分类： sports

In a spectacular conclusion to a weather-disrupted five-day event, Jamaica College (JC) and Edwin Allen High School emerged victorious at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, dethroning the reigning champions at Kingston’s National Stadium.

Edwin Allen’s female athletes delivered a commanding performance, amassing 338.5 points to secure their eleventh title since their inaugural win in 2012. This triumph further solidifies coach Michael Dyke’s legacy as one of the championships’ most accomplished mentors. Despite a final victory in the 4x400m relay by Hydel High (3:33.72), who finished ahead of Edwin Allen (3:35.30) and Holmwood Technical (3:39.61), the overall title had already been decisively claimed.

On the boys’ side, Jamaica College ended Kingston College’s four-year dominance with a stylish victory in the Boys’ 4x400m relay, clocking 3:08.18. KC pushed relentlessly throughout the championships but settled for second in 3:08.68, competing without key athlete Jason Pitter. William Knibb secured third place (3:09.23), while Calabar faced disqualification due to a false start. This victory marks JC’s 23rd hold on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy and their first championship title since 2021, though KC remains the historically most successful institution with 36 titles.

The competition faced significant weather challenges when lightning forced a nearly two-hour suspension at 3:35 pm. Despite the interruption, neither JC nor Edwin Allen lost their competitive momentum in the final sessions.

Notable individual achievements included Ryan Achau of Kenya and St Jago High, who claimed his second gold medal with a spectacular 5,000m victory in 14:42.32—the second-fastest time in championship history. Addison James of Edwin Allen shattered the Boys’ javelin record with an impressive 70.30m throw, surpassing the previous mark of 65.11m set by Tarique Daley in 2025.

Hydel High mounted a formidable challenge throughout the competition, gradually reducing Edwin Allen’s lead from 35.5 to 20 points after 28 of 46 finals. Zavien Bernard led their charge with victory in the Class Two high jump (1.76m), while Keneisha Robinson added gold in the Class Four 70m hurdles (10.68).

Edwin Allen responded through Tiana Godfrey, who set a new record in the Class Three 80m hurdles with 10.80, breaking Camoy Binger’s 2022 mark. The competition intensified as KC similarly pressed JC, narrowing the deficit to 47 points before weather intervened.

Post-event celebrations featured gospel artist Jermaine Edwards performing ‘Beautiful Day’ amidst fireworks, creating a festive atmosphere for the victorious schools. The championships demonstrated exceptional athletic prowess despite challenging conditions, highlighting Jamaica’s continued excellence in track and field development.

In a poignant display of athletic excellence and team spirit, Edwin Allen High School captured its 11th ISSA/GraceKennedy Girls’ Athletics Championships title in a ceremony at the National Stadium on Friday evening. The victory was marked by a profound tribute to their late teammate, Taneisha Gayle, whose memory was honored with a life-sized cutout prominently displayed during the award presentation. GraceKennedy Chief Executive Officer Frank James presided over the ceremony, personally awarding the championship trophy to the Edwin Allen team. The emotional moment underscored how the team had channeled their grief into determination throughout the competition, ultimately prevailing against strong challengers to maintain their dominant position in Jamaican high school athletics. This championship victory represents not just another title for the institution’s impressive record, but a symbolic triumph of perseverance and unity in the face of tragedy, setting a powerful example for young athletes across the nation.

The Jamaica Premier League enters a decisive phase this weekend with a series of high-stakes encounters that could dramatically reshape the standings. Sunday’s headline fixture features a monumental clash between league leaders Montego Bay United and defending champions Cavalier SC at Jarrett Park, with both teams urgently needing victory to achieve their respective season objectives.

Montego Bay United’s position at the summit has become increasingly precarious, with their advantage narrowing to just three points over second-placed Mt Pleasant FA, who hold two games in hand. MBU’s recent form has shown vulnerability, exemplified by their midweek 1-1 draw with Molynes United following a surprising 3-1 defeat to Chapelton Maroons.

Meanwhile, Cavalier SC arrives at this critical juncture battling to maintain their playoff positioning amid a concerning run of two consecutive losses. The defending champions find themselves fighting to secure a top-six berth as the regular season approaches its conclusion.

The weekend action extends beyond this marquee matchup, with several other compelling contests scheduled. The Portmore derby pits Portmore United against Dunbeholden FC, with Portmore strengthened by the acquisition of former Reggae Boy Corey Burke, who has immediately impacted the scoreboard with goals in his first two appearances.

Chapelton Maroons carry significant momentum into their encounter with Molynes United, riding a wave of consecutive victories that has positioned them within striking distance of the top six. Their opponents, Molynes United, have experienced a concerning decline into the relegation zone.

Harbour View, enjoying a three-match unbeaten streak, face a struggling Tivoli Gardens side that has failed to secure victory in their last four outings. Both clubs will be desperate to collect valuable points to bolster their postseason aspirations.

The weekend concludes with Monday fixtures featuring Racing United versus Treasure Beach, Waterhouse FC against Spanish Town Police, and a potentially season-defining encounter between Arnett Gardens FC and title-chasing Mt Pleasant FA.

Sunday’s full schedule:
– Tivoli Gardens vs Harbour View — Edward Seaga Complex
– Chapelton Maroons vs Molynes United — Turners Oval
– Montego Bay United vs Cavalier SC — Jarrett Park
– Dunbeholden FC vs Portmore United — Dunbeholden Complex

Monday’s matchups:
– Racing United vs Treasure Beach — Anthony Spaulding Complex (5:00 pm)
– Waterhouse FC vs Spanish Town Police — Drewsland (6:00 pm)
– Arnett Gardens FC vs Mt Pleasant FA — Anthony Spaulding Complex (7:30 pm)

The stage is set for an unprecedented football confrontation as Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Leopards prepare for their decisive World Cup qualifying play-off match in Guadalajara, Mexico. Both squads conducted intensive training sessions on Sunday, with exclusive footage revealing their final preparations ahead of Tuesday’s historic encounter.

This monumental match represents the first-ever competitive meeting between the two nations, with each team pursuing distinct historical milestones. The DRC aims to secure its first World Cup appearance in half a century, having last qualified in 1974. Jamaica seeks to end its 26-year World Cup drought, last participating in the 1998 tournament.

The qualification pathways to this final play-off have been markedly different. The Congolese squad finished second in their group before eliminating formidable African opponents Cameroon and Nigeria in regional playoffs. Jamaica secured their position by placing second behind Curaçao in their group, followed by a crucial victory against New Caledonia on Thursday.

Historical statistics present a challenging precedent for the Reggae Boyz, who have struggled against African opposition throughout their football history. In 22 previous encounters against CAF-affiliated teams, Jamaica has recorded only two victories, with nine losses and eleven draws.

The victorious team will secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The winner will advance to compete in Group K alongside Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan. The match is scheduled to commence at 4:00 PM Jamaica time, with the outcome determining which nation celebrates a historic football achievement.

In a pivotal Jamaica Premier League showdown on Sunday, league leaders Montego Bay United solidified their dominance with a commanding 3-1 triumph over defending champions Cavalier SC at Jarrett Park. This victory propels Montego Bay to a formidable 61 points, establishing a six-point cushion at the summit of the league standings.

The match, which concluded with a frenetic pace, saw Montego Bay’s Deonjay Brown initiate the scoring in the fifth minute with a precisely executed finish. The advantage was doubled shortly after halftime by Richardo Ramsey, who demonstrated remarkable composure with a delicate lob over the advancing goalkeeper. Substitute Jahmari Clarke seemingly put the result beyond doubt just two minutes later, powering through Cavalier’s defense to net a third.

Despite a missed penalty by Malachi Sterling that denied a fourth goal, Cavalier mounted a late resurgence. Adrian Reid’s spectacular long-range effort in added time offered a glimmer of hope, but any chance of a dramatic comeback was extinguished when goalkeeper Davonnie Burton heroically saved a subsequent penalty from Christopher Ainsworth.

In parallel fixtures, the league witnessed significant upheaval. Dunbeholden FC delivered a stunning 2-1 upset against fourth-placed Portmore United, complicating their pursuit of a higher standing. Meanwhile, Tivoli Gardens engineered a spectacular comeback from a two-goal deficit to edge Harbour View 3-2, fueled by a remarkable hat-trick from Rodico Wellington. The day’s action concluded with Chapelton Maroons and Molynes United sharing points in a 2-2 draw, courtesy of a second-half brace from Nicholas Nelson.