Carib Scope

分类： sports

  • Orlando Bennett set to miss JAAA trials

    Orlando Bennett set to miss JAAA trials

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — One of Jamaica’s brightest track and field talents, 2025 national 110m hurdles champion Orlando Bennett, has confirmed he will almost certainly miss the upcoming 2025 Commonwealth Games scheduled to kick off later this month. The athlete’s withdrawal stems from his deliberate decision to skip the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s national qualifying championships, set to run from June 18 to 21, a mandatory step for selection to the national Commonwealth Games team.

    Bennett, who recently competed in a surprise second-place finish in the men’s triple jump event on Thursday, opened up about his competition schedule in the coming weeks. Fresh off a warm-up stop, he is gearing up to test his speed and technique against a deep, high-quality field at next Thursday’s Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome — the fourth leg of the prestigious 2025 Wanda Diamond League tour. Immediately after the Rome meet, Bennett revealed his next competitive stop will not be the Jamaican national championships, but instead the Diamond League event hosted in Doha on June 19, the same date as one of the key qualifying rounds for the Commonwealth Games.

    A veteran finalist at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Bennett laid out his strategic priorities for the 2025 athletic season in an interview with local media. “Next meeting will be Doha and then I go home to Jamaica and rest a bit. This is an off-season for me so my goals are staying in the circuit and getting good times and good rewards,” he explained, framing his choice to skip the Commonwealth Games as a long-term strategic play to maintain his position on the global Diamond League circuit rather than peak for a single multi-sport event this year.

    The Jamaican hurdler, who already claimed a career-defining silver medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, Japan, also shared his candid assessment of his recent triple jump outing, which he called far from his best performance. “I do not know if this was a good race, it was not really the best. I just tried to get through the race and through the hurdles. Maybe it was because of the low temperatures. It was also a back-to-back race. I came here to execute and I really did,” he said, noting that unseasonably cool conditions and a packed competition schedule contributed to his underwhelming showing in the surprise multi-event outing.

    Bennett first burst onto the senior Jamaican track scene last year, when he claimed his first national senior title in the 110m hurdles, outperforming top competitors Demario Prince and Tyler Mason to secure his spot as one of the country’s most promising rising hurdles talents.

  • NO TURNING BACK

    NO TURNING BACK

    After seeing their three-peat dream crushed in a penalty shootout defeat in the 2025-2026 Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) final, Cavalier Football Club is not straying from its core identity: building competitive success through trusting and nurturing young homegrown talent. Assistant Coach David Laylor recently affirmed the club’s long-standing commitment to youth development, framing the team’s underdog run to this season’s final as a powerful validation of their unconventional approach.

    Following a 2-2 draw after full regulation and extra time, Cavalier fell 5-3 on penalties to Portmore United, robbing the club of a third consecutive JPL championship. The defeat marked the end of a turbulent season marked by massive roster turnover: the club lost 20 senior players between last summer’s transfer window and the January 2026 window, including key Reggae Boyz representatives Richard King, Dwayne Atkinson and Jalmaro Calvin, as well as standout Caribbean contributors Shaquille Stein and Vino Barclett. This departure wave left Cavalier with the youngest roster in the entire league, boasting an average player age of just 20.

    Rather than pursuing high-cost veteran signings to fill gaps, the club leaned into its youth pipeline, promoting teenage prospects from its academy and recruiting promising young talent from regional youth circuits. Standouts like Kimarly Scott, a championship-winning striker from Excelsior High’s Manning Cup squad, and Trinidadian teenage defender Akil Henry stepped into key roles immediately, becoming core contributors to the club’s run to the JPL final. The club also reinforced its coaching staff, adding former Waterhouse Head Coach Marcel “Fuzzy” Gayle and ex-Harbour View FC Assistant Coach Sean Fraser to support Rudolph Speid’s leadership team.

    The season was far from smooth sailing. By February, Cavalier sat as low as 8th in the league table, and the club was eliminated from the Concacaf Caribbean Cup group stage for the first time in its recent history. Against all odds, the young side rallied to climb into the top six and fought their way all the way to the league final, a result Laylor calls a major achievement for a team in active rebuilding mode.

    “Many forget this was always a rebuilding year for us. We barely scraped into the top six, so reaching the final is a testament to the quality of our coaching setup and the talent our young players possess,” Laylor told the Jamaica Observer. “The system that Mr. Speid built works, and these youngsters responded incredibly well to it. I have no doubt that this group has the quality to deliver more success in the years ahead.”

    Looking ahead, the club will kick off pre-season preparations for the 2026-2027 JPL campaign in the coming weeks, with an immediate priority on the 2026 Concacaf Caribbean Cup. Cavalier has qualified for the regional competition for four straight seasons – an impressive feat for a youth-focused side – and will open their Group B campaign on August 5 in Santiago against Dominican Republic side Cibao FC. They are joined in the group by JPL final conquerors Portmore United, another Dominican club Salcedo FC, and the winner of the CFU Club Shield, a title Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant Football Academy is still contending for.

    For Laylor and the coaching staff, the bitter taste of the final penalty defeat will serve as a critical learning experience for the club’s young prospects, particularly 19-year-old Terence Williams, who missed Cavalier’s only penalty in the shootout and was visibly inconsolable after the final whistle. “We’re not just developing technical skill – we’re building mental toughness,” Laylor explained. “If we had a bit more of that earlier in the run, we might have finished differently. That penalty miss will stick with Terence, but we’re walking through it with him. It’s all part of the learning curve.”

    Laylor emphasized that missteps like Williams’ penalty miss will not change the club’s commitment to giving young players opportunities to grow and compete at the highest level. “This is who we are. We give youngsters chances to prove themselves, and sometimes that means learning hard lessons on the big stage. It’s just part of football, and it’s part of how we build this club long-term. We will keep giving these young players opportunities, because that’s our philosophy, and it’s already proven it works.”

    The club’s next test will come on the regional stage on August 5, when they take on Cibao FC to kick off their latest Concacaf Caribbean Cup campaign.

  • Solar lighting to be installed at refurbished Edinboro Hardcourt

    Solar lighting to be installed at refurbished Edinboro Hardcourt

    A major community sports infrastructure milestone was achieved in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) this week, as India formally handed over the fully refurbished Edinboro Hardcourt to the SVG government during an official on-site ceremony on Monday.

    The handover was led by Subhash Prasad Gupta, India’s High Commissioner to SVG, and was attended by a cross-section of senior SVG government officials, including West Kingstown Member of Parliament Daniel Cummings, Foreign Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bradle, Sports Coordinator Roxell John, and Sports Minister Kaschaka Cupid. This upgraded facility is one of five grassroots community projects delivered under the Quick Impact Project Agreement, a bilateral development partnership between India and SVG.

    In remarks following the handover, Sports Minister Cupid outlined the SVG government’s plans to further improve the venue for local users. Upgrades will include the installation of solar-powered lighting, which will extend usable hours for the hardcourt and support community activities after sunset. Cupid emphasized that the government is committed to ongoing proper maintenance of the facility to ensure it delivers long-term benefits to the local community.

    MP Cummings, representing the local constituency, highlighted the transformative positive impact the upgraded hardcourt is expected to have on young people living in the Edinboro area. He praised the Building and Road Construction Agency (BRAGSA) for its diligent oversight of the refurbishment works, and stressed that ongoing community stewardship will be key to protecting the facility and keeping its surrounding environment well cared for.

    In an official press release, SVG’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs extended sincere appreciation to the government of the Republic of India for its generous support through the Quick Impact Projects initiative. The ministry also thanked all local stakeholders, from construction teams to community representatives, whose collaborative efforts brought the project to completion. The statement reaffirmed SVG’s commitment to continuing to deepen the longstanding positive bilateral relationship between the two nations.

  • National Track and Field Championships Return to YASCO June 20-21

    National Track and Field Championships Return to YASCO June 20-21

    After periods of disruption and venue shifts for major domestic athletic competitions, one of the country’s top track and field events is preparing to make its highly anticipated comeback. The National Track and Field Championships, a cornerstone event that showcases the nation’s most elite running, jumping, and throwing talent, is scheduled to take place on June 20 and 21 at the YASCO sports complex, marking the event’s return to this familiar and well-equipped venue.

    YASCO has long served as a trusted host for regional and national track and field gatherings, with facilities that meet international competition standards for athlete performance and spectator experience. Athletes across all disciplines, from sprinting to long-distance running, from high jump to shot put, have already begun finalizing their training preparations to compete for national titles and qualification opportunities for higher-level international competitions. Competition organizers are also completing final logistical arrangements to ensure the event runs smoothly for participants, coaching staff, and attending audiences alike.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Commonwealth Games Association to compete in Glasgow 2026

    Antigua and Barbuda Commonwealth Games Association to compete in Glasgow 2026

    After a last-minute hosting shakeup left the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a compressed timeline and constrained budget, the governing sports body of Antigua and Barbuda has formally committed to joining the reorganized event kicking off in Glasgow this summer.

    The 2026 Games faced an uncertain future when Australian state Victoria pulled out of its hosting agreement in 2023, forcing Scottish organizers to step in on short notice. To align with the tight turnaround and limited available funding, event leaders restructured the competition program, cutting the original lineup of sports down to just 10 core categories. This cost-saving, financially sustainable adjustment has allowed the historic multi-sport event to move forward as planned, running from July 23 to August 2, 2026.

    For Antigua and Barbuda, national representatives have laid out preliminary plans for a 13-strong delegation that will compete across four disciplines: track and field athletics, boxing, track cycling, and swimming. Per the international event’s entry protocols, the process currently sits at the “entry by number” stage, where participating nations only confirm which sports they will join and the size of their delegation. The full roster of named athletes will not be finalized until organizers move to the next “entry by name” step of registration.

    Cliff Williams, Secretary General of the Antigua and Barbuda Commonwealth Games Association (ABNOC/CGA), confirmed the current stage of preparation in an official statement, noting that final team announcements will follow once the entry protocol shifts to confirming individual athletes.

    To lead the national delegation, ABNOC/CGA has appointed Karen Joseph, third vice president of the association and a former national netball star, to serve as Chef de Mission. In this role, Joseph will oversee all delegation operations, manage registration processes, and coordinate final pre-Games preparations to ensure Antigua and Barbuda’s athletes can compete without logistical disruptions. Association leaders emphasized that Joseph’s decades of experience in elite Commonwealth sports, paired with her deep knowledge of the national athletic community, make her an ideal mentor for the upcoming generation of young competitors heading to Glasgow.

    In a departure from past approaches, ABNOC/CGA President Hon. E. P. Chet Greene made clear that the nation is not sending athletes simply to take part in the event — the goal is to compete at the highest level. Greene urged national athletic federations to prioritize targeted preparation and put forward their strongest, most ready athletes to represent Antigua and Barbuda on the global stage.

    Beyond the sporting competition, a key governance gathering will also take place in Glasgow just one day before the Games open. The 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (12CSMM), organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with Commonwealth Sport and the Scottish Government, is scheduled for July 22, 2026. ABNOC/CGA confirmed it hopes the nation’s new sports minister will be able to attend the high-level meeting.

    In the months leading up to the opening ceremony, the association will continue monitoring all operational guidance issued by Glasgow Games organizers, and plans to share public updates and announce the final confirmed team roster as soon as individual entry approvals are finalized.

  • Hope eyeing strong performance against Sri Lanka in ODI Series

    Hope eyeing strong performance against Sri Lanka in ODI Series

    A make-or-break three-match One Day International (ODI) series is set to get underway this Wednesday at Kingston’s iconic Sabina Park, with both West Indies and Sri Lanka chasing critical ranking points to lock in their spots at the 2025 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, to be hosted in South Africa and Zimbabwe. While a series triumph is the immediate goal for both sides, automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup looms as the far larger prize at stake. The ICC’s qualification rules state that the top nine teams in the official ODI rankings as of 31 March 2027 will earn automatic berths to the tournament, and current standings have put West Indies in a precarious position: currently sitting in 10th place, just one spot outside the automatic qualification cut-off. Sri Lanka, by contrast, enters the series comfortably in 6th place, with far more breathing room in the rankings race. The build-up to the series has brought mixed form for both competing sides. West Indies has not played an ODI in six months, and has walked away with just one win in its last five outings in the format, a slump that has put extra pressure on the side to deliver at home. Sri Lanka’s recent form is hardly more reassuring, with only one victory across its past five ODI matches. Still, the visitors hold a key historical advantage heading into the first match: they have won three of the last five ODI encounters between the two sides, and welcome back experienced batter Kusal Mendis as full-time skipper, just over a year after he was stripped of the captaincy in 2024. For West Indies captain Shai Hope, the magnitude of the series is not lost on his side. Speaking ahead of the opening match at Sabina Park, Hope emphasized that his side’s priority is to play to their full potential and collect as many wins as possible to climb the rankings. “There’s always expectations whenever you want to play a series against a strong side; you want to be victorious, so the key is playing the best cricket we can and try to get as many wins as you possibly can. We understand the importance of that March deadline in 2027. So play good cricket and hopefully the results take care of itself in the back end,” Hope said. Hope gave full credit to the team’s pre-series training camp held in Antigua, describing the week-long preparation as extremely productive that left the entire squad aligned on their objectives for the three matches. “So it’s just about executing now. The key is just to win, we’re here on home soil, where we have been playing really good ODI cricket. Just to continue in that vein, the preparation is going pretty nicely so execution is the main thing for the day and hopefully you can get a good start tomorrow and get the ball rolling,” he added. The captain also highlighted the consistent improvement of his side’s top-order batting line-up over the past two years, a unit that has become a reliable backbone for the team’s ODI innings. “The way how we’ve been batting for the last year or two, with the top six barring the opening pair every now and again, we’ve been pretty solid and consistent,” Hope noted. He singled out Keacy Carty, who has thrived in the number three batting position, and Sherfane Rutherford for their consistent run-scoring, adding that the squad has made marked improvements in one of their historic weak points: handling spin bowling during the middle overs of an innings. “We’ve had a pretty strong top six in the last couple of years and the data has shown that we’ve improved in many areas, especially in the middle overs when we usually face a lot of spin. We’ve been finding ways to combat that, so I must commend the guys on that front,” he said. Hope also extended praise to his bowling attack, which he described as “exceptional” across recent home series, pointing to young fast bowler Jayden Seales’ devastating performance against Pakistan in the Caribbean during their last series, where he tore through the opposition’s top order. The captain emphasized that his main goal is to find the right balance between consistent batting and bowling performance, to ensure the side plays its best cricket from the first ball of the series. Turning to his own personal form, which boasts an impressive ODI average of 50.52 with 19 centuries to his name, Hope said he is committed to leading from the front and contributing to the team in any capacity, while maintaining his own consistent run at the crease. “So it’s about crossing that line and executing the best way I can and as we can as a unit. Just trying to lead from the front in all departments; wherever I’m called upon I’m gonna try to do so, and help the guys on the field,” he added.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Duitsland met jong talent en ervaren kracht klaar voor rentree op wereldtoneel

    Derde helft WK 2026: Duitsland met jong talent en ervaren kracht klaar voor rentree op wereldtoneel

    Four titles, 20 historic appearances, and two straight early group-stage exits: as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, four-time champion Germany enters the tournament seeking to reverse a painful recent trend and rebuild its reputation as one of the global game’s elite forces.

    Germany’s World Cup legacy is unmatched by most nations. Since their first tournament appearance in 1934, the four-time world champions (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) hold all-time records including Miroslav Klose’s 16 career World Cup goals and Lothar Matthäus’s 25 tournament appearances. But their recent run has been a shock to the football world: the 2014 champions crashed out in the group stage in both 2018 and 2022, a result unthinkable for a country with such deep footballing tradition. Currently ranked 16th in the FIFA World Rankings, Germany enters 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose under head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who took over the national side in September 2023.

    Under Nagelsmann, the Mannschaft has already regained a sense of pride and confidence that was missing in recent tournaments. cruising to qualification with five wins from six qualifying matches. Nagelsmann’s squad strikes a deliberate balance between emerging generational talent and seasoned veteran leadership. Young stars like Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz lead the team’s attacking core, supported by experienced campaigners including Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rüdiger, and iconic goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

    The biggest surprise heading into the tournament is Neuer’s return. The 38-year-old shot-stopper announced his international retirement following UEFA Euro 2024, but reversed his decision to earn a spot in the 2026 squad, with Nagelsmann confirming Neuer remains his starting number one and a critical locker room leader. Musiala, one of the standouts of Euro 2024 who is expected to be Germany’s breakout star in 2026, has recently dealt with a serious leg injury that adds a small question mark to his fitness. Wirtz, meanwhile, overcame a rocky start to his Liverpool career to return to form, bringing creative versatility to Germany’s attack. 18-year-old Bayern prospect Lennart Karl, another exciting young talent, has already drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi for his low center of gravity and dynamic dribbling ability.

    Despite the overall strength of the squad, lingering question marks remain. Germany still lacks a world-class starting center forward: Niclas Füllkrug missed out on selection after a underwhelming club season, leaving Kai Havertz (likely to play as a false nine), Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav as the only available options up top. Analysts also remain uncertain whether the young-heavy squad can handle the pressure of a major tournament and genuinely compete with the tournament’s top favorites. Still, Nagelsmann has made his ambitions clear: his goal for the squad is to lift the World Cup trophy.

    Germany has been drawn into Group E, a relatively favorable grouping that sets the team up well to reach the knockout stage for the first time since their 2014 title win. They kick off their campaign on June 14 in Houston, Texas against Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. Next, they face Ivory Coast (back at the World Cup after a 12-year absence) in Toronto on June 20, before closing out group play against South American qualifier Ecuador in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 25.

    The full 2026 German World Cup squad is as follows:
    Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Oliver Baumann (1899 Hoffenheim), Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart)
    Defenders: Joshua Kimmich (captain, Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United)
    Midfielders: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz 05), Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion)
    Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund)

  • 2026 World Cup Preparation : In a friendly match, Haiti crushes New Zealand [4-0]

    2026 World Cup Preparation : In a friendly match, Haiti crushes New Zealand [4-0]

    With less than two weeks remaining until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, Haiti’s national men’s football team, the Grenadiers, delivered a dominant performance to secure a lopsided 4-0 victory over New Zealand’s All Whites (commonly nicknamed the Kiwis) in a pre-tournament friendly hosted at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on June 2, 2026.

    Heading into the contest, the two sides entered with closely matched FIFA rankings: Haiti sat at 83rd globally, while New Zealand trailed just two spots behind at 85th, setting expectations for a tightly contested matchup. What unfolded instead was a masterclass in tactical substitution and attacking finishing from head coach Sébastien Migné’s side, which sent a clear signal of the Grenadiers’ form ahead of their first World Cup match.

    Haiti got off to a flying start in the opening half. In the 12th minute, a well-placed pass from starting striker Wilson Isidor found winger Ruben Providence, who fired a precise shot past New Zealand’s goalkeeper to put the Grenadiers up 1-0. Haiti held onto their narrow lead through the end of the first half, with no additional goals scored before the halftime whistle.

    Migné, who had planned to use the friendly to test the depth of his 2026 World Cup squad, made an unprecedented 11 total substitutions throughout the match, a strategic choice that paid off dramatically. The first change came at the break, when backup goalkeeper Alexandre Pierre replaced starter Johny Placide between the posts. Immediately following halftime restart, Migné made two key attacking changes: Lenny Joseph came on for Isidor, while Frantzdy Pierrot replaced starting forward Duckens Nazon.

    The substitutes made an instant impact. Just four minutes after entering the pitch, Joseph netted his first goal of the night, extending Haiti’s lead to 2-0 in the 51st minute. Ten minutes later, in the 62nd minute, full-back Carlens Arcus delivered a perfect setup for Pierrot, who slotted the ball home to make the score 3-0.

    Migné continued to rotate his squad through the second half, making seven more substitutions between the 57th and 72nd minute to give every member of his matchday squad game time. Among those late substitutions was winger Duke Lacroix, who replaced midfielder Martin Expérience in the 68th minute. With just three minutes left in regular play, Lacroix capped off the rout with a fourth goal for Haiti, solidifying the 4-0 final scoreline.

    The lopsided result comes as a major confidence boost for Haiti ahead of their 2026 World Cup campaign, which runs from June 11 to July 19. The Grenadiers are not done with their pre-tournament preparation, however: they are scheduled to face 53rd-ranked Peru in their final friendly on June 5, 2026 at DRV PNK Stadium in Miami, Florida. Fans can find the full official squad list for Haiti’s 2026 World Cup roster via the HaitiLibre news portal.

  • JCA boss concerned about potential low turnout for ODIs at Sabina Park

    JCA boss concerned about potential low turnout for ODIs at Sabina Park

    As anticipation builds for Wednesday’s opening One-Day International between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Kingston’s iconic Sabina Park, Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President Dr. Donovan Bennett has flagged a troubling issue: underwhelming ticket sales for the three-match 50-over series, even as final preparations for the long-awaited fixture wrap up. This series marks a historic milestone for Kingston cricket, bringing ODI action back to the city for the first time since West Indies hosted Ireland in 2022, and welcoming Sri Lanka to Jamaican soil for the first time in more than a decade – the visitors last competed here back in 2013, during a tri-nation tournament with West Indies and India. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Bennett shared that logistical preparations for this series have gone far more smoothly than last summer’s hosting of Australia, which required a major venue overhaul. Back then, with financial and logistical support from both the Jamaican and Indian governments, the JCA was forced to rush to install new floodlights, a digital electronic scoreboard, and upgrade the player dressing rooms ahead of the series. This time around, only one minor setback disrupted preparations. “The only little hiccup we had was that the lights were blown out of focus during the passage of the hurricane but we have refocused those — those were done last week. Otherwise, we’re pretty good,” Bennett explained, confirming that the venue is now fully prepared to welcome players and fans. While Bennett says he is encouraged by strong early ticket demand for the three-match T20 International series scheduled to follow the ODIs next week, low sales for the 50-over opener – just one day out from the first ball – remains a major point of concern. He noted that ticketing campaigns launched by Cricket West Indies (CWI) got off the ground later than he would have liked, leading to the slow start in purchases. “I have been pleading and trying to get CWI to get this thing going a little bit quicker, but the sales have gone up a little bit late,” he said. “I would hope that over the next two days there will be a rush, because I am not satisfied with what I am hearing re the 50 over games.” To keep Jamaica positioned as a preferred host for future top-tier international cricket events, Bennett is making a direct appeal to local cricket fans to turn out in force for the series. He stressed that fan attendance is a critical factor that international cricket governing bodies consider when allocating future matches to host venues. “The public needs to understand that the JCA has a part to play in bringing international cricket to Jamaica but the cricketing public also has a part to play because if we don’t get crowds then we don’t get matches — so they need to turn out,” he said. With high-profile Test and ODI series against India and England scheduled to visit the Caribbean next year, Bennett urged fans to act now to secure the island’s spot as a regular host. “And especially next year, when we have both India and England coming to the Caribbean, they need to strengthen our hands by coming out and giving us good support.” Sabina Park has established a strong track record as an international host over the past two years, welcoming sell-out and well-attended series between West Indies and top ranked sides including South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia. Both the West Indies and Sri Lanka squads have already arrived in Kingston and are set to hold their final practice sessions at the venue on Tuesday, ahead of the 9:30 a.m. first ball on Wednesday.

  • Jamora Alves secure NCAA Finals spot

    Jamora Alves secure NCAA Finals spot

    Grenadian track and field standout Jamora Alves has delivered a career-defining performance at the NCAA Division I East First Round, hosted in Lexington, Kentucky, shattering her own Grenadian national senior record in the women’s discus throw to punch her ticket to the national championships. The Carriacou native, who competes collegiately for St. John’s University, logged a stellar winning throw of 57.56 meters on Saturday, May 30, 2026, beating her previous national record mark of 55.89 meters and claiming third place overall in the qualifying event.

    Alves’ latest record-breaking achievement cements her status as the most decorated student-athlete in St. John’s University track and field history. Over the course of her collegiate career, the 2026 graduating senior has amassed nine individual conference and event titles, the highest number of individual titles ever claimed by any athlete in the university’s program history. Her dominant 2026 season came on the heels of a groundbreaking 2025, when she erased a 43-year-old school shot put record that had stood for decades. Earlier in 2026, she added another historic milestone to her resume, shattering a 28-year-old school discus record at the Big East Championships. At that same conference event, Alves secured gold medals in both the women’s shot put and discus throw, earning her the honor of Women’s Most Outstanding Field Performer and clinching her second career outdoor shot put conference title. Most recently, her 2026 indoor season performance earned her Indoor Track and Field MVP honors at the St. John’s Athletic Department’s 79th Annual Awards Celebration, in recognition of her consistent excellence.

    With her result at the East First Round, Alves has officially secured a spot at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, which will run from June 10 to 13 at Eugene, Oregon’s iconic Hayward Field. This appearance marks the third time the Grenadian star has qualified for the prestigious national finals, a rare feat that underscores her sustained elite performance. She previously competed at the 2023 finals, where she placed 22nd overall with a 50.08-meter throw, and returned to the event in 2025 to place 19th with a personal best 52.70-meter throw at the competition.

    On the global rankings front, Alves’ new personal best has cemented her rising status in international track and field. She currently holds the number one ranking in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sub-region, 10th in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) region, 14th across the Commonwealth, 31st in the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) region, and 81st in the global women’s discus rankings. These strong rankings position her as a near-certain selection for the Grenadian national team for upcoming regional and international competitions. She last represented Grenada on the international stage at the 2025 Pan American Junior Championships.

    In a heartfelt social media post reflecting on her journey as she prepares to graduate from St. John’s, Alves opened up about the sacrifices that brought her from her small Caribbean home to the upper echelons of U.S. collegiate athletics. “They’ll see the medals, the records, and the NCAA appearances, but they’ll never fully see the sacrifices it took to get here,” Alves wrote. “Being a student-athlete taught me strength beyond the throwing circle. From Grenada to the NCAA stage, I carried not only my dreams, but the dreams of everyone who believed in me.”

    As a member of the St. John’s Class of 2026 heading to the Oregon national finals, Alves not only carries the top athletic honors for the “Spice Isle” of Grenada in the discus event, but also stands as a leading ambassador for Grenadian sport on the global collegiate and international stage.