ability to deliver results in the new role. “This role requires a unique combination of vision, dedication, and an understanding of both people and opportunity,” Henry noted. “Lacey embodies all of those qualities. She brings energy, sharp insight, and relentless focus to this work, which puts her perfectly in position to help the JTTA build durable, mutually beneficial partnerships that will serve our community for years to come.”

GABORONE, Botswana — Ahead of the 2026 World Athletics Relays, five-time Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah has opened up about the grueling process of returning to elite sprinting after a season-long break to recover from a painful Achilles injury, revealing she relies on personal grit and faith rather than formal mental health therapy to navigate setbacks.

The Jamaican sprinting icon acknowledged that bouncing back from a major injury has tested her limits both physically and mentally, but she emphasized that her self-belief and inner resilience have carried her through the hardest stages of recovery. “Coming back from injury it has been challenging mentally, physically but for me I am always believing myself as a tough cookie,” Thompson-Herah told reporters. “I have never been to a therapy or whatever, or whatever that thing is I don’t believe in it because I am my own therapy. I do believe in God, I have a supportive team who believe in me and I do believe in myself.”

After stepping away from competition entirely last year, Thompson-Herah says the time off was exactly what she needed to reset both her body and mind, and she has no plans to rush her comeback this season. Instead of chasing immediate results or fast times, the sprinter is framing 2025 as a gradual rebuilding phase, focused on assessing her current fitness level and reconnecting with the joy of competition that made her a global star.

“Not competing last year, I think it has done a lot to me. Probably I needed that rest. That away from the sport to clear myself and to comeback so using this season is like a rebuilding process not to rush or to think too much,” she explained. “I have expectations but this season I’m just doing step by step running couple races just to see where I am at.”

This weekend, Thompson-Herah will compete alongside a new generation of Jamaican sprinters in the World Athletics Relays, hosted in Gaborone May 2-3. For her, the event is more than a qualifying race for next year’s world championship — it is an opportunity to enjoy team camaraderie and rediscover the love of the sport that defined her legendary career.”Running with these younger folks, carrying the baton around will be a good plan for us to see where we at this season,” she added. “It’s just fun for me coming out here in Botswana not to just do relay but to have fun with the team as well, qualify for the championship which is next year, so this year for me is about having fun and finding back the Elaine.”

The sprinter ended her comments with a quiet note of ambition, signaling she still has major goals left to achieve in her career: “I have more to accomplish.”

South Florida’s beloved Jamaica-focused community fitness event is gearing up for its 2025 edition, with a star-studded roster of new ambassadors and growing participation projections that reflect its rising popularity among Caribbean diaspora communities. Dancehall icon Spragga Benz, veteran media personality and long-distance runner Patrice White, and Ky-Mani Marley have stepped into ambassador roles for the Jamaica Hi-5k Reggae Run/Walk, the announcement made during a recent virtual update hosted by Jamaica’s Consul General to the U.S. Southeast, Oliver Mair.

Widely recognized as the top community event in South Florida by Jamaicans.com, earning the title for both 2024 and 2025, the 5k gathering is far more than a casual running and walking competition. Conceived and spearheaded by Mair, the initiative blends physical activity, cultural celebration, health education, and philanthropic giving to strengthen connections among Jamaicans and Caribbean communities living in the United States. This year’s event will kick off at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 9 at Miramar Regional Park in South Florida, with a lively post-race celebration running from 10 a.m. to noon packed with engaging activities for attendees of all ages.

The post-race lineup includes a high-energy reggae-robics fitness class, a community health fair focused on accessible preventive care, and a nutrition-focused food court featuring live cooking demonstrations. These offerings align directly with the event’s five core guiding principles: tracking personal health metrics, maintaining consistent physical activity, prioritizing balanced nutrition, fostering intentional community connection, and upholding a commitment to collective giving.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the Adopt-A-Clinic initiative, a program that delivers critical resources and operational support to medical facilities across Jamaica. The event is hosted by Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, and organizers have extended open invitations to runners, walkers, families, and community supporters from across the region and beyond to join the effort.

For Spragga Benz, the newly appointed ambassador role carries personal as well as community significance. During the announcement, he also shared a sneak peek of his upcoming multi-act production *Journey to Kingston*, scheduled for May 30 in Miramar, a show that traces the iconic dancehall artist’s decades-long musical journey. Expressing enthusiasm for his new ambassadorial post, Spragga Benz noted that the 5k’s community-focused format creates unique motivation for participants. “This 5k event helps to bring people together which motivates you better. I am definitely taking part….running, walking — whichever way,” he said. The artist, who earned the nickname “Spaghetti” in his youth for his slim, athletic build, shared that he maintains an active lifestyle to this day, and encouraged diaspora community members to make use of the region’s abundant parks and open public spaces.

Patrice White, an experienced runner who has completed 25 full marathons and 60 half marathons, shared actionable preparation tips for first-time participants and seasoned runners alike, drawing on her decades of racing experience. She emphasized that the final week leading up to the 5k is not the time for experimental training. “Now just a week before the event, please don’t try anything new — and I would not be advising the seasoned runners to attempt to squeeze in more hard running. Resting in the weekend more so the day before the event is important for everyone. Watch what you eat, especially days leading up to the event,” she explained.

White added that dietary familiarity and gentle digestion should be the top priority for pre-race eating, recommending easily digestible staples like pasta and sweet potatoes paired with adequate protein. She also stressed the importance of consistent hydration in the week leading up to the race, advising attendees to drink 8 to 16 ounces of water roughly two hours before the start time and continue sipping fluids throughout the event to avoid cramping and fatigue.

Organizers are projecting that around 2,000 people will register for this year’s event, a jump from 2024’s total of 1,500 participants that signals growing community interest in the initiative. For Mair, the 5k is more than a one-day gathering: it is a sustained movement to strengthen diaspora bonds and support Jamaican communities at home and abroad. “It’s a great networking opportunity,” Mair said. “It’s more than an event — it’s a movement.”