分类： sports

While track athletes typically command the most attention at athletic competitions, the spotlight shifted decisively to field event specialists during the Wright Foundation’s Power in the Field Classic held January 24 at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

The event showcased remarkable performances from emerging talents who demonstrated exceptional prowess across various disciplines. Mercury’s Jafari Edwards emerged as a double champion in the boys’ under-17 category, securing gold in both long jump with a winning leap of 6.41 meters and high jump with a clearance of 1.75 meters. His long jump victory came after a tense competition with Memphis Pioneers’ Zayne Martin, who nearly overtook him with a final attempt of 6.37 meters.

Burnley Athletic Club’s Peyton Winter delivered a spectacular triple crown performance in the girls’ under-20 category, dominating shot put (12.91m), javelin (28.85m), and discus (35.73m). Her shot put victory was particularly notable as she outperformed Tenique Vincent, the recently crowned Female Multi-event Athlete of the Year, who managed 10.10 meters.

Vincent later redeemed herself by claiming the girls’ under-20 high jump title with a clearance of 1.65 meters, while her twin brother Tyrique Vincent, the Male Multi-event Athlete of the Year, triumphed in the boys’ under-20 long jump with an impressive 7.07-meter effort.

The competition also featured standout performances from Kaizen Panthers’ Kaori Robley (girls’ under-20 long jump, 5.21m), QRC Athletic Club’s La Queen Welch (girls’ under-17 high jump, 1.64m), and Ascend Athletic Club’s Daryan Boyce who edged out clubmate Nykel Gomez in a thrilling boys’ under-20 discus contest with a throw of 44.45 meters.

These results highlight the growing depth of field event talent in Trinidad and Tobago’s athletic landscape, with multiple athletes showing potential for future regional and international success.

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards has expressed strong optimism about the nation’s youth football development programs as multiple national teams engage in critical CONCACAF competitions. The association’s commitment to developing young talent appears to be yielding promising results across various age groups.

The under-17 women’s team, currently competing in Willemstad, Curaçao, demonstrated remarkable resilience in their opening match against hosts Curaçao on January 24, fighting back to secure a 2-2 draw after trailing twice. Under coach Ayana Russell, the squad faces crucial Group F matches against Barbados (January 28) and El Salvador (February 1), with the group winner and two best second-place teams advancing to the final qualification round.

Edwards emphasized the significance of these developments in an official statement: “The TTFA is encouraged by the continued progress being demonstrated across our national youth programmes. We extend our full support and best wishes to our under-17 women’s national team as they continue their CONCACAF qualifying campaign.”

The men’s youth teams are similarly positioned for important competitions. The under-17 squad, guided by coach Randolph Boyce, will host the CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 qualifiers from February 3-12, facing Barbados, Mexico, Saint Martin, and Sint Maarten. Meanwhile, Marvin Gordon’s under-20 team will compete in their qualifiers in Costa Rica from February 23 to March 4.

Preparation matches have shown encouraging results. The under-20 team displayed offensive prowess with decisive victories over St Vincent and Grenadines (6-0) and AC Port of Spain’s second team (5-0), though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Grenada in their final preparatory match.

The association’s technical development efforts extend beyond the pitch, with acting technical director Devin Elcock recently attending a FIFA Technical Leadership Workshop in Barbados from January 12-16. Edwards highlighted this comprehensive approach: “By investing in our young players, providing meaningful international exposure and strengthening our technical leadership, we’re laying a solid foundation for sustained success.”

This strategic focus on youth development represents a concerted effort to elevate Trinidad and Tobago’s football program to greater regional and international competitiveness.

In a spectacular display of football dominance, Defence Force FC delivered a devastating 9-0 thrashing to Terminix La Horquetta Rangers during their TT Premier Football League encounter on January 25 at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. This commanding performance extends Defence Force’s lead at the summit of the 2025/26 table to three points as they continue their title defense campaign.

The Army/Coast Guard combination showcased their offensive firepower through new acquisitions Nicholas Dillon and Joevin Jones, who each recorded impressive hat-tricks. The scoring onslaught began early with Jones opening the account in the 12th minute, followed by quick successive goals from central defender Jamali Garcia (16th minute) and midfielder Rivaldo Coryat (21st minute), establishing a 3-0 halftime advantage.

The second half witnessed an equally explosive performance as Defence Force netted three additional goals within ten minutes after the restart. Dillon secured his first goal alongside contributions from Jones and playmaker Kevin ‘Nash’ Molino, pushing the scoreline to 6-0 by the 57th minute. Jones completed his hat-trick in the 61st minute, while Dillon sealed the historic victory with his third goal during second-half stoppage time.

The match also served as an integration platform for recent defensive signings Triston Hodge and Keston Julien, who made their appearances ahead of the team’s upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup clash against Philadelphia Union commencing February 18.

In the evening’s earlier fixture, second-placed Club Sando maintained pressure on the leaders with a narrow 1-0 victory over third-placed Miscellaneous Police FC, courtesy of Tarik Lee’s 22nd-minute strike—his ninth goal of the season.

The TTPFL action continues on January 28 with MIC Central FC Reboot facing San Juan Jabloteh, followed by Prisons FC versus AC Port of Spain in another double-header event at Couva.

Barrackpore West Secondary School demonstrated remarkable volleyball prowess on January 23rd, securing three consecutive victories in the Secondary Schools Volleyball League’s Under-17 boys’ division at Pleasantville Indoor Sporting Arena. The reigning Under-15 champions from last season transitioned seamlessly to the higher age bracket, overwhelming opponents with strategic precision and athletic excellence.

The team’s commanding performance began with a hard-fought triumph against ASJA Boys’ College San Fernando. After dropping a tightly contested opening set 23-25, Barrackpore mounted a spectacular comeback, taking the subsequent sets 25-15 and 15-6. Their momentum continued with identical 25-19, 25-14 scorelines against both Fatima College and Naparima College, showcasing consistent dominance across multiple matches.

Fatima College recovered impressively from their defeat to Barrackpore, securing two victories of their own. They overcame ASJA in a competitive encounter with scores of 25-23 and 25-20, followed by another solid performance against Naparima College, prevailing 25-17 and 25-21.

Naparima College avoided a complete shutout by claiming a dramatic three-set victory against ASJA. After splitting the first two sets (25-15, 22-25), the Lewis Street squad from San Fernando clinched the decisive third set 15-13 in a nail-biting finish.

The SSVL competition was scheduled to resume at Aranguez North Secondary School on January 25th, featuring matches in the girls’ Under-17 and boys’ open categories.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has officially announced its 15-player roster for the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. The selection, revealed through a digital presentation on January 26, features a blend of experienced campaigners and one surprising new face under the leadership of captain Shai Hope.

The squad retains several key figures from the 2024 tournament campaign, including Test captain Roston Chase, spin specialists Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, along with power hitters Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd. The most conspicuous absence is explosive left-handed opener Evin Lewis, whose international future appears uncertain after he hinted at retirement via social media. Also missing from the lineup is recovering pace bowler Alzarri Joseph.

The most debated selection is 25-year-old Guyanese batsman Quentin Sampson, who receives his maiden World Cup call-up despite a modest debut series against Afghanistan in January where he scored 30, 2, and 3 across three matches. Sampson’s inclusion represents coach Daren Sammy’s calculated gamble on emerging talent.

Lewis, a veteran of 67 T20 internationals with 1,799 runs at a strike rate of 152.07, posted a cryptic message on Instagram suggesting his international career might be over: “Just wanna thank everyone who supported me in my ten years of international cricket, but I think the time has come for me to depart. Stay tuned.”

The two-time champions have been drawn into Group C alongside England, Italy, Nepal, and Scotland, who replaced Bangladesh as a late tournament addition. The West Indies will commence their campaign against Scotland on February 7 at Kolkata’s historic Eden Gardens stadium.

In a thrilling Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifier, Trinidad and Tobago’s young footballers experienced both triumph and disappointment as they conceded a late equalizer to settle for a 2-2 draw against host nation Curaçao on January 24. The Group F encounter at Stadion Rignaal “Jean” Francisca in Willemstad saw dramatic momentum shifts that ultimately denied the Caribbean visitors a coveted victory.

The match remained scoreless through the first half despite promising opportunities for both sides, with TT striking the crossbar and Curaçao forcing a goal-line clearance during a chaotic penalty area scramble.

Curaçao broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Jacelynn Jubithana capitalized on a defensive error from Layla Gregoire to put the hosts ahead. Trinidad and Tobago responded decisively six minutes later as Jade Jones unleashed a spectacular left-footed strike from outside the penalty area following a partially cleared cross from Giuliana Meyer.

The visitors appeared destined for victory when captain Sanni Wilson demonstrated exceptional composure in the 80th minute, expertly converting Jones’ precision cross from the right flank with a clinical left-footed finish. However, Curaçao substitute Xiarleahmay Martis Nocento delivered a crushing blow just three minutes later, scoring with a deft glancing header from an in-swinging corner that eluded TT goalkeeper Zofia Richards.

Head coach Ayana Russell, while expressing pride in her team’s performance, acknowledged the result as a missed opportunity. “I thought they did an excellent job and fought until the very end,” Russell stated. “The result is unfortunate. We dominated and I felt we dropped some points today.”

Statistical analysis revealed TT’s dominance throughout the match, with 54% possession and 15 shots (five on target) compared to Curaçao’s seven attempts. Russell identified finishing as the primary area requiring improvement, noting, “We struggled to put the game away in that final middle to final third.”

The squad now prepares for their January 28 encounter against Barbados, with additional training sessions focused on offensive execution before concluding group play against El Salvador on February 1. The top six group winners and two best second-place teams will advance to join Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States in the tournament’s final round.

Diego Martin Central Secondary and Holy Name Convent have emerged as early frontrunners in the Form One category of the 2026 Republic Bank ASATT National Secondary Schools Water Polo League, maintaining flawless records during the January 24 matches at the Diego Martin community pool.

The Diego Martin Central boys’ team delivered a commanding performance against Trinity College (Moka), securing a decisive 15-5 victory. Andriel Williams showcased exceptional offensive prowess, netting nine goals throughout the match—four of which came during a dominant second-quarter display. Keston Brisan provided valuable support with three goals, while Trinity’s Jayden Antoine managed a respectable triple score in response.

Mirroring their male counterparts’ success, the Diego Martin Central girls’ team demonstrated overwhelming superiority against Providence Girls’ Catholic School with a 15-1 triumph. The victory featured distributed scoring across the roster, with Talayeh Baker leading the charge with five goals, followed by Amiyah Phillip’s four and Allessia Dash’s three goals.

In one of the day’s most thrilling encounters, Bishop Anstey High School mounted a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback to edge St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain 8-7. Despite trailing 7-4 entering the final period, Bishop Anstey’s Gia-Marie Plaza erupted for three of her five total goals during the decisive quarter, while Sara Francois contributed three crucial goals. Danielle Popplewell’s five-goal effort for SJCPoS ultimately proved insufficient against Bishop Anstey’s late surge.

Holy Name Convent continued their dominant run with a comprehensive 17-4 victory over Corpus Christi College, establishing a commanding 12-2 halftime advantage before cruising to victory. The offensive duo of Ariya Bolai De Matas (nine goals) and Amilya Marshall (seven goals) proved unstoppable throughout the contest.

Queen’s Royal College rounded out the day’s action with an impressive 15-9 win against rivals St Mary’s College. Kamal Cumberbatch spearheaded the Royalians’ attack with seven goals, supported by Roland Beard’s four-goal contribution. Andrez Robinson led St Mary’s resistance with five goals, accompanied by two goals each from Joab Dick and Aiden Ramparick.

In a dramatic rain-affected encounter at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek, Namibia, the West Indies Under-19 cricket team secured a crucial 25-run victory against Ireland in their ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup Super Six match on January 25. The Caribbean side’s triumph was orchestrated by their spin duo of Micah McKenzie and Vitel Lawes, who derailed Ireland’s chase with their wrist-spin mastery.

The match began with West Indies posting a competitive 226 all out in 46.5 overs, thanks largely to wicketkeeper-batsman Jewel Andrew’s commanding 66 runs from 82 deliveries. Andrew’s innings, featuring four boundaries and four sixes, provided the foundation despite several batsmen failing to convert starts into substantial scores. Jonathan Van Lange (28) and Aadian Racha (28) contributed valuable runs in the middle and lower order.

Ireland’s response appeared promising initially as they reached 82/1 in the 18th over, with James West leading the charge with a brisk 45. However, the introduction of leg-spinner McKenzie (4/36) and left-arm unorthodox spinner Lawes (2/41) triggered a dramatic collapse. The spin twins dismantled Ireland’s middle order, reducing them from comfort to 98/4 within five overs.

Rain interruptions twice disrupted Ireland’s chase, ultimately proving decisive. When play was halted for the final time at 164/7 after 40 overs, Ireland found themselves 25 runs behind the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern par score of 189. Robert O’Brien (26) and Marko Bates (22) showed resistance but couldn’t prevent the inevitable DLS decision in West Indies’ favor.

The victory elevates West Indies to four points in their Super Six group, positioning them third behind Australia (6 points) and Afghanistan (4 points). With net run rate currently negative, the Caribbean team faces a must-win scenario against defending champions Australia on January 28 in Harare, Zimbabwe, where a substantial victory is required to secure semifinal qualification.