分类： sports

One of Jamaica’s brightest track and field talents, former world 400-meter champion Antonio Watson, delivered a statement performance Sunday at the National Stadium, claiming his first-ever senior national title at the JAAA National Championships. Competing in the men’s 400-meter final, Watson crossed the finish line in a blistering 44.73 seconds – his fastest competitive time since his unforgettable underdog victory at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he stunned the global athletics community to take home gold.

Watson made his decisive move coming around the final bend, edging into the top spot before the straightaway, and held off charging challengers to maintain his lead all the way to the line. Delano Kennedy secured second place with a solid time of 45.11 seconds, while Zaveir Brown rounded out the podium in third with a 45.26-second finish.

On the women’s side of the 400-meter competition, Stacey-Ann Williams also earned her first senior national crown, clocking an impressive 50.33 seconds to claim the top spot on the podium. Leah Anderson finished as runner-up with a time of 51.04 seconds, while Shana Kay Anderson took third place after crossing the line in 51.52 seconds.

The national championships serve as a key qualifying event for Jamaican athletes targeting international competitions, making the breakthrough titles for both Watson and Williams a major milestone in their respective careers. The event, held at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium, continues to showcase the depth of young sprinting talent that Jamaica has become globally renowned for.

MIAMI GARDENS, U.S. – In a stunning Group E World Cup clash that shook up the tournament standings on Sunday, World Cup first-timers Cape Verde fought back from a second-half deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw against two-time world champions Uruguay, extending their unlikely fairy tale run in the competition after a shock opening draw with Spain.

The underdog African side got off to a dream start that caught Uruguay completely off guard. In the 21st minute, Kevin Pina etched his name into Cape Verde’s history books, scoring the nation’s first ever World Cup goal with a blistering long-range free kick. The effort slipped through a disorganized Uruguay defensive wall and beat goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, sending the underdog fans into wild celebrations.

Uruguay, who had already been held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia in their opening fixture, looked set to fall to another upset until they turned the game around in the final minutes of the first half. First, in stoppage time before the break, a cross into the box led to Cape Verde defender Sidney Lopes Cabral heading the ball against his own post under heavy pressure from Rodrigo Bentancur. Maximiliano Araujo was first to react, nodding the loose ball into the net past stranded Cape Verde keeper Vozinha to level the score.

Just two minutes later, in the sixth minute of first-half added time, Uruguay completed their quick turnaround. Araujo nodded a cross across the face of goal, and Agustin Canobbio connected cleanly with a volley to slot the ball home, giving the South American side a 2-1 lead going into halftime.

Uruguay dominated the opening stages of the second half and looked poised to hold onto their lead, until a costly mistake from 40-year-old veteran keeper Muslera handed Cape Verde a lifeline. In the 61st minute, Muslera inexplicably rushed far off his goal line to intercept a through ball, only to be beaten to the touch by Cape Verde substitute Helio Varela. Varela controlled the ball beautifully with one touch and rolled it into the empty net to draw the underdog side level again.

Late in the match, Cape Verde’s Vozinha – the hero of their opening draw with Spain – fumbled a shot that would have let Araujo tap into an open net, but the effort was ruled out for offside, sparing the keeper’s mistake. Real Madrid star Federico Valverde had a late chance to win the match for Uruguay, but he blazed a dangerous free kick from just outside the box over the crossbar.

The result leaves both teams heading into their final group matches with very different outlooks. Cape Verde now sit with two points from two games, keeping their knockout stage hopes very much alive. Next Saturday, they will face off against a Saudi Arabia side that suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain earlier on Sunday. A win for Cape Verde would secure their spot in the round of 16, a remarkable achievement for a debutant nation ranked far lower than both Uruguay and Spain.

For two-time champion Uruguay, however, the outcome puts their progression hopes in serious jeopardy. The draw marks the second consecutive match where they have dropped points against a lower-ranked opponent, leaving them with just two points going into their final group game against European champions Spain. Uruguay now likely need a full three points against Spain to avoid being knocked out in the group stage for the second consecutive World Cup, a hugely disappointing result for a side with such a decorated tournament history.

Before kickoff, Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa made two adjustments to the side that drew with Saudi Arabia, opting to leave star striker Darwin Nunez on the bench. Cape Verde manager Bubista made three changes to his starting lineup, all in attacking positions, as he looked to generate more offensive pressure than his side managed against Spain. Despite that attacking change, Uruguay carved out the first clear chance of the match, with Valverde drilling a left-footed effort just wide of the goal early on.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – On the closing Sunday of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships held at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium, 26-year-old hurdler Demisha Roswell turned years of consistent training and quiet perseverance into a career-defining victory, clocking a blistering new personal best of 12.40 seconds in a 0.7m/s tailwind to take home the women’s 100m hurdles national title.

Roswell’s winning performance shaved 0.04 seconds off her previous personal best set earlier in the season, catapulting her to fourth place in the 2024 global world rankings for the event. The mark also ties her with fellow Jamaican hurdler Janeek Brown for fifth on the country’s all-time women’s 100m hurdles list, cementing her status as one of Jamaica’s top sprint hurdle contenders ahead of upcoming international competitions.

Going into the championships, pre-race favorite Megan Tapper Simmonds was widely tipped to claim the top spot, but Roswell maintained flawless technique and explosive power from the first hurdle to the finish line, holding off Simmonds who crossed the line second in 12.47 seconds. Rising teenage star Kerrica Hill rounded out the top three with a solid time of 12.67 seconds, showcasing the depth of talent in Jamaican sprint hurdling.

The men’s 110m hurdles final delivered another surprise first-time title win, as Demario Prince surged past a stacked field to claim gold with a season-best time of 13.13 seconds in a 0.2m/s wind. This marks Prince’s first ever national senior title, finishing well ahead of Jerome Campbell who took silver in 13.35 seconds, with Sharvis Simmonds claiming the bronze medal in 13.39 seconds.

In the age-group competition, St Jago High’s Marquies Page delivered a thrilling late-stage burst to overtake competitors down the final stretch, winning the Under-20 boys’ 110m hurdles title in 13.34 seconds with a 1.8m/s tailwind. Kingston College’s Tajoneil Gordon finished just 0.03 seconds behind to take silver, while Noel Wright claimed third place in 13.55 seconds.

The Under-20 girls’ 100m hurdles final ended in a one-two sweep for Wolmer’s Girls’ School, with Tiana Marshall taking gold in 13.10 seconds (1.7m/s) and teammate Akeelah Bell following close behind for silver in 13.33 seconds. Edwin Allen High’s Tashana Godfrey rounded out the podium with a third-place time of 13.40 seconds.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a thrilling display of speed and determination at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships held at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium, 24-year-old hurdler Assinie Wilson secured the most significant victory of his young career so far on Saturday. Crossing the finish line with a winning time of 48.91 seconds, Wilson claimed his first ever Jamaican senior national title and earned an automatic spot on Jamaica’s roster for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland this coming July.

Coming into the national championships, Wilson entered the competition as the top-ranked men’s 400m intermediate hurdler in Jamaica for the 2014 season, carrying high expectations after finishing as the runner-up at the previous year’s national event. This year’s competition took on a different dynamic, however, with Jamaican national record holder Roshawn Clark absent from the starting line-up, opening a clear path for a new champion to emerge.

Wilson rose to the occasion, holding off a strong challenge from the rest of the field to cross the line first. Behind the new champion, Romario Stewart of Mico University delivered a standout personal performance, clocking a new lifetime best of 49.43 seconds to claim the second place spot on the podium. Rounding out the top three finishers was Malik James King, who recorded a time of 50.07 seconds to secure the third position.

Reporting from Kingston, Paul A Reid

On the concluding day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Senior Championships held at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium, track and field star Romaine Beckford delivered a standout performance to secure his third consecutive national men’s high jump crown. Entering the competition as one of the world’s top-ranked high jumpers—currently tied for fourth globally with a personal best clearance of 2.30 meters—Beckford navigated early pressure to claim the top spot with a winning jump of 2.25 meters. After successfully clearing the winning height, Beckford pushed for a new personal best, first testing 2.28 meters where he fell short on two attempts, before raising the bar to 2.31 meters in a bold final attempt that he ultimately could not convert. Finishing behind Beckford in the podium standings were Lushane Wilson, who took silver with a 2.20-meter clearance, and two-time world indoor medalist Raymond Richards, who rounded out the top three with a jump of 2.15 meters. Beyond the high jump, the final day of the national championships delivered several other exciting title finishes across field events. In the men’s shot put competition, Florida State University athlete Despiro Wray claimed his first ever Jamaican national senior title, throwing a winning mark of 16.98 meters to edge out the competition. Silver medalist Moses Parkinson posted a solid throw of 16.62 meters, while Tio-Josh Mowatt took third place with a 16.35-meter effort. The men’s javelin throw title went to Elvis Graham, who came just one centimeter short of the 70-meter benchmark with a winning throw of 69.99 meters. Graham held off challenger Zaavan Richards, who recorded a 67.54-meter throw for silver, while Santino Anglin claimed bronze with a 62.10-meter effort. On the women’s side of the javelin competition, Laquay Harrison took home the national title with a winning throw of 39.45 meters. She outperformed silver medalist Angel Robinson of Edwin Allen High School, who threw 38.19 meters, and bronze medalist Princess Dunn, who recorded a 37.43-meter throw to round out the top three.

On the final day of Jamaica’s JAAA National Track and Field Championships, held on Sunday in Kingston, a surprising underdog delivered yet another unforgettable performance that cemented his place at the top of the country’s under-20 sprint scene. Nathaniel Martin, a rising star from Jamaica College, completed a historic boys’ under-20 sprint double by securing gold in the 200m event, crossing the finish line with a new personal best time of 20.82 seconds, recorded under legal wind conditions of 0.9m/s.

Martin’s 200m victory was far from a lucky break. Just two days earlier, the young sprinter had stunned the domestic track and field community by claiming an unexpected 100m title, a result many dismissed as a one-off upset. On Sunday, he silenced all doubters by shifting into top gear with 50 meters remaining in the race, overtaking every competitor in front of him to hold the lead all the way to the line.

In addition to Martin’s personal breakthrough, the race delivered unprecedented personal bests across the top three positions. Martin chopped a massive 0.31 seconds off his previous lifetime best of 21.13 seconds. Kingston College’s Kyle Bodden also hit a new career high of 21.00 seconds to take second place, edging out pre-championship favorite Sanjay Seymore of William Knibb Memorial by just one hundredth of a second – Seymore clocked 21.01 seconds to round out the top three.

The under-20 sprint double club added a second, more favored member on the women’s side, as Shanoya Douglas of Holland High lived up to her top ranking to claim matching 100m and 200m titles. Douglas, the reigning national under-20 record holder and the current world leading under-20 sprinter this season, lived up to expectations with a dominant display. She crossed the line untouched in 22.56 seconds (0.3m/s wind), never looking threatened by the chasing pack.

Sashana Johnson of Hydel High finished second with a time of 23.01 seconds, while Natrece East of Wolmer’s Girls matched her 100m result to take third place in 23.07 seconds, wrapping up an exciting day of sprint competition at the national championships.

On the fourth and closing day of Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships held in Kingston, Jamaica, three rising track and field stars delivered stunning breakthrough performances to claim their maiden national crowns on Sunday. Beyond the glory of a first title, their wins earned them automatic selection to represent Jamaica at the upcoming 2024 Commonwealth Games scheduled to kick off in Glasgow at the end of July.

In the men’s 200-meter final, Christopher Taylor edged out fellow competitor Jevaughn Powell in a tense sprint finish that unfolded over the final 60 meters. The two runners had already pulled far ahead of the rest of the field by the late stages of the race, setting up a head-to-head battle for gold. Taylor crossed the finish line first in a wind-aided time of 20.08 seconds, with the wind assistance measured at 2.5 meters per second. Powell finished just 0.06 seconds behind to take silver, clocking 20.14 seconds, while former national 400m hurdles champion Roshawn Clarke rounded out the top three with a time of 20.28 seconds.

For the women’s 200m, 19-year-old sprint prodigy Alana Reid, the holder of Jamaica’s national junior 100m record and the reigning World Athletics U20 100m champion, pulled off a remarkable redemption run. After a disappointing seventh-place finish in the 100m final held just two days earlier, Reid stepped onto the track focused and delivered a career-defining performance. She shaved a massive 0.6 seconds off her previous personal best to take gold, stopping the clock at 22.29 seconds with legal wind assistance of 1.0 meters per second, improving on her former top time of 22.89 seconds.

Lavanya Williams, who placed sixth in the 100m, also notched a huge personal best to claim silver. She cut 0.65 seconds off her previous lifetime best to finish in 22.44 seconds, while last year’s national 200m champion Ashanti Moore took third place with a solid season’s best time of 22.45 seconds.

Completing the trio of first-time title winners was Sanique Walker, who dominated the women’s 400m hurdles final from start to finish. Walker also lowered her own personal best en route to gold, crossing the line in 54.56 seconds well ahead of the chasing pack. Shiann Salmon took second place with a season’s best 55.56 seconds, and teenage schoolgirl Kelly-Ann Carr from Edwin Allen High School claimed the final podium spot with a time of 58.30 seconds.

LONDON — Just one week out from cricket’s most high-stakes encounter of the England-New Zealand Test series, head coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed that star all-rounder Ben Stokes will reclaim his position as captain for the series-deciding third Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Stokes was forced to sit out England’s lopsided 253-run second Test defeat at the Oval earlier this week, after he violated the team’s agreed curfew in the wake of England’s opening series victory at Lord’s earlier this month. Though benched for the international clash, the 35-year-old was cleared to represent his domestic side Durham, and turned in an eye-catching 95-run innings against Northamptonshire in the County Championship on Saturday.

Early Sunday, before the start of domestic play, both Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson — the Surrey seaman also dropped from the England squad for his role in the curfew violation — were withdrawn from their respective domestic matches. The move immediately sparked speculation of an impending international recall, which McCullum confirmed to reporters at the Oval on Sunday afternoon.

“Ben will be back. He’ll be back and he’ll be captain,” said McCullum, a former New Zealand national captain himself. “I think everyone is excited about that, especially after seeing him hit some form for Durham. I’ve been speaking to Ben every single day since we had the incident and my assessment was that I was worried about him. To see him go out there and play some cricket and look like he was enjoying himself is really positive.”

Hours after McCullum’s announcement, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially confirmed both Stokes and Atkinson had been named in the 15-man squad for the third Test. However, the governing body also made clear that the pair had breached contractual rules requiring all England players to uphold strict standards of conduct at all times, acting in the best interests of English cricket. Both players received formal written warnings for their violation of team rules.

The ECB also released the findings of its full disciplinary investigation into the curfew breach, which ultimately led to a violent altercation at a London nightclub involving Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa. According to the ECB’s official statement, Auvaa was the aggressor who attacked Atkinson, and an England team security officer sustained injuries during the clash.

Crucially, the investigation cleared both Stokes and Atkinson of any wrongdoing connected to the confrontation. The ECB confirmed that “no blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub. Stokes was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident. The evidence the ECB has seen demonstrates that Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate on either occasion.” A separate review by England’s independent Cricket Regulator reached the same conclusion, finding the pair did nothing to provoke the incident.

The announcement also addressed ongoing speculation surrounding a reported rift between McCullum and Stokes in the wake of England’s underwhelming 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia back in January, when questions emerged about whether the successful leadership partnership could continue. The pair have worked together as captain and head coach since 2022, delivering a number of historic upset victories for the national side alongside underperforming runs in major tournaments.

When asked if the pair could still continue their leadership partnership effectively, McCullum pushed back on claims of tension. “We’ve worked together intimately for four years, we’ve achieved some cool things and we’ve let ourselves down in other things. We have robust conversations all the way through and that’s to be expected when you’re in positions of leadership. There’s mutual respect there. I’ve been very clear and very supportive of Ben throughout and particularly this week as well. I anticipate we’ll be able to work together really well with the week coming and I’m sure both of us still have that same vision for this cricket team.”

HENGELO, Netherlands — The 2024 FBK Games, a top-tier stop on World Athletics’ Continental Tour Gold circuit, delivered a standout performance from Jamaican rising sprint star Brianna Lyston on Sunday, who stormed to women’s 100m gold with a blistering 10.99-second finish against a -0.6m/s headwind. This remarkable result marks Lyston’s second sub-11-second 100m clocking of the 2024 outdoor season, coming just six days after she ran 11.18 seconds at the meet in Ostrava, Czechia — a progression that underscores her growing form ahead of major global championships. The former World Under-20 200m champion outpaced a competitive international field to secure the top spot on the podium. Host nation representative Minke Bisschops took home silver with a 11.08-second run, while Brazil’s Ana Azevedo rounded out the top three with a time of 11.26 seconds. Beyond the sprint, Jamaican athletes also made their mark in field events at the meet. Multiple Jamaican national champion Danniel Thomas-Dodd finished fourth in the women’s shot put, posting a best throw of 18.65m on the day. The event title went to home crowd favorite Jessica Schilder, the current world leader in the discipline, who unleashed a winning throw of 20.03m. Schilder beat her compatriot Jorinde Van Klinken, who took second with a 19.34m throw, while Portugal’s Jessica Inchude claimed third place at 18.83m. In the men’s discus throw, Olympic champion Roje Stona of Jamaica notched a fifth-place finish with a best throw of 65.22m. Germany’s Henrik Janssen took the event gold with a leading throw of 68.21m, followed by Chile’s Claudio Romero in second at 67.61m. Great Britain’s Lawrence Okoye secured the third spot on the podium with a 66.10m throw. The FBK Games continues to serve as a key preparation event for elite track and field athletes, offering high-level competition ahead of the year’s biggest global athletics events, with Lyston’s performance emerging as one of the weekend’s most notable highlights.

ATLANTA, Ga. — The 2024 FIFA World Cup Group H campaign got a jolt of energy on Sunday, as the return of teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal unlocked reigning European champion Spain to a dominant 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Coming off a frustrating goalless draw against first-time qualifiers Cape Verde in their opening group fixture, the pre-tournament title favorites had faced growing scrutiny over their slow start and overreliance on possession without cutting-edge finishing. That narrative shifted completely within 10 minutes of kickoff, when Yamal — making his first starting appearance in two months after recovering from a hamstring injury — ended Spain’s 200-minute wait for a World Cup goal.

The Barcelona winger’s opening strike set the tone for a blistering first-half onslaught that put the game out of reach before the break. Mikel Oyarzabal, the in-form Real Sociedad forward, capitalized on two set-piece opportunities to double Spain’s lead in the 14th minute and extend the margin to 3-0 just three minutes later, sending Luis de la Fuente’s side into halftime with an unassailable advantage.

Sticking to his pre-planned minutes management for the injury-prone 18-year-old, De la Fuente withdrew Yamal at halftime, alongside Oyarzabal, to keep the pair fresh for upcoming group stage matches. Spain’s relentless attacking pressure did not let up, however, and the final blow came in the second half when a deflected effort off Saudi defender Hassan al-Tambakti slid into the back of the net for an own goal that rounded out the 4-0 scoreline.

The result catapults Spain (1 win, 1 draw, 4 points) to the top of Group C heading into the final round of group fixtures, setting up a high-stakes clash with two-time world champions Uruguay in Guadalajara next Friday. Uruguay, who entered Sunday’s play level on points with Spain, face Cape Verde later the same day in a match that will shape knockout stage qualification.

Sunday’s win also marked a memorable milestone for De la Fuente, who celebrated his 65th birthday with a statement performance that answered all critics who questioned his tactics after the opening draw. The Spanish manager made four changes to his starting lineup for the match, bringing in Yamal alongside Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena, and the adjustments paid off immediately. The second half also gave valuable match minutes to returning injured players Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, who came off the bench to build up match fitness ahead of the knockout stage.

For Saudi Arabia, the result leaves the Asian side facing a do-or-die final group game against Cape Verde in Houston. The Arabian Falcons held Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in their opening fixture, but Sunday’s lopsided defeat has ramped up pressure on manager Georgios Donis, who voiced clear frustration after the match that two of Spain’s goals came from corner kick set pieces. A win against Cape Verde would see Saudi Arabia advance to the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time since the tournament was last hosted in the United States 32 years ago, but anything less will see them exit the competition early.