分类： sports

GABORONE, Botswana – Just 24 hours after breaking a world record, Jamaica’s dynamic mixed 4x100m relay squad delivered another history-making performance at the Debswana World Athletics Relays, powering to gold and slashing even more time off their newly set global mark on Sunday.

The unchanged quartet of Ackeem Blake, Tina Clayton, Kadrian Goldson and Tia Clayton first made their mark in the qualifying rounds on Saturday, clocking 39.99 seconds to knock Canada’s long-standing world record off the books. Few expected the team to outdo themselves so quickly, but the Jamaican foursome found another gear in the high-stakes final, crossing the finish line in a stunning 39.62 seconds to etch their names deeper into athletics record books.

Beyond the gold medal and historic record, the victory earns Jamaica a spot in the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships, a groundbreaking end-of-season event set to take place later this year in Budapest, Hungary. Unlike traditional world championships, the new competition will only invite the top six performers from each event throughout the season, creating a concentrated showdown between the very best athletes in the world. Sunday’s top-six finishers in Gaborone all secured their invitations to the historic first edition of the event.

Reporting by Paul A Reid

On the second day of the 2024 Debswana World Athletics Relays held in Gaborone, Botswana, Jamaica’s mixed 4x400m relay squad delivered a stunning performance on Sunday, shattering their own two-year-old national record to secure a silver medal on the global stage.

Composed of sprinters Deandre Watkin, Shana Kay Anderson, Antonio Watson and Rushell Clayton, the Jamaican team kept the same line-up that dominated Saturday’s opening qualifying round, and lived up to expectations by clocking an impressive 3 minutes 8.24 seconds. This result knocked nearly three seconds off the previous national benchmark of 3:11.06, which was set at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The United States team claimed the gold medal after crossing the finish line in 3:07.47, a new Championship record that outpaced the Jamaican squad by less than a second. Great Britain rounded out the top three with a solid time of 3:09.84, securing the bronze medal in the competitive mixed 4x400m event.

This result marks a major breakthrough for Jamaican mixed relay athletics, highlighting the country’s continued depth in 400-meter level sprinting heading into future major international competitions.

In a pulsating Premier League derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, Manchester United claimed a dramatic 3-2 win over Liverpool that locked in their spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League, capping a stunning mid-season turnaround under interim manager Michael Carrick. The hosts got off to a blistering start, netting twice inside the opening 15 minutes to put Liverpool on the back foot early. Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha broke the deadlock first, his strike from the edge of the box deflecting off Liverpool’s Alexis MacAllister and leaving third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman with no chance to save. Just moments later, Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko bundled Bruno Fernandes’ redirected header over the goal line to double United’s advantage, capping a wave of relentless early attacking pressure from the home side. Fernandes came inches from putting the game out of reach before half-time, blasting a cross from Bryan Mbeumo just wide of the post, but warning signs were already emerging for United: Liverpool had repeatedly carved through the Red Devils’ midfield, with Cody Gakpo curling a clear chance just wide of the target. The game flipped on its head immediately after the interval, when a series of unforced United mistakes handed Arne Slot’s injury-hit side a route back into the match. Liverpool arrived at Old Trafford missing three key first-team forwards — Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, and Alexander Isak — all sidelined with injury, and had been forced to field a depleted attacking unit. Just moments into the second half, substitute Amad Diallo, who had replaced Sesko at the break, gave away possession with a loose pass. Dominik Szoboszlai pounced on the mistake, breaking unopposed from his own half before slotting calmly into the bottom corner to cut United’s lead in half. The equalizer came soon after, another gift from the home side: goalkeeper Senne Lammens’ poorly judged pass was intercepted by MacAllister, who slipped a pass through to Szoboszlai. The Hungarian midfielder teed up Gakpo for an easy tap-in, leveling the score at 2-2 after an hour of play. With both sides throwing caution to the wind in search of a decisive late goal, the packed Old Trafford crowd got a finish worthy of the historic rivalry. A poor clearance from MacAllister fell perfectly into the path of 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who charged onto the ball and steered a cool finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net, putting United back in front in the 78th minute. The result seals United’s return to Europe’s elite club competition after a two-year absence, and extends their lead over fourth-placed Liverpool to six points with just a handful of matches remaining. Carrick’s side are guaranteed a top-five finish in the Premier League, and the top-four finish that brings Champions League qualification now confirms their place in next season’s tournament. For Liverpool, the defeat marks their 11th league loss of the campaign, but Slot’s side remain in a strong position to also claim a Champions League spot, needing just three points from their final three matches to secure qualification. The victory is United’s first league double over Liverpool since the 2015-16 season, and completes a staggering reversal of fortune between the two clubs from 12 months prior. Last season, Liverpool won their 20th English top-flight title, equaling United’s historic record, and finished 14 places and 42 points ahead of Sunday’s winners. Mainoo, the homegrown England midfielder who has been at the heart of United’s resurgence since Carrick took charge in January, marked a landmark week with his winning goal. Overlooked by former manager Ruben Amorim earlier this season, Mainoo signed a new five-year contract with the club earlier this week, and paid tribute to Carrick’s role in transforming United’s season after the final whistle. “He’s played a huge part in it, all the confidence he gives all the players,” Mainoo said of Carrick. “You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch.” Since taking over in January, Carrick has not only turned United’s season around to secure Champions League football, but has also picked up signature wins against the league’s top sides, including Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea. With the primary target of qualification achieved, the result has strengthened Carrick’s claims to take the manager’s job on a permanent basis next season, with the financial windfall of Champions League participation making his case increasingly hard for the United board to ignore.

ST JAMES, Jamaica — On a recent Sunday morning, Howard Cooke Boulevard in the heart of Montego Bay transformed into a vibrant, packed corridor of energy as thousands of participants and spectators gathered for the annual Jill Stewart MoBay City Run. The event kicked off promptly at 6:00 a.m., drawing people from across the region and beyond who filled every stretch of the route with excitement and camaraderie. For many attendees, the day was all about embracing the festive, community-focused atmosphere — casual joggers, families with strollers, and walking groups joined together to enjoy the shared experience of moving through the city’s streets. Alongside these recreational participants, a cohort of competitive runners also turned out, pushing for top times and placing in the event’s official rankings. What stands out most about this annual gathering, which has become a staple on Montego Bay’s local event calendar, is the overwhelming public support it has garnered since its launch. Unlike many ordinary road races, the MoBay City Run carries a core charitable mission: all proceeds and efforts from the event go toward providing critical financial and resource support to local students, helping remove barriers to their educational goals and long-term success. For the western Jamaican city, the run has grown into more than just a sports event — it is a community-wide celebration of both active living and investment in the next generation.

In a stunning upset at the Debswana World Athletics Relays held in Gaborone, Botswana, both Jamaica’s men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams have failed to secure qualification for next year’s Beijing World Championships. Both squads finished outside the top two in their decisive second-round races on Sunday, ending their hopes of booking a spot at the global showcase. The disappointing outcome comes after underwhelming performances in the opening round the previous day, where both teams crossed the line in fifth place in their respective heats. That result dropped them into the second-chance qualifying round, where they were unable to turn their fortunes around despite incremental improvements in their times. Jamaican Athletics opted to keep the same lineups that competed in the first round for the crucial second opportunity. The women’s squad, made up of Andrenette Knight, Leah Anderson, Janielle Josephs and Shiann Salmon, clocked 3:25.38 in the second round – a full 1.81 seconds faster than their Saturday time of 3:27.19. The performance earned them third place in their heat and third place across all second-round competitors, but it was not enough to earn one of the two qualification spots up for grabs. Ireland claimed the top spot in the heat with a winning time of 3:23.83, while France followed closely in second at 3:24.48; both European squads secured their places in Beijing as a result. On the men’s side, the unchanged quartet of Assinie Wilson, Jevaughn Powell, Jeremy Bembridge and Reheem Hayles crossed the line in fourth place in their second-round heat with a time of 3:01.63. While the team had posted a faster 3:00.48 in the first round, Sunday’s result placed them ninth overall among all second-round contenders, well outside the top-two cutoff required for qualification. The surprising failure of two Jamaican relay squads to reach the World Championships marks a rare misstep for the country’s renowned track and field program, which has long dominated global sprint and relay competitions. By Paul A Reid

On April 26, the 13th edition of the Jamaica Best School Band (JBSB) competition wrapped up in dramatic fashion at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in St Andrew, where first-time competitor St George’s College defied expectations to claim the top prize against seasoned rivals.

Competing as one of two debutant programs in this year’s tournament, the Kingston-based North Street school’s 16-member Blu Riddim Band secured a narrow win with a final score of 38.5 points, edging out four-time competitor Wolmer’s Boys’ High School’s Kromatix Band by just half a point. Herbert Morrison Technical High School’s Royalty Band finished third with 35 points, while the other first-time entry, Cedar Grove Academy’s Ignition Band, rounded out the top four with 32 points.

This year’s competition challenged participating ensembles to deliver 10-minute performance sets aligned with the official theme “Remix and Fusion”. Under the rules, each group was required to creatively reinterpret well-known popular or classic tracks by blending distinct musical genres into unique, forward-thinking arrangements that showcased originality and technical skill. Final rankings were determined by a panel of veteran industry judges Stephen Stewart and Kirk Bennett.

For their first-place finish, St George’s College walked away with a substantial prize package: a JMD 400,000 cash award from the Vinyl Records Collectors Association, a full drum kit donated by Music Mart Limited, and a professional recording session at Kingston’s renowned Mixing Lab studio. The school’s lead vocalist, Tyler Salesman, also earned individual recognition as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer for his standout work throughout the competition.

Other awards went to competing programs across the country. Wolmer’s Boys’ High School took home two honors: Most Improved Band and Best School Image. Hannah Lyon, leader of third-place Herbert Morrison Technical High School’s Royalty Band, was selected as Best Band Leader, while Cedar Grove Academy claimed the award for Best Original Song for their track *The Harder The Battle*. The award ceremony also featured a special guest performance from the Linstead Primary School Band, showcasing up-and-coming young musical talent across Jamaica.

A total of nine secondary schools registered for the 2026 JBSB competition, which kicked off preliminary rounds on March 2 at Excelsior High School. Notably, 2025 defending champion Dinthill Technical High School chose not to return to defend their title this year.

JBSB founder Rayven Amani shared her overall assessment of the 2026 season in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, noting that while the competition faced unforeseen challenges, the resilience of participating students was the defining highlight of the tournament. “The highlights of JBSB 2026 is the tenacity and determination shown by so many of the band members working through their various challenges, but showing up each round and performing better than the previous one,” Amani said.

Organizers had originally projected that the 2026 tournament would draw more registered schools than the 2025 edition, which hosted 12 competing programs. However, the impact of Hurricane Melissa and its widespread aftermath forced a number of schools—particularly those located in western Jamaica—to withdraw their entries ahead of the competition’s preliminary rounds. Despite the setback, Amani emphasized that the quality of performances from remaining participants exceeded expectations, highlighting the growing impact of the competition in nurturing young musical talent across the island.

When the starting gates fly open at Caymanas Park tomorrow, the roar of the crowd won’t rise up for a maiden dash or a low-stakes claiming race. All the anticipation, all the buzz, is focused on one thing: the long-awaited comeback of one of Jamaica’s top thoroughbreds.

At 5:00 p.m. local time, six elite sprinters will step into the starting blocks for the $1.75-million Reggae Trophy, a 1,000-meter (five furlong) straight dash that has become the most anticipated race of the current season. But for fans, trainers, and punters alike, every pair of eyes will be locked on a single horse: Legacy Isle.

The two-time runner-up of the prestigious Mouttet Mile has not stepped onto a competitive track since December 27, 2025. On that final raceday of last year, Legacy Isle turned the 1,100-meter Christopher “Chris” Armond Sprint into a dominant solo performance, crossing the finish line 10 lengths clear of the field in a blistering time of 1:04.2 before jockey Raddesh Roman eased him up in the final strides. In the 126 days that have followed, the champion has stayed out of the public eye, with only quiet rumors from the stable and impressive morning workout sessions keeping fans on edge waiting for his return.

Now, trainer Rohan Crichton is ready to send Legacy Isle back into the spotlight, and even the 1,000-meter straight course may not have enough space to contain the seasoned racehorse’s talent. Jockey Raddesh Roman, who will re-team with Legacy Isle for this comeback race, has a clear game plan: break clean out of the gate, settle into second position behind the early speed, and make his move when the moment is right. That confidence is backed up by Legacy Isle’s most recent workout: on April 18, he galloped five furlongs in a sharp 59.0 seconds, with the first four furlongs completed in 46.0 seconds, a strong indicator of his race readiness.

As a top-tier Mouttet Mile contender dropping down to a sprint distance, Legacy Isle has a massive class advantage over the rest of the field — a gap so wide it can only be described as a canyon. But as any racing fan knows, races are not won on paper, and each of his five competitors has their own plans to upset the favorite.

Drawing the inside starting position is Pack Plays, an American-bred horse who is coming back to his favored sprint trip after an unsuccessful experiment at 1,700 meters earlier this month, where he finished 22 lengths behind winner Rideallday. That failed distance test is now off the table, and trainer Ricardo Mathie is returning Pack Plays to what he does best: blazing fast early speed. A time of 1:06.4 for five and a half furlongs posted last August proves he belongs at this distance. Jockey Richie Shakes will send him hard out of the starting gate from the rail, and if he can grab an early lead of a length or two, the entire dynamic of the race will shift.

Stalking both Legacy Isle and Pack Plays will be Money Market, a consistent six-year-old bay contender trained by Gary Subratie, a conditioner who never brings a horse to a stakes race unless he believes they can win. Money Market has not finished off the podium in any five-furlong race in over a year, including a victory posted in 57.2 seconds back in February. Jockey Emelio McLean plans to let the two leading speed horses wear each other out in the early stages before making his move for home. He is widely considered the biggest threat to Legacy Isle — if the long layoff leaves the favorite tired in the final 100 yards, Money Market is perfectly positioned to step in and take the trophy.

Long shot fans should not count out Mighty Gully, a filly who just notched a win at this exact distance in a sharp 57.4 seconds. She carries almost 20 pounds less weight than Legacy Isle, a significant advantage in sprint racing. Trained by Robert Pearson, who has her in peak race condition, and ridden by tactician Tajay Suckoo who excels at rating late-closing horses, Mighty Gully could fly down the outside in the final strides if Pack Plays and Legacy Isle battle each other to exhaustion in the first half of the race.

Another One, another horse that excels at the five-furlong straight, rounds out the mid-field, though trainer Anthony Nunes has acknowledged that stepping up to Graded Stakes company is a big step up in class for the runner. The final entrant, seven-year-old veteran Rainsville, is largely considered to be in the race only for appearance money, with his best racing days firmly behind him.

When all the tactics, weight advantages, and past form lines are stripped away, this race remains Legacy Isle’s to lose. A two-time second-place finisher at the Mouttet Mile, he finished both runs behind all-time greats — but this time, there is no Rideallday or Funcaandun to beat him. All that stands between him and the trophy is 1,000 meters of straight Caymanas Park turf and five competitors just trying to keep pace in his slipstream. If Legacy Isle is even 90 percent fit, he will win. If he is at 100 percent, he will leave the rest of the field far behind in his dust. For most pundits, the Reggae Trophy is already Legacy Isle’s — the rest of the field is simply racing for second place.

Beyond the featured Reggae Trophy, reporters have highlighted top contenders to watch across the rest of the day’s nine-race card: In Race 1, keep an eye on Wilson, Havajoy, and Sneaky Joe; Race 2 features top picks Another Mission, She’s Adorable, and Sweet Victory; Race 3’s runners to watch are Bowmore, Brompton Boy, and Hi Slew Squared; Race 4’s top contenders are Hazelt Nut, Lockdown, and Four Thirty; Prince Roy, Ability, and Awesome Anthony lead the field in Race 5; Wah A Gwaan, Hooray Henry, and Juventus One are the picks for Race 6; Alaeddin, Goodness Graceous, and Modern Monarch top Race 7; the featured 8th Race’s top three are Legacy Isle, Money Market, and Pack Plays; and Digital One, California Crown, and RicoRicoRico lead the way in the 9th and final race.