分类： sports

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A new standard for high school hurdling was established Friday at the National Stadium as Excelsior High’s Jaeden Campbell delivered a breathtaking performance at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. The young athlete blazed across the finish line in the boys Class 2 400m hurdles with an extraordinary time of 50.87 seconds, setting both a new meet record and a personal best.

The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships in Kingston witnessed an extraordinary display of youthful athletic prowess this Saturday, highlighted by multiple record-shattering performances in middle-distance events.

Julius Itubo of Kingston College emerged as the standout performer, achieving his second championship record by demolishing a longstanding benchmark in the Class 3 800m. The phenomenal athlete clocked an impressive 1:57.52, decisively breaking Waqar daCosta’s 19-year-old record of 1:58.06 established in 2007. This remarkable achievement followed Itubo’s earlier record-breaking performance in the Class 3 1500m event during the same championships.

The podium placement saw Jamaica College athletes securing both secondary positions, with Ajovi Williams capturing silver in 1:58.54 and Rickardo Lee earning bronze with 1:59.43.

In the competitive Class 1 division, Edwin Allen’s Joel Morgan demonstrated significant improvement by converting last year’s silver medal into gold. Morgan delivered a personal best performance of 1:49.93, successfully holding off challenger Kiile Reid from STETHS who finished closely behind at 1:50.90. Malike Anderson, also representing Edwin Allen, completed the top three with 1:51.31.

Adding to the day’s surprises, Denbigh High’s Markland Williams authored a compelling comeback narrative in the Class 2 800m. After failing to advance beyond the semi-finals in the previous championship, Williams claimed gold with a commanding time of 1:52.58. He outperformed Jamaica College’s Cavel Nooks (1:54.21) and Titchfield High’s Ratieo Walters (1:55.45) to secure the top podium position.

The Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) is set for a thrilling Saturday of football, headlined by a doubleheader at the JWN Anthony Spaulding Complex. The spotlight falls on the league’s two dominant, undefeated forces: three-time defending champions Frazsiers Whip FC and the formidable Arnett Gardens. Both squads, boasting perfect records from their first three outings, aim to secure a fourth consecutive victory.

Frazsiers Whip enters its match against Mile Gully FC as the clear favorite. Despite Mile Gully breaking their scoring drought with a recent win over Real MoBay AFC, they face a monumental challenge. They must penetrate a staunch Frazsiers defense that has conceded a mere one goal this season. Conversely, containing Frazsiers’ explosive offense, spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Christine Salmon and Shanel Spence—who have collectively netted seven of the team’s ten goals—poses an even greater task for Mile Gully.

The second marquee matchup pits Arnett Gardens against Cavalier SC in a clash of last season’s semi-finalist and finalist. While current form favors the home team, Arnett Gardens, historical context adds intrigue; the two sides drew both of their encounters last season. Arnett arrives with the league’s most potent attack, having scored a remarkable 12 goals, largely thanks to standout Shikira Douglas. Cavalier, in a transitional phase after losing several key players, has struggled for consistency, securing only one win and scoring three goals in their three games.

Elsewhere, Springers United seeks to rebound from a halted winning streak as they host Federal United at Irwin High in St. James. Under the guidance of Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis, the more organized St. James outfit aims to capitalize on Federal’s two-game losing skid and improve upon last season’s results against them (a draw and a loss).

Additional Saturday fixtures feature Los Perfectos, another former semi-finalist, traveling to face winless Real MoBay AFC at Jarrett Park in a battle for positioning in Zone B. Meanwhile, Real Mona FC, fresh off a resounding 5-0 mid-week victory, journeys to Carder Park to challenge WiFi United in pursuit of back-to-back wins. The day’s action concludes with a bottom-of-the-table encounter at the UWI Bowl, where both UWI Women and Proven Girls will be desperately hunting for their first victory of the campaign.

**Full Saturday Schedule:**
* UWI Women vs Proven Girls – UWI Bowl
* Arnett Gardens FC vs Cavalier SC – Anthony Spaulding Complex
* WiFi United vs Real Mona FC – Carder Park
* Real MoBay AFC vs Los Perfectos – Jarrett Park
* Springers United FC vs Federal United – Irwin High
* Frazsiers Whip FC vs Mile Gully FC – Anthony Spaulding Complex

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Edwin Allen High School’s distance running sensation Sushana Johnson cemented her status as a dominant force in Jamaican junior athletics by capturing her second gold medal at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. The standout athlete delivered a commanding performance in the 3000m Open final on Saturday’s championship closing day, clocking an impressive 10:38.18 minutes to successfully defend her title.

Johnson’s victory completed a remarkable distance double, coming just twenty-four hours after she claimed her first gold medal in the 2000m steeplechase event on Friday. The consecutive wins demonstrated her exceptional versatility and endurance across different distance disciplines.

In Saturday’s 3000m final, Johnson executed a strategically masterful race, establishing an early lead and maintaining a punishing pace that gradually broke down her competitors. She crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin of victory, nearly three seconds ahead of her closest rival. Sydney Pagon High’s Alexia Palmer secured the silver medal with a time of 10:41.37 minutes, while Chevelle White of Alphansus Davis High captured bronze in 10:52.59 minutes.

The annual championships, organized by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) and sponsored by GraceKennedy Limited, represent the pinnacle of high school athletic competition in Jamaica. The event consistently serves as a breeding ground for future international track stars and Olympic prospects, with Johnson’s double victory positioning her as one of Jamaica’s most promising distance running talents.

The Jamaica Football Championships resume this weekend with a compelling slate of return-round fixtures, highlighted by two intense parish derbies that promise to deliver thrilling football action across the island.

In Zone A, league leaders Sakka Club BrownsTown (19 points from 8 matches) face a critical test against third-place Lime Hall Academy (14 points with a game in hand) at Drax Hall. The matchup carries added significance as BrownsTown seeks redemption for their opening-day defeat against their local rivals.

Meanwhile, the Westmoreland derby at Llandilo Sports Complex features Roaring River and Reno FC separated by just one point in the standings. Following their 1-1 draw in the first round, Reno FC (16 points) and Roaring River (15 points, both from 8 games) will battle for crucial points in the tightly contested zone.

Zone B leaders Humble Lion host Duncans United at Effortville, looking to improve upon their previous 1-1 stalemate. Simultaneously, a resurgent Falmouth United travels to face STETHS Elite FA, recalling their explosive 2-2 first-round encounter in Trelawny.

The weekend schedule includes seven matches across various venues:

Saturday Fixtures:
– Tru-Juice vs Jamaica Defence Force at Dinthill
– Sakka Club BrownsTown vs Lime Hall Academy at Drax Hall
– Meadforest FC vs WiFi United at Bell Chung Oval
– Grays Inn SC vs Baptist Alliance at Grays Inn
– STETHS Elite FA vs Falmouth United at STETHS
– Humble Lion FC vs Duncans United at Effortville
– Petersfield FC vs St Bess United at Petersfield
– Roaring River FC vs Reno FC at Llandilo

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Demonstrating remarkable consistency amid change, Santino Distin secured his second consecutive Class 1 high jump title at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. The event concluded Saturday at the National Stadium with Distin matching his previous year’s winning height of 2.05 meters.

The defending champion’s victory carried added significance as he transitioned between academic institutions. Having previously competed for Herbert Morrison Technical, Distin now represents St. Elizabeth Technical High School this season. This change in affiliation did nothing to diminish his competitive edge, as the reigning 2025 national junior champion maintained his dominance in the event.

Distin’s path to victory encountered a minor challenge at 1.95 meters, where he recorded one failure. However, the athlete demonstrated composure by successfully clearing both 2.00 meters and his winning height of 2.05 meters on initial attempts. His final effort to conquer 2.08 meters proved unsuccessful but did not affect the final outcome.

The competition saw Kingston College athletes claiming the remaining podium positions. Tejahni Haynes captured the silver medal while Michael Neil secured bronze, both athletes matching the champion’s height of 2.05 meters but finishing behind Distin based on countback rules governing previous attempts.

In a stunning display of athletic prowess, Jamaica College’s Nasir D’Aguilar delivered a championship performance that defied expectations at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships in Kingston. The young athlete secured the gold medal in the boys Class 2 discus event with a remarkable personal best throw of 54.18 meters, marking a significant upset in the competition held at the National Stadium.

D’Aguilar’s path to victory unfolded through a series of progressively impressive throws. After placing fourth in the shot put final earlier, he demonstrated exceptional composure in the discus competition. The athlete seized the lead in the third round with a throw of 50.79 meters, then consistently improved his performance with a 53.86-meter effort in the fourth round before achieving his winning mark of 54.18 meters in the fifth and decisive round.

The competition saw Munro College’s Brandon Lawrence claim the silver medal with a best mark of 50.47 meters, replicating his second-place finish from the previous year’s championships. Lawrence was joined on the podium by teammate Ashan Haffenden, who captured the bronze medal with a throw of 46.80 meters, giving Munro College two athletes in the top three positions despite D’Aguilar’s championship-winning performance.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Edwin Allen High School’s athletic prodigy Akaylea Brown cemented her exceptional performance at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships by capturing her third medal this Saturday. Demonstrating remarkable versatility, Brown triumphed in the Class 1 girls long jump event with a winning leap of 5.73 meters, achieved with no wind assistance (0.0m/s).

This victory represents Brown’s second gold medal addition to her championship collection, having previously dominated the Class 1 high jump competition. Her impressive medal tally was further enhanced by a bronze medal performance in the highly competitive triple jump Open event, showcasing her extraordinary range across multiple disciplines.

The competition witnessed strong challenges from Hydel High School’s athletes, particularly Sabrina Atkinson who initially led during the first round of Saturday’s finals. Atkinson ultimately secured the silver medal with a jump of 5.59 meters recorded with a slight headwind (-0.8m/s). Completing Hydel’s strong showing, teammate Jenice Dunkley claimed the bronze medal position with a measured effort of 5.53 meters against more challenging wind conditions (-1.2m/s).

The annual championships, organized by the Inter-Secondary Schools Association (ISSA) and title-sponsored by GraceKennedy Limited, represent Jamaica’s premier platform for emerging track and field talent, often serving as a proving ground for future international competitors.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships concluded with spectacular hurdles performances at the National Stadium, highlighted by Wolmer’s Girls’ standout Tiana Marshall claiming gold in the Class 1 girls 100m hurdles. Marshall clocked 13.33 seconds against a -2.0m/s headwind, demonstrating exceptional athleticism just hours after shattering the meet record with an extraordinary 12.98-second semifinal performance on Friday.

The silver medal in Class 1 went to St Jago High’s Bryana Davidson (14.06 seconds), while Excelsior High’s Amoi Kentish secured bronze with 14.10 seconds.

Wolmer’s High celebrated another victory as Akeelah Bell dominated the Class 2 100m hurdles final in 13.32 seconds (-1.8m/s), outperforming Hydel High’s Annieka Carnegie (13.43 seconds) and St Jago’s Martina Parkes (13.64 seconds), replicating their semifinal rankings.

Edwin Allen High’s Tashana Godfrey delivered a stunning performance in the Class 3 80m hurdles, matching the meet record of 10.80 seconds (-3.4m/s) previously set by Alpha Academy’s Azaria Harris. Godfrey successfully defended her title after a wind-assisted 10.75-second semifinal run, with Harris taking silver (10.96 seconds) and teammate Danelia Clarke earning bronze (11.14 seconds).

The day’s opening victory came from Hydel High’s Keneisha Robinson, who captured the girls Class 4 70m hurdles title in 10.68 seconds (-0.6m/s). Vere Technical’s Jahmara Osbourne followed closely with 10.70 seconds for silver, while Convent of Mercy Alpha Academy’s Aleisha McDonald took bronze in 10.78 seconds.

The penultimate day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships has set the stage for a dramatic conclusion, with two powerhouse teams establishing seemingly insurmountable leads. Inside Kingston’s National Stadium, Edwin Allen High and Jamaica College have positioned themselves to reclaim and retain their respective titles, leaving their rivals with a monumental challenge on the final day.

On the girls’ side, Edwin Allen has mounted a formidable campaign to recapture the throne they lost to Hydel in 2025. Demonstrating exceptional team depth and performance across multiple events, they have amassed a commanding total of 151.5 points after 23 of the 46 scheduled finals. This places them a staggering 35.5 points ahead of the defending champions, Hydel, making an 11th overall title a near certainty barring any unforeseen circumstances in Saturday’s finale.

The narrative is equally compelling in the boys’ championship, where Jamaica College (JC) has delivered a masterclass in track and field dominance. Their athletes have performed at peak levels, accumulating a massive 189 points with just half of the finals completed (21 of 42). This has created a cavernous 67-point deficit for their historic rivals, Kingston College (KC). The gap is so significant that it would require an unprecedented reversal of fortune for KC to challenge for the title, signaling that JC’s charge toward glory is all but assured.