分类： sports

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opening day of the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships witnessed a spectacular display of athletic prowess as defending champion Michael Andre Edwards of Jamaica College delivered a commanding performance in the Class 1 boys long jump preliminaries. The National Stadium erupted as Edwards secured his place in the finals with a single, monumental leap of 7.53 meters, significantly surpassing the automatic qualifying standard of 7.05 meters despite a substantial headwind of 1.9 meters per second.

Edwards, who achieved the remarkable long jump and triple jump double victory in last year’s championships, demonstrated why he remains the athlete to beat in this discipline. His first-attempt qualification not only conserved energy for the upcoming finals but also sent a powerful message to his competitors.

The competition for remaining final spots intensified among other top Jamaican high school athletes. Kingston College’s Amani Phillips, last year’s Class 2 medalist, positioned himself as a strong contender with a jump of 7.04 meters, falling just one centimeter short of the automatic mark. Jamaica College’s Jaivar Cato followed closely with a respectable 6.94-meter effort in calm wind conditions.

In a notable comeback performance, Kemar James of St Jago High overcame initial difficulties to qualify with a wind-assisted 6.91 meters (2.3m/s). The finals will also feature Calabar High’s Shevaughn Pryce alongside St Elizabeth Technical’s duo Santino Distin and Rodeeki Walters, setting the stage for an intensely competitive championship showdown.

Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has announced a significant expansion of its flagship event, the Mouttet Mile, transforming it into a two-day racing spectacle for 2026. Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe revealed the enhanced format during a press conference at Caymanas Park on March 21, emphasizing the organization’s comprehensive commitment to horse racing development.

The racing extravaganza will commence on Friday, December 4 with the revival of the She’s A Maneater Sprint, an exclusive competition for Jamaican-bred thoroughbreds honoring the legendary filly whose remarkable career captivated racing enthusiasts. This special tribute race returns after being temporarily displaced by calendar restructuring and the reintroduction of the Diamond Mile.

Saturday, December 5 will feature the main Mouttet Mile event, which has consistently demonstrated exceptional popularity and attendance according to SVREL’s assessment. The expansion to two days represents a strategic response to the event’s growing prestige within the racing community.

In a significant move toward inclusivity, SVREL will enhance opportunities for smaller stables through revamped claiming races. The Friday card will feature three specially designed claiming events: a $1.5-million race with an increased purse from last year’s $1.25 million, alongside $350,000 and $700,000 claiming races both carrying substantial $1.5-million purses. This initiative specifically addresses previous limitations that excluded smaller participants from Mouttet Mile day activities.

The 2026 edition will embrace Jamaica’s vibrant cultural heritage through its ‘Dancehall Glam’ theme, reflecting both local traditions and the sport’s international reach. Sharpe emphasized that this thematic approach celebrates horse racing as an integral component of Jamaican culture alongside its sporting significance.

The event restructuring demonstrates SVREL’s holistic approach to racing development, balancing competitive excellence with broader participant inclusion while integrating cultural elements that resonate with both local and international audiences.

LIVERPOOL, England – Liverpool Football Club has officially confirmed that iconic forward Mohamed Salah will depart the club upon the conclusion of the 2025-26 Premier League season, marking the end of an extraordinary nine-year era at Anfield. The announcement, made through the club’s official channels on Tuesday, signals the departure of one of the most prolific scorers in the club’s storied history.

The Egyptian international, who joined the Reds from AS Roma in 2017 for what was then a club-record transfer fee, has established himself as a modern Liverpool legend. During his tenure, the 33-year-old has made 435 appearances across all competitions while netting an astonishing 255 goals – a tally that places him among the club’s all-time greats.

Club management emphasized that the decision was reached through mutual agreement between Salah and the organization. In an unusual display of transparency toward the fanbase, Salah specifically requested early disclosure of his departure plans out of profound respect for the supporters who have championed his career on Merseyside.

Salah’s legacy includes helping secure Liverpool’s first Premier League title in 30 years during the 2019-20 campaign, along with Champions League glory in 2019. His individual accolades include multiple Golden Boot awards and PFA Player of the Year honors, cementing his status as one of the Premier League’s most dominant attacking forces of the modern era.

The coming months will represent a final chapter for the Egyptian king at Anfield, with supporters anticipated to give him a fitting farewell following his immense contributions to the club’s recent renaissance.

In an unprecedented development for Jamaican scholastic sports, Hillel Academy has shattered its athletic tradition by qualifying its first competitor for the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. The institution, historically celebrated for academic distinction, now enters the competitive arena through 13-year-old sprint sensation Damian Jongwe.

Jongwe embodies global citizenship—born in France, recently relocated from Bangkok, Thailand, with prior residency in Kenya and Zimbabwean heritage through his father. His arrival in Jamaica just last August marked the beginning of this remarkable athletic journey. Despite minimal prior knowledge of Jamaica’s premier track event, Jongwe recognized the nation’s formidable reputation in track and field culture, which influenced his family’s decision to settle there.

Coach Devon Grant, who concurrently heads Papine High’s track program and previously guided Mavis Bank High, has achieved what he describes as a breakthrough after unsuccessful attempts with other athletes in prior seasons. “This represents a wonderful opportunity to establish Hillel’s presence at Champs,” Grant stated, emphasizing the significance of Jongwe’s qualification for the 2026 championships.

The young athlete will contest the Class 3 Boys’ sprint double, competing in both the 100m and 200m events. While Grant maintains realistic expectations for Jongwe’s inaugural championship appearance, he projects potential advancement to the 200m finals, acknowledging the 100m presents greater challenges. More importantly, Grant identifies this milestone as catalyzing broader athletic development at Hillel, noting two additional students have already joined training sessions.

Jongwe approaches his historic participation with emotional complexity—describing himself as simultaneously nervous, excited, and prepared. “This experience pushes me to achieve my best,” he reflected. “I believe I belong alongside these competitors and anticipate this will be a foundational experience for future success.” His championship campaign commences Tuesday afternoon with the 100m heats, followed by Thursday morning’s 200m competition.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The preliminary round of the girls’ open javelin event at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships concluded Tuesday at the National Stadium, setting the stage for a highly competitive final. Defending champion Zoelle Jamel from Immaculate Conception secured her spot in the medal round with a throw of 43.24 meters, while Vere Technical’s Ramona Freemantle, another previous medalist, advanced with a distance of 39.15 meters.

In a surprising development, Holmwood Technical’s Shamanda Wilmott emerged as the top qualifier with an impressive throw of 44.65 meters, marking a significant improvement from her 17th-place finish in last year’s championships. The field of finalists also includes Edwin Allen High’s Angel Robinson and Immaculate Conception’s Dacia McDonald, both of whom competed in last year’s championship round.

Adding to the competitive lineup, the St. Jago High duo of Kris-Ann-Tai Byfield and Rihanna Anderson successfully qualified for the final, ensuring broad representation from Jamaica’s top athletic programs. The qualification results suggest an intensely competitive final as defending champions, improving athletes, and new contenders prepare to compete for the title.

In a significant homecoming appointment, Andrew Price has been named Technical Director of St George’s College, tasked with revitalizing the school’s football program. The former defensive stalwart, who anchored the team that secured the prestigious triple crown (Manning Cup, Walker Cup, and Olivier Shield) in 1983, expressed profound honor at returning to his alma mater after 42 years.

Price’s appointment follows the December 2025 resignation of long-time coach Neville Bell and comes amid a prolonged trophy drought for the ‘Knights,’ who haven’t claimed the Manning Cup since 2012. The newly appointed director brings extensive coaching credentials from Boys’ Town, Humble Lion, Calabar High, UWI Women, Mico University College, and served as assistant coach for the Reggae Girlz during their historic 2019 World Cup qualification.

In his first statements, Price emphasized creating a cultural transformation focused on developing student-athletes holistically. ‘I want to create a culture and paradigm shift where student athletes participate with pride,’ Price told journalists. ‘The main emphasis is on the students—they must work both on and off the field. I measure success through holistic player development.’

His technical mandate includes overseeing all academy teams (U-14, U-16, and U-19) while implementing a unified football philosophy centered on attacking possession play with disciplined defense. Price stressed the importance of establishing consistent playing styles across all teams and maintaining academic priorities, noting that athletes are ‘students first.’

Regarding staffing, Price expressed openness to collaborating with long-time assistant coach Marcel Gayle, who was previously considered a potential successor to Bell. ‘I am open, but it depends on if he wants to continue,’ Price stated.

The appointment signals a strategic move by St George’s College to leverage Price’s deep institutional knowledge and professional experience to restore its football legacy while developing well-rounded citizens, with professional opportunities available for the most talented graduates.

Against a backdrop of unprecedented natural disaster, western Jamaica’s athletic community demonstrates extraordinary resilience as the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships commence today at Kingston’s National Stadium. The five-day championship, known locally as ‘Champs,’ features numerous athletes from hurricane-ravaged regions who have overcome immense personal and infrastructural challenges to compete at Jamaica’s premier high school athletic event.

Coaches and athletes from western Jamaica describe their participation as miraculous given that Hurricane Melissa devastated the region just five months earlier in October 2025. The catastrophic storm ripped roofs from homes, schools, and businesses, with some communities completely flattened and isolated. In the immediate aftermath, survival took absolute priority over athletic preparation.

Despite these overwhelming obstacles, western Jamaica fields several standout contenders including Shanoya Douglas of Holland High, alongside William Knibb Memorial’s Sanjay Seymore and Jabari Matheson. Green Island High’s Head Coach and Vice-Principal Michael McIntosh characterizes the regional participation as the ultimate testament to resilience, noting that the collective effort reflects the dedication of coaches, school administrations, and students themselves.

Coaching staff acknowledge ongoing challenges, with William Knibb’s Rodrick Myles noting persistent disparities between affected and unaffected schools. Yet athletes from severely damaged institutions like Sydney Pagon High School in St. Elizabeth—which still lacks full electrical restoration—have demonstrated remarkable perseverance. Coach Kirk Beckford highlighted emerging talents Kamoya Graham, Alexia Palmer, and Annataseca Blackwood as examples of athletes whose dedication is yielding competitive results.

The athletic competition serves as both personal catharsis and regional inspiration, with coaches managing expectations while celebrating the mere presence of their athletes as victory enough. While top-five finishes may remain elusive, western Jamaica’s athletes are poised to deliver moments of brilliance throughout the championship, transforming personal adversity into athletic achievement.

MUNRO, St Elizabeth — Falmouth United secured a decisive 4-2 victory against St Bess United in a Zone B clash at Munro College this Saturday, marking their fourth consecutive triumph in the Jamaica Football Championship. This impressive performance signals a remarkable turnaround for a squad that began the season with a sluggish start, managing only a single point from their initial three matches.

The team’s offensive prowess was on full display with goals from Kayvon Donaldson, Phelan Christie, Mark Lewis, and Jordan Brown. Despite a spirited effort from the hosts, Rajay Wright and Jayquan Mitchell found the net for St Bess United but were ultimately unable to stem the tide.

In other Zone B action, the league standings continue to tighten. Humble Lion FC maintains its top position with 16 points, despite having a bye this weekend. Hot on their heels, Roaring River FC kept pressure on the leaders by securing a 2-1 win over Holland PYC. Kajaye Williams and O’Shawn Neil provided the goals for Roaring River, while a late consolation from Valentine Thompson did little to alter the outcome for Holland PYC, who suffered their fourth seasonal defeat.

Further drama unfolded as Duncans United mounted a comeback to defeat Petersfield FC 2-1. After conceding an early goal to Shamali Burley, Duncans rallied with Kamari Gordon equalizing before Kevone Jones netted a dramatic 72nd-minute winner.

Zone A witnessed its own share of excitement. Sakka Club Browns Town leads the table with 16 points, narrowly ahead of Tru-Juice FC, which squandered a two-goal advantage to settle for a 2-2 draw against a resilient Baptist Alliance. Meanwhile, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) climbed to third place on 13 points following a commanding 2-0 victory over WiFi United, with late goals from Devontae Francis and Tevin Cheese.

The weekend was not without disruption; the fixture between Lime Hall and Meadforest FC was abandoned after 26 minutes due to a catastrophic failure of the lighting system at Drax Hall, with the scoreline locked at 0-0.

Concluding the weekend’s fixtures, Reno FC edged STETHS Elite FA 2-1 on Sunday, powered by a two-goal performance from Lennox Wright.

The National Junior Chess Championship 2026 concluded with reigning champions FM Jaden Shaw and Amy Stephenson successfully defending their titles in a display of strategic mastery. The tournament, held from March 14 to 22, brought together 40 of the island’s most promising young chess talents across two competitive sections.

In her final appearance at the Under-20 National Junior Chess Championship, Amy Stephenson secured an impressive third consecutive female title with a remarkable score of seven victories, one draw, and a single loss. Her triumphant performance placed her ahead of WCM Kaia Gayle and Kaity Gayle, who claimed second and third positions respectively after tiebreak calculations. The top five was completed by Emilia-Rose Leake in fourth place and Victoria Aung in fifth.

The Absolute Championship witnessed FM Jaden Shaw achieving an extraordinary fourth consecutive title with an almost flawless record of eight wins and one draw. Jaden Foreshaw captured the runner-up position, while Rushawn Robinson secured third place on tiebreak ahead of WCM Gabriella Watson in fourth. CM Nathaniel Hope rounded out the elite group of top performers.

Tournament chair FM Warren Elliott praised the event’s organization and competitive spirit, noting that the Absolute section featured 24 contenders while 16 participants competed in the female category. The nine-round championship provided a rigorous testing ground for the nation’s emerging chess prodigies, demonstrating the growing strength and depth of junior chess talent on the island.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opening day of the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium witnessed a compelling display of athletic prowess in the Class 2 girls long jump qualifiers. Zavien Bernard of Hydel High, the event’s reigning silver medallist, immediately stamped her authority on the competition. Despite an initial setback with a fouled first attempt, Bernard responded with a commanding leap of 5.64 meters, achieved with a wind assistance of 1.3 meters per second. This mark not only secured her top position in the qualifying round but also comfortably exceeded the automatic qualifying standard of 5.55 meters.

Hot on her heels was Campion College’s Stefvanco Henry, who posted a strong jump of 5.59m with identical wind conditions, positioning herself as a formidable contender for the finals. The competition further intensified with impressive performances from Karee Tape of Edwin Allen High, who recorded a jump of 5.51m, and Rajana Price from Convent of Mercy Alpha Academy, who reached 5.47m.

Adding depth to the field of qualifiers, Malia Housen of Mt Alvernia High, celebrated for her triple gold triumph at the COCAA Western Champs, advanced with a solid jump of 5.28m. She will be joined in the next round by Ashley Barrett of Immaculate Conception and the Vere Technical duo of Xiah Tobias and Jenoya Mesquito, setting the stage for a highly competitive final.