分类： sports

The Jamaica Football Championships resume today with a full slate of compelling Zone B fixtures, headlined by Humble Lion FC’s critical home encounter against Petersfield FC at Effortville Community Centre (3:30pm kickoff). Following a surprising 2-0 defeat to STETHS Elite FA last weekend—their first loss this season—Humble Lion dropped to second place. A victory today would propel them past inactive Roaring River and back to the summit, reasserting their status as one of the competition’s most consistent squads. The team will look to key players Nathaniel Henry and Douglas Whitely to engineer a swift return to winning form against a struggling Petersfield side that has managed just one win and two goals in three outings.

Concurrent matches feature a high-stakes doubleheader at Drax Hall where two St Ann clubs, Lime Hall Academy and Sakka Club Brown’s Town—both locked on 10 points—aim to reignite their campaigns after disappointing draws last weekend. Lime Hall, whose three-game winning streak was snapped in a 1-1 stalemate with WiFi FC, host the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). The army team arrives with momentum after an emphatic 8-0 victory over Progressive FC but has only two wins from five matches. Meanwhile, Sakka Club, fresh from a six-goal thriller (3-3) with Tru-Juice, faces a Meadforest FC squad that has dramatically underperformed relative to last season’s semi-final finish, scoring just once in three games.

Elsewhere, Reno FC pursues a third consecutive clean-sheet victory against St Bess United, a team mired in a three-game scoring drought. In Trelawny, Duncan’s United—without a goal in three matches—confront a resurgent Falmouth United, who exploded for a 7-0 win over Holland PYC last weekend. Falmouth’s offensive firepower, led by hat-trick hero Kevon Donaldson and four-goal scorer Ahmal Nugent-Hudson, presents a formidable challenge.

Today’s complete fixture list:
– Baptist Alliance vs Wifi United FC (York Sports Complex, 3:00pm)
– Sakka Club Brown’s Town FC vs Meadforest FC (Drax Hall, 1:30pm)
– Lime Hall Academy vs Jamaica Defence Force (Drax Hall, 3:30pm)
– Progressive FC vs Tru-Juice FC (Carder Park, 3:30pm)
– Reno FC vs St Bess United (Llandilo Sports Complex, 3:30pm)
– Humble Lion FC vs Petersfield FC (Effortville Community Centre, 3:30pm)
– Duncan’s United vs Falmouth United (Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium)
– Holland PYC vs STETHS Elite (Lacovia Community Centre)

Jamaican collegiate athletes delivered an impressive performance during the inaugural day of the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Indoor Championships in Topeka, Kansas on Friday. The competition witnessed exceptional achievements from Caribbean competitors across multiple track and field disciplines.

Chavez Penn from Barton County College emerged victorious in the men’s high jump competition, clearing an indoor personal best of 2.15 meters. This triumph followed his ninth-place finish in the long jump event earlier in the day, where he recorded a leap of 7.25 meters.

In the throwing arena, Rajay Hemmings of Iowa Western Junior College demonstrated consistency with three legal marks in the shot put, topping at 17.78 meters. Hemmings entered the championships with momentum from his NJCAA Region 11 title win, where he achieved an indoor best of 18.06 meters.

Jamaican female athletes equally distinguished themselves. Natassia Burrell, formerly of Hydel High and now competing for Cloud County, secured second position in the women’s shot put with a throw of 15.34 meters. Kahllah Bailey of South Plains College claimed third with a mark of 14.14 meters.

Barton County’s Celine Riddle earned silver medal honors in the women’s long jump with a best effort of 5.95 meters.

Numerous Jamaican competitors advanced to Saturday’s finals through outstanding preliminary performances. Mickayla Gardener of Central Arizona College established an NJCAA-leading time of 7.28 seconds in the women’s 60 meters, setting a personal best. The men’s 60 meters will feature Jayval Wright and Raheem Pinnock from Hinds Community College, who clocked 6.64 and 6.65 seconds respectively.

Hurdles events saw strong Jamaican representation with Shaquane Gordon (Odessa College) leading men’s 60m hurdles qualifying at 7.83 seconds. Barton County teammates Asharria Ulett (8.41 seconds) and Camoy Binger (8.44 seconds) dominated women’s hurdles qualifying.

Raheem Scott, former ISSA Championships gold medalist from Rusea’s High now at New Mexico Junior College, posted the third-fastest men’s 400 meters qualifying time (46.90 seconds personal best). Cindy Rose of Indian Hills College advanced to the women’s 800 meters final with the third-best qualifying time of 2:17.28 minutes.

A significant leadership vacuum in Jamaican professional football has prompted influential club figures to advocate for the return of former chairman Christopher Williams to helm Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL). The call comes following the recent departure of Livingstone Morrison, whose resignation became effective on February 28, 2026.

Johann ‘Yoni’ Epstein, chairman of Montego Bay United, has emerged as the most vocal proponent for Williams’ reinstatement. Epstein, who has led his club for three years, characterized Williams as a ‘passionate, driven’ leader whose marketing expertise is desperately needed amid revenue declines in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).

The PFJL, responsible for marketing and promoting Jamaica’s premier club competition, has appointed Donovan White, president of Waterhouse FC, as interim chairman. However, this arrangement remains temporary due to memorandum requirements with the Jamaica Football Federation mandating an independent full-time chairman.

Epstein emphasized the business imperative of football, stating, ‘We have to find ways to generate revenue. Chris has done it before and he can do it again.’ While acknowledging Morrison’s ‘phenomenal job’ in enhancing governance and financial structures during his brief tenure, Epstein stressed that the organization now requires the marketing passion that Williams previously demonstrated.

The Montego Bay United chairman elaborated on Williams’ proven track record: ‘Chris Williams was the head when I came in, and until mid-last year, he did a great job leading the team, driving sales and marketing performance. The primary objective is to secure sponsorship, fund the league, provide dividends to club shareholders, and generate broadcast revenue.’

This sentiment found resonance with Paul Christie, sporting director of Mount Pleasant FA, who endorsed Williams’ return as a ‘no-brainer.’ Christie praised Williams for elevating the league to new heights, noting his complete immersion and commitment to football development. ‘It was a sad day when Chris stepped away… where we are now is a testament to the work he did,’ Christie remarked.

Epstein further connected league strength to national team success, asserting that a robust JPL would enhance Jamaica’s World Cup qualification prospects. He emphasized the need for ‘strong independent leadership’ to position Jamaican football as the region’s premier sporting product over the next five years.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The opening day of Jamaica’s Carifta Games Trials witnessed extraordinary athletic performances at the National Stadium on Friday, with emerging sprint sensations Shanoya Douglas and Riquelme Reid establishing themselves as dominant forces in their respective 100m events.

Shanoya Douglas, the 16-year-old World Under-20 200m bronze medalist, delivered a breathtaking performance that shattered expectations. The Holland High athlete demolished her previous personal best of 11.28 seconds with an astonishing 11.06-second finish (+1.5 m/s wind assistance), leaving competitors trailing significantly behind. Wolmer’s Natrece East secured second position with 11.53 seconds, while Edwin Allen’s Renecia Edwards claimed third in 11.58 seconds. Adora Campbell of St Jago finished fourth at 11.70 seconds.

The race witnessed disappointment for University of North Carolina’s Jada Lloyd, who was disqualified following a false start despite entering the final with the third-fastest qualifying time of 11.98 seconds.

Douglas’s spectacular time not only surpassed Sabrina Dockery’s previous record of 11.08 seconds set last year but also positioned the young athlete on the precipice of breaking the elusive 11-second barrier just weeks before the prestigious Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

In the male division, Excelsior’s Riquelme Reid demonstrated equally impressive form during his breakout season, clocking a blistering 10.16 seconds to claim victory. Reid maintained his composure under pressure from William Knibb’s Sanjay Seymour and Kingston College’s Nyron Wade, who achieved personal bests of 10.20 and 10.22 seconds respectively. Calabar’s Khamani Gordon (10.40 seconds) and St George’s College’s Tyreece Foreman (10.41 seconds) completed the top five finishers.

Remarkably, the top three finishing times in the men’s event would have surpassed last year’s championship-winning time of 10.28 seconds recorded by Wolmer’s Boys’ Gary Card, who competed while experiencing significant cramping.

Jamaica College’s Kai Kelly continued his remarkable athletic progression by dominating the Under-17 category with a 10.44-second finish. The young sprinter, who broke the Class Three 100m record last season with 10.60 seconds, now appears virtually unbeatable in his first year of Class Two competition. Calabar athletes Joshua Ricketts (10.49 seconds) and Javane Clayton (10.51 seconds) secured second and third positions respectively.

In the Under-17 girls’ division, Ferncourt High’s Rihanna clocked 11.68 seconds for victory, narrowly defeating Convent of Mercy Alpha’s Azarie Harris (11.69 seconds). Edwin Allen’s Danelia Clarke finished third with 11.86 seconds.

The three-day qualification event for the Carifta Games continues through Saturday, showcasing Jamaica’s next generation of track and field excellence.

In a dramatic turn of events at the racetrack on Sunday, March 1, 2026, apprentice jockey Roshaune Lewis achieved a breakthrough moment in his professional career by securing his inaugural victory. The triumph marked the culmination of more than a year of determined perseverance in the competitive sport of horse racing.

The landmark victory carried additional significance as Lewis, aboard the Ryan Darby-trained Sudden Flight, outperformed his own brother Reyan Lewis—an established champion jockey with over 300 career wins. Reyan, riding Stein, finished three lengths behind the winning pair in a compelling familial showdown.

The decisive race was a five-year-old and upward Optional Claiming event with a $200,000 purse, featuring native-bred six-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) alongside native-bred five-year-old maidens competing over 3½ furlongs (700 meters).

In post-race reflections, the 27-year-old jockey expressed profound satisfaction with his long-awaited achievement. “This creates a favorable impression. I’m genuinely delighted to have secured my first victory after nearly two years of holding my license,” Lewis stated. “The journey required patience, but I’m relieved to have finally achieved this crucial milestone in any jockey’s career. It’s an exceptionally rewarding sensation.”

Lewis specifically acknowledged his brother’s instrumental role in guiding him toward this success. “Reyan, my younger brother, provided substantial strategic advice before this race,” he revealed. “He emphasized the importance of maintaining composure, riding a tactically smart race, and focusing on effective execution.”

When evaluating his own performance with characteristic humility, Lewis assigned himself a seven out of ten rating. “True confidence only emerges after the race concludes,” he explained. “The paramount objective was successful execution, and I felt prepared to accomplish that today.”

Looking toward future prospects, Lewis expressed optimism about building upon this foundational achievement. “I have zero regrets about selecting this profession,” he affirmed. “My brother introduced me to the sport, and I’m tremendously grateful. With this initial victory achieved, I’m committed to continuous improvement and pursuing additional successes.”

The jockey concluded with expressions of gratitude: “I extend sincere appreciation to everyone who offered support, guidance, and belief in my capabilities. This first victory represents an essential accomplishment that wouldn’t have been possible without that collective support. I’m hopeful this win initiates a positive trajectory for my career, and I reiterate my thanks to all supporters.”

Photographic documentation by Karl Mclarty captured Lewis driving Sudden Flight to victory in the sixth race, followed by his triumphant approach to the scales after making racing history.