分类： sports

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The stage is set for an electrifying conclusion to the girls’ sprint hurdles at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships following a spectacular semifinal round on Friday. The national stadium witnessed an extraordinary display of young athletic prowess as multiple meet records were shattered, signaling intensely competitive finals on Saturday’s closing day.

In a stunning performance, Wolmer’s Tiana Marshall, the defending Class 2 champion, blazed through the 100m hurdles in 12.98 seconds, eclipsing the previous championship record of 13.00 seconds established by Hydel’s Oneka Wilson in 2022. Marshall will be joined in the final by St Jago’s Bryana Davidson (13.71), Penwood High’s Shakeya Reid (13.74), and Holmwood’s Regina Bailey (13.76).

The Class 3 80m hurdles produced even more dramatic results with three athletes surpassing the existing meet record. While Edwin Allen’s Tashana Godfrey clocked an impressive 10.75 seconds, her effort was assisted by an illegal tailwind of 2.6m/s. The new official record now belongs to Alpha Academy’s Azaria Harris, who posted a wind-legal 10.80 seconds, with Edwin Allen’s Danelia Clarke also breaking the previous standard at 10.82 seconds.

Additional standout performances included Hydel’s Keneisha Robinson matching the Class 4 70m hurdles record with 10.38 seconds, while Wolmer’s Akeelah Bell led the Class 2 qualifiers with a time of 13.15 seconds, positioning herself as a strong contender for the championship title.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a spectacular finale to his high school athletic career, Jamaica College’s Michael-Andre Edwards delivered a monumental performance at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships. Edwards clinched the Boys Class 1 triple jump title with a massive personal best of 16.25 meters, achieved despite a slight headwind of -0.6m/s at the National Stadium.

The victory secured Edwards a prestigious jumps double, having successfully defended his long jump crown just days earlier on Wednesday. His championship journey began dramatically with an opening foul, but the athlete demonstrated remarkable composure to dominate the competition thereafter. Edwards saved his finest leap for the final attempt, shattering his previous personal record of 15.95 meters set at the prestigious Penn Relays earlier in the season.

This extraordinary achievement places Edwards second on the global Under-20 performance list for the current season, highlighting his world-class potential. The competition saw Kingston College’s Amani Phillips claim silver with a strong jump of 15.34 meters, while Calabar High’s Antonio Anderson made a stunning final-round surge from eighth to bronze medal position with a leap of 15.21 meters.

Edwards’ performance not only concludes his Boys Champs career in spectacular fashion but also establishes him as one of Jamaica’s most promising athletic talents with significant international potential.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A new era in Jamaican junior hurdling dawned at the National Stadium on Friday as Marquies Page spectacularly broke a longstanding record at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. The emerging talent clocked an astonishing 12.98 seconds in the Boys’ Class 2 110m hurdles semi-finals, demolishing the previous record of 13.26 seconds set by Vashaun Vascianna back in 2019. Page’s performance sliced a remarkable 0.28 seconds off the seven-year benchmark. The record-breaking semi-final also saw Calabar High’s Divondrae Matthews secure his finals position with a time of 13.34 seconds, alongside Mark-Daniel Allen of Wolmers (13.39) and Jhabarie Whyte of Vere (13.65). In the Class 1 qualifiers, Calabar High’s Dijon Swaine emerged as the frontrunner with 13.35 seconds, followed closely by Kingston College’s Taj-Oneil Gordon (13.39), Hydel High’s Robert Miller (13.45), and Buff Bay High’s Davion Myers (13.47). The Class 3 100m hurdles competition witnessed equally impressive performances, with Jamaica College’s Adrian Phillips leading the pack at 12.96 seconds. William Knibb’s Jamali Laing followed with 13.19 seconds, while Kingston College’s Drequan Jones recorded 13.28 seconds. Calabar High’s Alex Lewis and Manchester High’s Dylan Bent both clocked identical times of 13.35 seconds, setting the stage for an intensely competitive finals session on Saturday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships witnessed extraordinary displays of speed and athleticism during Thursday’s 400m events, with several athletes delivering career-best performances at the National Stadium.

In a spectacular upgrade from her previous achievement, Edwin Allen’s Kelly-Ann Carr captured the Class 1 gold medal with a remarkable personal best of 52.20 seconds, shaving more than a second off her previous record of 53.38 seconds set just one month earlier at the Central Championships. This blistering performance now ranks as the second-fastest time globally among under-20 female athletes.

The podium featured Hydel High’s Nastassia Fletcher, last year’s Class 2 champion, who secured silver with 52.48 seconds, while Holmwood Technical’s Abrina Wright claimed bronze with 52.81 seconds.

Foga Road High’s Shameika McLean achieved consecutive championship golds, adding the Class 2 title to her previous Class 3 victory from last year. McLean’s dominant performance clocked in at a lifetime best of 52.22 seconds, marking a historic moment as she delivered her school’s first-ever gold medal in the championships. She outperformed Hydel High’s Sashana Johnson (53.43 seconds), who collected silver for the second consecutive year, while Holmwood Technical’s Annastacia Hall completed the top three with 54.22 seconds.

An elated McLean expressed both satisfaction and ambition following her victory: ‘I did not know that I could run another 52 seconds race. I wanted to run a 51 seconds,’ she remarked, indicating her aspirations for even faster times.

The Class 3 event saw Hydel High’s Tyecia McDonald triumph with a time of 55.00 seconds, narrowly defeating Alpha Academy’s Sha-Jay Davis (55.34 seconds) and Holmwood’s Malya McClennon (55.36 seconds) in a closely contested finish.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships reached a spectacular climax on its third day at the National Stadium, highlighted by a breathtaking record-breaking performance in the 400 meters. Kingston College’s Jason Pitter delivered an extraordinary run in the boys’ Class 2 final, obliterating the longstanding record with a phenomenal time of 45.76 seconds. This monumental achievement eclipsed the previous benchmark of 46.33 seconds, established by Christopher Taylor back in 2016. Pitter, who entered the race with a personal best of 46.35 seconds, dominated a highly competitive field from start to finish, securing a commanding victory. The silver medal was claimed by Jaeden Campbell of Excelsior High, who crossed the line in 46.74 seconds, while Calabar High’s Diwayne Sharpe captured bronze with a time of 46.82 seconds. The excitement continued in the Class 1 final, where Foga Road High’s Paul Henry staged a dramatic comeback in the final 60 meters, surging past three competitors to seize the gold in a new personal best of 46.21 seconds. Junior Gallimore from Hydel High secured second place with 46.33 seconds, and Makaelan Woods of Jamaica College, who had led for most of the race, finished third in 46.39 seconds. Jamaica College further demonstrated its sprinting prowess by claiming a one-two finish in the Class 3 final. Jayden White led the charge with a winning time of 50.10 seconds, followed closely by teammate Tariq Creary at 50.69 seconds. Darrian Francis of Lacovia High, a gold medalist at the Western Champs, rounded out the podium by taking bronze in 50.73 seconds.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a stunning display of athletic prowess and personal redemption, Sushana Johnson of Edwin Allen High clinched the gold medal in the Girls’ 200m steeplechase with a commanding time of 7:00.04. The victory marked a significant turnaround for Johnson, who had been defeated by Hydel High’s record-setting Taiefa Gowe in the previous year’s competition.

The race culminated in an exceptional one-two finish for Edwin Allen High, with teammate Briana Morris capturing the silver medal in 7:52.58. This dual achievement significantly bolstered the school’s position in the ongoing championship standings.

Completing the podium was Chevelle White from Alphansus Davis, who secured the bronze medal with a time of 7:54.7. Morris’s performance represented a remarkable improvement from her fifth-place finish in the previous year’s event, highlighting the intense training and development among these young athletes.

Johnson’s triumphant return to form demonstrated both mental resilience and physical preparation, showcasing the competitive spirit that defines Jamaican track and field athletics at the interscholastic level.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The stage is set for an electrifying climax in the boys’ Class 1 high jump competition at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. All eyes will be on Santino Distin from St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) as he aims to transform last year’s silver into gold during Saturday’s finale at the National Stadium.

Distin, who previously competed for Herbert Morrison Technical before transferring to STETHS, secured his place in the finals after successfully clearing the automatic qualifying height of 1.95 meters during Friday’s preliminary rounds. The national junior champion has demonstrated consistent form this season, having matched his personal best of 2.05 meters on two separate occasions, though he encountered a single setback during the qualifying phase.

The competition features several formidable contenders who delivered flawless performances during qualifications. Wolmer’s Boys’ School standout Kabiki Thomas, Cornwall College’s Carlyle Tinglin—who achieved a new personal best during the event—and Kingston College’s Michael Neil all progressed without a single failure.

In a surprising turn of events, Happy Grove High’s Jaquan Souden, who entered the competition as the top-ranked athlete with a season’s best of 2.06 meters, was forced to withdraw after just one attempt at 1.90 meters due to undisclosed circumstances. His unexpected exit has reshaped the competitive landscape for Saturday’s final, creating an open contest for the championship title.

In a tense intercontinental playoff semifinal held at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron, Jamaica’s national football team secured a narrow victory against New Caledonia on Thursday. The 1-0 triumph, achieved through an 18th-minute strike from Wrexham forward Bailey Cadamarteri, propels the Reggae Boyz into a decisive final against DR Congo this coming Tuesday. This critical match will determine which team earns a coveted spot in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, marking Jamaica’s potential return to the global tournament after a 28-year absence.

The match analysis reveals a performance built on defensive solidity and moments of individual brilliance. While the offense secured the necessary goal, the defensive line provided the foundation for victory. Goalkeeper Andre Blake (7/10) experienced a relatively comfortable evening despite New Caledonia’s attempts to catch him off guard, culminating in a crucial late save. The defensive quartet, led by man-of-the-match Ronaldo Webster (8/10), was particularly effective. Webster stood out as both the best offensive threat from the left-back position and a diligent tracker defensively. He was ably supported by Ethan Pinnock (7/10), who was solid in defense and precise in distribution, alongside Joel Latibeaudiere and Richard King (both 6.5/10), who had some nervy moments but avoided being punished.

In midfield, Karoy Anderson (7/10) impressed by effectively progressing the ball, making intelligent runs into both boxes, and leading the team’s defensive press. Isaac Hayden (6.5/10) had a quiet but efficient game. The attacking debutants, Andre Brooks (6/10) and Ephron Mason-Clark (6.5/10), showed promise but struggled to make a significant impact in key moments. Tyreece Campbell (7/10) was a consistent threat, always looking to take on defenders and contributing effectively to defensive recoveries.

Substitutes injected energy in the latter stages, with Bobby Reid (7/10) looking particularly lively and creating chances that arguably should have resulted in a goal. Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey (6.5/10) was a definite threat on the right flank, though his numerous dribbles lacked a final product. The victory sets the stage for a high-stakes confrontation with DR Congo, with Jamaica’s World Cup dreams hanging in the balance.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The stage is set for an electrifying confrontation in the Boys Class 1 shot put event at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. Javonte Smith of Munro College, the reigning Class 2 champion, has positioned himself as the athlete to beat after launching a formidable qualifying throw of 17.55 meters on the tournament’s fourth day at the national stadium.

His primary rival, Kamari Kennedy from Calabar High—last year’s Class 2 silver medalist—secured his place in the finals with a fifth-best qualifying mark of 16.53 meters, rekindling their competitive dynamic in a higher division. Adding a compelling layer to the competition is Kingston College’s Nkosana Johnson, the pre-championships top-ranked thrower. Johnson validated his seeding with a strong qualification effort of 17.40 meters, firmly inserting himself into the conversation for the gold medal.

In a surprising turn of events, last year’s Class 2 bronze medalist, Adrian Daley of St. Catherine High, saw his campaign conclude prematurely. His best attempt of 14.51 meters landed him in 14th place, outside the cutoff for advancement to the final round, marking a significant upset in the qualifying proceedings.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican high school athlete Jamelia Young of Clarendon College delivered a spectacular performance at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships on Friday, capturing her second gold medal with a record-breaking discus throw. Overcoming physical discomfort in her throwing hand, Young launched the discus an impressive 48.40 meters to claim the Girls Class 2 title. This remarkable achievement comes just days after her shot put victory on Wednesday, demonstrating her exceptional versatility in throwing events. Young’s winning throw not only shattered the previous record of 47.04m set by Cedricka Williams in 2021 but also surpassed her own personal best of 46.89m established in February. The championship-winning throw occurred during the fourth round of competition, dramatically elevating Young from fifth position to claim the top spot on the podium. Shamanda Wilmot of Holmwood Technical, who had maintained the lead from the initial round, secured the silver medal with a throw of 14.39 meters, while Alyssa Forrester from Excelsior High captured bronze with a 14.22-meter effort. The event showcased the exceptional talent emerging from Jamaica’s high school athletic programs.