分类： sports

On the third day of Jamaica’s premier domestic track and field competition, the JAAA national championships held at Kingston’s National Stadium, Ackelia Smith etched her name into the event’s history books by securing a rare and impressive double victory. Fresh off securing her fourth senior national long jump title just two days prior on Thursday, the Jamaican jumper turned her attention to the triple jump on Saturday and delivered another standout performance to claim the top spot.

Smith landed a best leap of 13.95 meters with a legal tailwind of 2.0 meters per second, which earned her the first senior national triple jump crown of her career. The victory also reinforced her position as one of Jamaica’s top jumpers heading into the upcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games, a qualification she locked in earlier in the week after posting a 6.81-meter winning jump in the long jump.

While the women’s triple jump field only featured four registered competitors, a noticeably small size for a national championship final, the competition more than made up for low numbers with high quality performance across the board. Jade-Ann Dawkins, a former standout athlete from St Jago High School now competing for Kansas State University, took the second spot on the podium with a 13.67-meter jump, recorded with a 0.9m/s wind.

Rounding out the top three was Shantae Foreman, the reigning NCAA champion representing Clemson University, who posted a wind-aided mark of 13.49 meters with a 5.0m/s tailwind that pushed the jump outside of the legal record range. The fourth and final spot went to Texas A&M University’s Machaeda Linton, who also recorded a wind-aided result of 13.11 meters with a 4.0m/s wind.

Smith’s rare double win cements her status as one of Jamaica’s most consistent and versatile jumpers heading into the international championship circuit, with the Commonwealth Games set to be her next major test on the global stage.

On a charged Friday evening at Kingston’s National Stadium, newly crowned world champion Oblique Seville delivered a career-defining performance to claim his first Jamaican national 100m title, clocking a blistering 9.82 seconds with a legal 0.6 m/s tailwind that pushes him to the top of the 2025 global rankings.

Seville arrived at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships already in exceptional form, having wrapped up his semi-final heat earlier in the day with a solid 9.95-second run. That momentum carried into the final, where he left the rest of the elite field in his wake. Behind Seville, 19-year-old rising star Gary Card turned in a shockingly fast run to take second place in 9.93 seconds, a new Jamaican under-20 national record that rewrote the country’s junior record books.

Rounding out the podium was Ackeem Blake, who crossed the line third with a competitive season’s best time of 9.94 seconds, proving the depth of sprinting talent Jamaica continues to produce. Seville’s 9.82-second mark topples the previous world-leading time of 9.84 seconds set by Nigerian-American collegiate sprinter Kayinsola Ajayo, who earned that ranking after winning the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships just weeks ago.

For Card, his 9.93-second run does more than just earn him a silver medal at the national level: it breaks the previous Jamaican junior record of 9.99 seconds set by Bouwahjgie Nkrumie back in 2023. It also ties him for the third-fastest under-20 100m time in history, level with American sprinter Christian Miller. To date, the global under-20 record remains held by Botswana’s sprint star Letsile Tebogo, who ran 9.91 seconds back in 2022, with American Maurice Gleaton holding the second spot with a 9.92-second run set earlier this year.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — On the third day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships held at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium, former world long jump champion Tajay Gayle delivered a standout performance to secure his first national men’s long jump title in three years. Competing in Saturday’s final, the Jamaican star notched a season-best leap of 8.37 meters with a legal wind assistance of 1.6 meters per second, a result that has immediately lifted his standing in global long jump rankings. This winning mark catapults Gayle into a tie for seventh place in the world rankings, arriving at a critical juncture as athletes around the globe battle for limited qualifying spots at the sport’s highly anticipated inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships. Alongside his winning legal jump, Gayle also recorded an 8.31-meter effort that fell outside wind allowance rules, with a reading of 2.6 meters per second behind that attempt. He outpaced the rest of a competitive field to take the top spot on the podium, with Louisiana State University’s Jordan Turner claiming second place after hitting a wind-aided 8.22 meters (3.2 m/s). Rounding out the top three was Nikaoli Williams, who registered a wind-assisted 7.89-meter jump with a 2.3 m/s wind reading. The victory marks a key turning point for Gayle, who had not claimed a national title since 2021, and signals that he is finding top form at the right time ahead of the upcoming global championship event.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a story of persistence that culminated in long-awaited victory, Lloydricia Cameron secured her first-ever Jamaican national women’s shot put title Saturday at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium, breaking a six-year streak of second-place finishes at the country’s top track and field competition.

Competing at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships, Cameron delivered a winning throw of 17.57 meters to claim the gold medal, outperforming a field of young, rising talent from top collegiate programs across the United States. The hard-fought win marks a career milestone for the thrower, who has finished as runner-up at every national championship dating back to 2019, each time falling short of the top spot behind national record holder Danniel Thomas-Dodd.

Born in the United States and a former athlete for the University of Florida, Cameron now trains full-time in Kingston as she builds toward major international competitions later this year. Among her upcoming goals is improving on her fourth-place finish at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, a result that already cemented her status as one of the region’s top shot put talents.

In the final standings of Saturday’s competition, Kimeka Smith, a representative of Clemson University, took home the silver medal with a best throw of 16.03 meters. Rounding out the top three was Britannie Johnson of Purdue University, who claimed bronze with a throw of 15.55 meters.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships delivered exciting semi-final action in the men’s and women’s 200-meter events on Saturday, with defending women’s champion Ashanti Moore and 2023 men’s runner-up Christopher Taylor emerging as the top athletes to advance to the upcoming final.

Moore, who already secured a spot in the women’s 100-meter final a day earlier, delivered a dominant performance to win her semi-final heat, crossing the finish line in 22.88 seconds against a -1.2 meters per second headwind. Behind her in the same heat, Lavanya Williams clocked a new personal best of 23.06 seconds, while Jodean Williams notched a 23.05-second season’s best to also move on to the final.

In the second women’s semi-final, contested into a much stronger -4.0 m/s headwind, Alana Reid finished second in 23.74 seconds, and Niesha Burgher took third in 23.82 seconds, both earning their places in the final round.

On the men’s side, Taylor turned in a standout showing to win his semi-final, posting a new 2024 season’s best time of 20.49 seconds despite a challenging -2.9 m/s headwind. He outpaced Roshawn Clark, a former national 400-meter hurdles champion, who finished second in the heat with a solid 20.63-second run to claim his spot in the final.

Other men’s athletes advancing to the 200m final include Jevaughn Powell, who topped the first round of qualifying earlier in the competition and notched a 20.73-second run in the semi-finals against a -4.5 m/s headwind, Adrian Kerr, who finished just behind Powell in 20.76 seconds in the same heat, and Kadrian Goldson, who sealed his spot with a 21.00-second run against a -4.0 m/s headwind. The 200m final is scheduled to take place in the coming days of the national championships, where athletes will compete for Jamaican national titles and qualifying spots for upcoming international competitions.

After 53 years of bitter waiting, the New York Knicks finally hoisted the NBA Championship trophy at iconic Madison Square Garden on June 13, securing a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in a tense Game 5 of the Finals. Beyond the shining stars of the court who claimed headlines around the globe, one quiet, critical architect of the franchise’s historic triumph flew largely under the radar: Jamaican-born elite orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Answorth Allen, who has tended to the team’s physical well-being for 20 consecutive years.\n\nFor two decades, Allen has been the backbone of the Knicks’ ability to compete night after night across the gruelling NBA season. He has mended career-threatening torn ligaments, guided players through complex fracture recoveries, and proactively managed the daily wear and tear that comes with professional basketball, keeping athletes in peak condition when it matters most. In recognition of his 20 years of unwavering, dedicated service to the organisation, the Knicks recently honoured Allen at a special ceremony in New York.\n\nBeyond his role with the Knicks, Allen holds a senior leadership position as Associate Surgeon in Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York, an institution universally recognised as the world’s leading centre for orthopaedic care. His remarkable journey from a young boy growing up in Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica, to the upper echelons of global sports medicine is a story forged on radical discipline, intentional mentorship, and lifelong commitment to service.\n\nRaised partially by his grandmother Lena Irving, Allen credits the core values of humility, relentless hard work, and unquenchable curiosity for shaping his cross-cutting career that spans elite academic medicine and professional sports. His formative years at Jamaica’s Titchfield High School, where he studied under late former principal Lloyd O Chin, instilled in him a foundational belief that systemic and societal barriers could be overcome through intentional effort and bold vision. After migrating to the United States, Allen built an extraordinary academic trajectory: he completed undergraduate study at Queens College, attended competitive summer academic programmes at Harvard University, and earned his medical degree from Cornell University’s top-ranked medical school.\n\nA serendipitous meeting with legendary orthopaedic researcher Dr. Steven Arnoczky during Allen’s first year at Cornell shifted his professional focus toward sports medicine and orthopaedics, setting him on the path that would lead to his landmark career. He would go on to join HSS as one of the first Black orthopaedic surgeons at the prestigious institution, breaking new ground for diverse clinicians in the specialty.\n\nAt the core of Allen’s clinical practice is a patient-centred care philosophy that positions patients as collaborative partners in their treatment, rather than passive recipients of medical intervention. Speaking to reporters following the recent honour ceremony, Allen explained that personalised, individualised care is the cornerstone of strong medical outcomes. “The person who comes in, they have their own issues, they have their own concerns and it’s my responsibility to listen first… to understand, and then do the right thing for that person, whether or not you are an amateur athlete, high-school athlete, college athlete, or professional athlete,” he shared. Allen added that patient education is a non-negotiable part of his practice: ensuring patients fully understand their injury or condition, align on treatment expectations, and collaborate to build a care plan that fits their unique life goals. Every patient, he emphasised, receives the same rigorous, high standard of care regardless of their profile or background. For Allen, medicine is far more than a job—it is a calling. “I’m very passionate about people, I’m very passionate about what I do. I get to be a part of something that’s bigger than myself. It’s great to be a part of a team that is dedicated to providing the best outcome possible for a patient,” he said.\n\nAllen maintains an active clinical practice in New York and serves as an orthopaedic consultant at St. John’s University, but he has never lost connection to his Jamaican roots. He regularly collaborates with Jamaica’s medical community, mentoring local physicians looking to master advanced microsurgical techniques, leading educational outreach initiatives, and supporting programmes designed to lift the overall standard of care across Jamaican hospitals.\n\nJamaican leaders have publicly celebrated Allen’s extraordinary contributions. Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton praised Allen as “not only an ambassador for Jamaica but someone whose journey chronicled a life of dedication and service.” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett noted that Allen’s achievements align with Jamaica’s national strategy to position sports tourism as a key driver of inclusive economic growth. Longtime high school friend Keith Garvey added that Allen’s success follows a longstanding tradition of Jamaican medical scholars and clinicians who achieve global excellence while lifting communities back home. “Dr Allen’s leadership in orthopaedics and his dedication show how a small nation’s talent can contribute to global excellence while enriching its homeland,” Garvey told JIS News.\n\nOutside of his medical and sports work, Allen is a devoted family man: he is married to a fellow physician, and the couple shares two children. As the New York Knicks celebrate their championship that writes a new, long-awaited chapter in franchise history, Jamaica is also cheering for one of its own, whose impact stretches from the bright lights of Madison Square Garden to hospital halls on two continents.

Kingston, Jamaica – In a tense, unpredictable final round of men’s senior discus competition at the JAAA National Championships held Saturday at Kingston’s National Stadium, top thrower Ralford Mullings delivered a winning performance that secured both his title defense and a spot on Jamaica’s roster for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this July.

Mullings, the Jamaican national record holder in the event, entered the competition fresh off a historic milestone earlier this month: back-to-back NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships titles while competing for the University of Oklahoma. The standout athlete only recorded two valid, legal throws across the six-round competition, but his best effort of 64.31 meters was enough to outpace every other competitor and claim the top spot on the podium.

Behind Mullings, 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Fedrick Dacres finished as the runner-up with a top throw of 62.97 meters. Racquil Broderick, a standout from the University of Southern California who also finished second behind Mullings at the recent NCAA Outdoor Championships, rounded out the top three with a throw that matched his 2022 season best of 62.87 meters.

The day ended in heartbreak for fourth-place finisher Chad Wright, who came into the national championships with high hopes of becoming a dual-sport Jamaican representative at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Wright had thrown a personal best 67.92 meters earlier this April, putting him in strong contention for a top-three finish and a spot on the discus roster. But his best effort on Saturday only reached 60.55 meters, ending his dream of competing in both discus and a second sport at the global games this summer.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opening day of the 2024 JAAA National Championships men’s 200m competition delivered predictable yet impressive performances on Saturday morning, as several of the event’s highest-ranked competitors secured their spots in the upcoming semifinal round without breaking a sweat. Leading the charge were two standouts from last year’s tournament: Christopher Taylor, last year’s silver medalist, and Adrian Kerr, the 2023 bronze medalist. Both athletes navigated their first-round heats smoothly to advance to the later-day semis, living up to pre-meet expectations. Taylor turned in a polished season-best time of 20.52 seconds, clocked with a slight headwind of -0.1m/s, while Kerr crossed the finish line in 20.85 seconds with a gentle 0.1m/s tailwind to back his run. The list of advancing athletes also includes a number of other notable Jamaican sprinters, including Roshawn Clarke, a former national 400m hurdles champion and 2023 World Athletics Championships finalist, and Tyquendo Tracey, a veteran sprinter with global championship experience. Topping the overall first-round qualifying rankings was Jevaughn Powell, who turned in the fastest time of the morning session with a 20.39-second run, posted into a -0.1m/s headwind. Following Powell in the overall rankings were Kadrian Goldson, who clocked 20.56 seconds with a 0.7m/s tailwind, and Roshawn Clarke, who rounded out the top three with a time of 20.58 seconds in neutral wind conditions (0.0m/s). In his respective heat, Mark Anthony Daley claimed first place with a 20.68-second performance aided by a 1.5m/s tailwind. He finished ahead of Shakur Williams, who crossed the line second in 20.76 seconds under the same wind conditions, and Shaemar Uter, who secured the third qualifying spot from the heat with a time of 21.00 seconds in a 0.8m/s tailwind. With the first round complete, all eyes now turn to the men’s 200m semifinals scheduled for later on Saturday, where athletes will compete for a spot in the final and a chance to claim the national title. By Paul A Reid

MILAN, Italy – Nearly 18 years after hanging up his professional boots, one of the most iconic footballers of the 21st century, Ronaldinho, is on the brink of a sensational return to competitive football at the age of 46, with Italian third-division club Ravenna secured his signature, according to breaking reports from leading Italian sports daily *Gazzetta dello Sport*.

The Brazilian global star, who holds both a Ballon d’Or title and a FIFA World Cup winner’s medal from his decorated career, was expected to formalize the agreement during a signing ceremony in Miami on Tuesday. The outlet confirmed that Ronaldinho was already present in the United States to attend the 2024 FIFA World Cup, putting the final touches on the deal ahead of schedule. When contacted by Agence France-Presse (AFP), an anonymous source with direct knowledge of the negotiation confirmed the accuracy of the report, ending weeks of swirling speculation around the unexpected comeback.

In a statement carried by *Gazzetta dello Sport*, the former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker expressed his unwavering passion for the sport that defined his legacy. “I can’t wait to get back dancing with the ball again and to write a new story with Ignazio Cipriani, the Italian-American owner of Ravenna, and his entire family,” Ronaldinho said. “Football has always been a source of joy for me. I want to bring the same spirit to Ravenna,” he added, leaning into the trademark infectious joy that made him a fan favorite across every league he played in over his career.

But the hype around the high-profile signing has been tempered by a blunt admission from Ravenna’s own leadership. Club vice-president Ariedo Braida, speaking to local Italian media, clarified that the addition of Ronaldinho is less a strategic move to strengthen the first-team squad and more a bold marketing gambit to raise the club’s profile. He even cast public doubt on whether the 46-year-old will ever take the pitch in an official match for the side.

“He’s a magical player, who will have his registration, that’s a huge coup for us,” Braida acknowledged, highlighting the global attention the signing has already drawn to the small Italian club. “Will he play at 46? That depends, but he’ll be registered.”

Ronaldinho, who turned 46 earlier this year, has not appeared in a professional competitive fixture since a brief two-month stint with Brazilian top-flight side Fluminense back in 2015. Since retiring from the game, he has made occasional appearances in exhibition and charity matches, but this will mark his first return to a registered professional club in nearly a decade.