分类： sports

GraceKennedy Group has reaffirmed its substantial commitment to Jamaican youth athletics with a monumental $202 million sponsorship for the 2026 ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. The investment, announced at Wednesday’s launch event at Kingston’s National Arena, represents one of the company’s largest contributions since first partnering with the event in 2007.

Group CEO Frank James revealed the sponsorship package consists of $108 million in primary funding plus an additional $94 million allocated for brand execution and promotional activities. The timing of this investment carries particular significance as approximately 30 schools from western Jamaica continue recovering from Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact last October.

James emphasized the heightened importance of this year’s sponsorship given the challenging circumstances. “When you witness schools from affected regions demonstrating such resilience by participating despite adversity, it becomes imperative for us to match their commitment,” James told the Jamaica Observer. “Sports possess a unique capacity to foster national unity that transcends natural disasters.”

In a special initiative commemorating GraceKennedy’s 104th anniversary, the company will award $104,000 to gold medal winners from western Jamaican schools across all 88 championship events. This gesture specifically targets supporting student-athletes from hurricane-affected regions.

James characterized the championships as GraceKennedy’s single largest global investment, noting the company’s philosophical alignment with the event’s values. “Our former leadership established that what benefits Jamaica ultimately benefits GraceKennedy,” James explained. “We perceive Champs as fundamentally beneficial for national development.”

ISSA President Keith Wellington acknowledged the transformative impact of former Grace CEO Don Wehby, who passed away in July, on the championship’s exponential growth. Wellington praised GraceKennedy’s “continued commitment to developing Jamaica’s youth through sports,” describing the financial commitment as demonstrating “clear confidence in the Champs product.”

Despite organizational challenges, James anticipates a world-class event featuring record-breaking performances and the emergence of new athletic talent. “We consistently witness extraordinary performances and discover future international representatives at this championship,” James concluded.

The 2026 John Powell Open Chess Tournament, a premier event organized by the Jamaica Chess Federation, concluded on March 8th after two days of intense competition. The event, which honored the legacy of former JCF secretary and president John Powell—a recognized FIDE Arbiter—drew a field of 108 participants across its four competitive divisions.

In the premier Open section, Candidate Master Jhustice-Dimonte McDonald emerged victorious, securing the championship title. The battle for the runner-up positions culminated in a three-way tie on points, resolved by tie-break calculations. FIDE Master Raheem Glaves claimed second place, with J-Loy Chin finishing third. Candidate Master Nathaniel Hope and Jayden Foreshaw completed the top five. Woman Candidate Master Kaia Gayle achieved the distinction of the section’s top female competitor.

The U1800 section witnessed a tight finish, with Samuel Lin clinching first place via tie-break over Vaishnav Gali. Luke Wright secured the third podium position. The final standings saw Johnathan Brown in fourth and Ajay Tennant in fifth. Emilia-Rose Leake led the female finishers, followed by Rhea Gardener and Kayla Moses.

Dominance was displayed in the U1500 Absolute section by Jordan Robinson, who took clear first. Kaie Chambers finished as runner-up. The subsequent rankings were determined by tie-breaks, awarding third to Raheem Gayle, fourth to Jevar Brooks, and fifth to Kamar Davidson.

A separate U1500 Female section crowned Kelly Williamson as its champion. The final standings were decided by tie-break results, with Amaris Solomon securing second place, Zoe Elliott taking third, Dina Dudnikova finishing fourth, and Je Nasiya Mais rounding out the top five.

The prestigious Alexander Hamilton Memorial Trophy, featuring a substantial $1.4 million purse, is poised to deliver an electrifying spectacle this afternoon. The highlight of the event is a riveting seven-furlong (1,400m) showdown between two internationally acclaimed contenders, Supernatural Power and Funcaandun, making the outcome highly unpredictable.

Historical context adds intrigue to this anticipated duel. The rivals last met in the 2025 Mouttet Mile, a one-mile (1,600m) contest where neither emerged victorious. On that occasion, Funcaandun secured a third-place finish, trailing the winner by 9¼ lengths, while Supernatural Power followed closely in fourth, just a half-length behind his rival. The shortened distance of today’s race is expected to dramatically alter the dynamic, potentially favoring different strengths.

Supernatural Power, conditioned by the prolific champion trainer Philip Feany, enters the race with a formidable reputation for explosive speed. This asset could prove decisive in the final stretch, enabling him to overtake his primary competitor at the critical moment.

However, Funcaandun presents a formidable challenge, bringing superior experience and a proven track record to the starting gate. With an impressive tally of 10 victories from 18 career starts, he surpasses Supernatural Power’s record of six wins from 10 outings. Funcaandun’s renowned resilience and powerful closing speed establish him as a legitimate threat capable of neutralizing his rival’s early pace advantages.

While the field includes other participants, racing analysts suggest none possess the comparable caliber of these two standout performers, making it highly improbable for any outsider to intervene in what is anticipated to be a direct battle for supremacy.

The Open Allowance race, designated for three-year-olds and upward, holds the eighth position on today’s extensive 10-race program, with an expected post time of 4:20 p.m. The day’s events commence at 11:45 a.m.

— Ruddy Allen

**Ones to Watch (Selections)**

• Race 1: Prince Zayden / God of Thunder / Greyt Magnum
• Race 2: Global Machine / Successful Man / Rock-Ola
• Race 3: The Techa / Olivia D’Oro / Any Means
• Race 4: Swashbuckler / Awesome Star / Maybelle
• Race 5: Indestructible / Kem / Titan Tempo
• Race 6: Donalmighty / Esuse Me Goodbye / JJ Warrior
• Race 7: Roman Princess / Native Alliance / Boasey Girl
• Race 8: **Supernatural Power / Funcaandun / Zulu Warrior**
• Race 9: D Head Cornerstone / Whisky / Press Conference
• Race 10: Dark Swan / Native Flyer / Treasure Isles

In a significant personal milestone, Jamaican international striker Michail Antonio has resumed his professional club career with Al-Sailiya in Qatar’s Stars League. The 35-year-old forward completed 73 minutes in Thursday’s fixture against Al-Duhail SC, marking his first competitive appearance since a devastating car accident in Essex two years ago that resulted in a broken leg. His comeback performance included one shot attempt, seven completed passes, and success in four of twelve duels contested.

Despite this positive step in his recovery, Antonio’s return to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz remains improbable for the upcoming FIFA World Cup play-offs against New Caledonia and potentially DR Congo. The national team selection committee has consistently overlooked the veteran striker since last September, excluding him from final-round CONCACAF qualifiers and subsequent provisional squads under both former coach Steve McClaren and interim manager Rudolph Speid.

Football analysts suggest that even if Jamaica secures World Cup qualification, Antonio’s inclusion remains doubtful due to emerging alternatives available to the coaching staff. The former West Ham United star, who departed as the club’s record Premier League goalscorer with 68 goals in 268 appearances, faces an uncertain international future despite previously expressing his dream to participate in this summer’s tournament across North America.

Antonio’s transition to Qatari football followed unsuccessful trials with English clubs Brentford FC and Leicester City, where training injuries prevented contract offers. His decision to join Al-Sailiya was influenced by international teammate Mason Holgate, with Antonio admitting he needed to ‘swallow his ego’ for this career move. The striker now focuses on helping his new club avoid relegation from Qatar’s top division, with six crucial matches remaining in their season.

The St James Football Association/Sandals International Resorts Major League enters a pivotal weekend with several crucial Zone B matchups scheduled across multiple venues. All eyes will be on UDC Field Saturday afternoon where Montego Bay Boys Club seeks to narrow the gap against league frontrunners when they face struggling Cambridge United in a 3:30pm kickoff.

Fresh from breaking a two-game losing streak with a commanding 4-1 victory over Lilliput Rovers, Montego Bay Boys Club currently sits on six points in the standings. A win would bring them within striking distance of zone leaders Heights FC, who maintain a four-point advantage heading into their Sunday fixture against MoBay City FC at Jarrett Park.

The historical significance adds intrigue to Saturday’s encounter, as Montego Bay Boys Club dominated St James football through the early 1970s. They face a Cambridge United squad that has managed only one victory in three appearances while conceding seven goals, leaving them anchored at the bottom of the table. The offensive duo of Junior Morgan and Matthew Thorpe, responsible for four of the team’s seven goals this season, will be crucial to Montego Bay’s attacking strategy.

Sunday’s double-header at Jarrett Park features Bogue FC versus Lilliput Rovers at 1:30pm, followed by the highly anticipated clash between MoBay City FC and Heights FC at 3:30pm. Heights FC has demonstrated remarkable form with three wins and one draw, boasting an impressive goal difference of 10-1. Striker Javar Maxwell has been instrumental in their success, contributing six goals to their campaign.

The weekend action concludes Monday with Faulkland FC attempting to extend their perfect record with a fifth consecutive win against MBU Youths at Jarrett Park, while Reggae Youths host Real MoBay AFC at UDC Field.

Complete Weekend Schedule:

Saturday:
Granville United vs Wadada FC | Sam Sharpe Teachers College | 3:30pm
Montego Bay Boys Club vs Cambridge United | UDC Field | 3:30pm

Sunday:
Bogue FC vs Lilliput Rovers | Jarrett Park | 1:30pm
MoBay City FC vs Heights FC | Jarrett Park | 3:30pm

Monday:
Reggae Youths vs Real MoBay AFC | UDC Field | 3:30pm
Faulkland FC vs MBU Youths | Jarrett Park | 3:30pm

The English Premier League landscape shifted significantly this Saturday as clubs across the table battled for crucial points. Brighton & Hove Albion secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, a result that propelled them into the top half of the standings. The match’s solitary goal came from Yankuba Minteh, whose shot managed to slip past Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg at his near post. This defeat marks a concerning trend for the Black Cats, who, after an impressive initial unbeaten run of 11 home games upon their top-flight return, have now suffered three consecutive losses on their own turf, dropping them to 12th position.

Meanwhile, a stalemate at Turf Moor provided little respite for either Burnley or Bournemouth. The 0-0 draw leaves Burnley in a precarious position, now eight points from safety with only eight matches remaining in their fight against relegation. For Bournemouth, the dropped points represent a missed opportunity to close the gap on the European qualification spots, leaving them stationed in ninth place.

The day’s drama is far from over, with a titanic clash in the title race looming. Arsenal, currently leading the pack, host Everton at the Emirates Stadium in a 17:30 GMT kick-off. A victory would see the Gunners provisionally extend their lead at the summit to a formidable ten points. However, the pressure immediately shifts to defending champions Manchester City, who travel to face West Ham United. Pep Guardiola’s squad must swiftly regroup from their midweek Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid. This fixture holds immense weight for both clubs: for City, it is essential to keep pace with Arsenal, while for West Ham, who currently reside in the relegation zone, a positive result could see them climb out of the bottom three and above rivals Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.

In a dramatic Saturday showdown at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Everton, significantly strengthening their position in the Premier League title race. The match, which remained deadlocked until the final moments, was ultimately decided by a combination of Everton’s defensive collapse and a historic contribution from 16-year-old sensation Max Dowman.

The breakthrough came in the 89th minute when Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford misjudged Dowman’s cross, allowing Piero Hincapie to redirect the ball into the six-yard box for Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres to tap into an empty net. The eruption of celebration from both players and fans underscored the importance of Arsenal’s fourth consecutive league win.

The drama continued into stoppage time when Dowman capitalized on a rapid counter-attack following an Everton corner, sprinting the length of the pitch to slot home Arsenal’s second goal while Pickford remained stranded upfield. This remarkable finish secured Dowman’s place in Premier League history as both the competition’s youngest-ever goalscorer and Arsenal’s youngest scorer.

The victory propels Arsenal ten points clear of second-place Manchester City, who have two games in hand including Saturday’s late fixture against West Ham. Despite what manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged was a ‘disjointed performance,’ the Gunners demonstrated the resilience that has characterized their campaign as they pursue their first English title in 22 years.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Champions League qualification hopes suffered a significant setback with a 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle. Anthony Gordon’s 18th-minute strike, assisted by Joe Willock following Tino Livramento’s penetrating pass, proved decisive at Stamford Bridge. The loss leaves Chelsea three points behind top-four rivals Aston Villa and Manchester United, having played an additional game.

In other Saturday fixtures, Brighton climbed into the top half of the table with a 1-0 victory over Sunderland, courtesy of Yankuba Minteh’s second-half goal, while Burnley’s relegation concerns deepened after a 0-0 draw with Bournemouth at Turf Moor.

In a spectacular display of athletic prowess at the NCAA Indoor Championships, Jamaican sprinters Dejanea Oakley and Shaquena Foote from the University of Georgia achieved remarkable personal milestones during the women’s 400m final. The event, held at the prestigious Randal Tyson Track Center at the University of Arkansas on Saturday, witnessed exceptional performances across the board.

Oakley emerged victorious with a championship-winning performance, clocking an impressive 50.47 seconds to claim the national title. Her triumphant run demonstrated both technical excellence and strategic pacing that ultimately secured her top honors on the podium.

Madison Whyte of the University of Southern California captured the silver medal with her own personal best of 50.68 seconds, while Louisiana State University’s Ella Onojuvwevwo rounded out the top three with a bronze medal finish at 50.76 seconds.

Foote, competing with particular determination following her recent disqualification at the South-eastern Conference championships, delivered a strong performance despite missing the podium. Her fifth-place finish at 51.13 seconds represented a significant personal achievement and marked a successful comeback from previous competitive disappointment.

The championship event highlighted the growing international representation in collegiate track and field, with multiple athletes achieving personal benchmarks amidst intense competition.