Carib Scope

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  • Danae Brown leads Queen’s to three-peat in ISSA urban basketball

    Danae Brown leads Queen’s to three-peat in ISSA urban basketball

    On Monday, Queen’s School cemented its status as the undisputed powerhouse of urban Jamaican schoolgirls basketball, claiming a third consecutive Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (SSA) championship title after a convincing 49-33 victory over St Andrew High in the final clash hosted at the UWI Bowl.

    Having already lifted the trophy in 2024 and 2025, the reigning champions entered the final as favourites, and they lived up to every expectation by controlling the tempo of the game from opening tip-off. By the end of the first quarter, Queen’s had already built an insurmountable 19-6 lead, putting St Andrew High on the back foot for the remainder of the match. The defending champions never surrendered their momentum, closing out the contest with a comfortable 16-point winning margin to extend their historic reign.

    Standout performer Danae Brown led all scorers with an impressive game-high 23 points, earning her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award for her decisive contributions on the court. For runners-up St Andrew High, Kimani Solomon topped the team’s scoring sheet with 10 points in the losing effort.

    In her post-match comments, Brown attributed her consistent strong performances throughout the tournament to her cross-training background in multiple sports. The MVP, who switched to basketball from an early start in football, credited the guidance of her various coaches – including those on the national team – for her development, alongside her own relentless commitment to improvement. “I’ve been interested in sports since I was very little. I started from football, actually, but I transferred to basketball. So, coming up, I’ve made this progress with a lot of coaches, even on the national team. They taught and trained me hard to get to this level, and I pushed myself as well to get to this level,” Brown shared while holding her newly awarded MVP trophy.

    She added that representing the three-time defending champions has been a source of immense pride, particularly as the program continues its undefeated streak of title victories. “It’s been wonderful, actually, for a school undefeated over and over again and reclaiming this title. It’s been an honour to play for Queen’s,” she said.

    Donald Bimmer, head coach of the champion Queen’s School side, echoed that the victory was rooted in his squad’s explosive opening quarter, a result of careful pre-game planning. “We got a good jump because we were able to get a 19-6 first quarter. And then from there, we just kind of managed the scoring and the possessions because we were able to get the lead that we wanted, which I had planned for,” Bimmer explained.

    The coach confirmed that the team’s ambition for the 2026 season extended far beyond the urban title, mirroring the program’s successful 2024 run that saw the squad claim both the urban and all-island championships. “This year, clearly, the plan was to win everything. That’s the plan, just like we did two years ago when we won all, both urban and all-island,” he added.

  • ‘LET ME HELP!’

    ‘LET ME HELP!’

    Nine years after hanging up his sprint spikes as the most decorated sprinter in Olympic history, Jamaican track and field icon Usain Bolt still holds an unshakeable grip on the sport’s record books — and he’s now pushing for sweeping change to bring back the fan engagement that defined his legendary career.

    Bolt, who retired in 2016 with eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship titles, still owns three world records that have stood unbroken for nearly 15 years: his 9.58-second 100m and 19.19-second 200m marks, both set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships, and the 36.84-second 4x100m relay record he helped secure at the 2012 London Olympics. Since his departure from competitive running, the sport has faced consistent criticism that it lacks the star power and electric energy Bolt brought to every track he stepped on, a gap that has left many casual fans tuning out.

    World Athletics leadership has pushed back on that narrative in recent months. Last December, association president Sebastian Coe highlighted robust growth across the sport, pointing to sold-out event attendance, a record-breaking 40 billion global digital impressions, and an unprecedented 84 countries qualifying athletes for the World Athletics Championships finals. He also teased new, high-stakes opportunities coming in 2026, headlined by the inaugural Ultimate Championships set to take place in Budapest. In September 2024, Bolt was named the Ultimate Legend for the new event, a ceremonial role intended to build hype for the competition. But the sprint legend says that title isn’t enough — he is pushing for a far more expanded role to help steer the sport’s growth, and has made his desire for change clear to World Athletics leadership.

    In an interview with CNN Sports, Bolt argued that the sport needs a full revamp to recapture the attention of casual viewers, saying that the current product lacks the excitement that keeps audiences coming back. “People watch for excitement, and I think the sport needs to figure out a way to get people engaged in track and field,” he explained. “I’m not the only one saying it. People always say to me, ‘Usain, track and field is going down.’ Even now when I travel, people tell me they don’t watch anymore because I left. It’s missing that excitement, that vibe, that energy people crave. It’s not always about the clock — it’s about the competition, the personality athletes bring, that’s what draws people in.”

    Bolt’s comments echo a widespread belief that track and field has struggled to produce transcendent, charismatic stars with the cross-over appeal that turned the Jamaican into a global household name. He added that he actively celebrates emerging athletes who bring distinct personalities to the sport, noting that that authenticity is what helps new fans connect.

    For Bolt, who turned 30 the year he retired and says he has no regrets about stepping away when he did, the pull of the sport remains deeply personal. “It’s pretty much my life, it made me who I am,” he said of his connection to track and field. “So I’ll play any role possible to help to uplift it, help to push it and help to keep it afloat and get better. I’ve been saying it, I’ve told them all the time that I’m willing to be a bigger part of this.”

    Even away from the track, Bolt says he still feels the rush of competition. He recalled attending a recent World Championships as a spectator, saying the experience was surreal. “It felt weird not being on the track, and I felt a lot more nervous than I normally would be competing myself,” he said. “When I watch my fellow Jamaicans compete, I get more nervous than anything else. I do miss just the excitement and just the energy from the crowd.”

    Outside of his work with World Athletics, Bolt recently partnered with luxury watch brand Hublot to launch a limited-edition timepiece that honors the milestones of his iconic sprint career.

  • Saint Lucia qualify for Pan Am Table Tennis

    Saint Lucia qualify for Pan Am Table Tennis

    Over the weekend, the Caribbean leg of the ITTF Americas Youth Championships wrapped up its under-19 boys’ team competition in Santo Domingo, with three young table tennis players from Saint Lucia producing a remarkable underdog performance to claim third place overall and punch their ticket to the continental finals slated for Guatemala this August.

    Held at the capital’s Parque del Este Table Tennis Hall, the regional qualifier drew six competing nations, split into two preliminary groups of three. For Saint Lucia’s trio of Manie Eleuthere, Leshon Francis, and Kamari Harris — all top finishers from the country’s national Secondary School Championships, hailing from Castries Comprehensive Secondary School, Ciceron Secondary, and St Mary’s College respectively — a top-two finish in Group 1 was required to advance to the semifinal round and lock in qualification for the August 23-30 continental tournament.

    Saint Lucia’s campaign got off to a tough start, suffering a tight 3-0 opening defeat to higher-ranked Puerto Rico. Both Francis and Eleuthere pushed their Puerto Rican opponents Cuadro and Ayala to the brink in close contests, with Cuadro edging Francis in a decisive fifth set 14-12, while Harris also dropped his match against Ayala, leaving Saint Lucia winless heading into their do-or-die preliminary matchup with Jamaica.

    The young Saint Lucian side rallied spectacularly against Jamaica, pulling off a tense 3-2 victory to secure their knockout stage berth. Francis opened the tie with a dominant 3-0 sweep of Jayden Ebanks, claiming each set by comfortable margins, before Eleuthere defeated the Jamaica-based overseas competitor Joel Lamm in four sets to put Saint Lucia up 2-0. Jamaica fought back: Gmarco Smith downed Harris in four sets, then Lamm blanked Francis 3-0 to level the overall tie at 2-2, setting up a decisive winner-takes-all match between Eleuthere and Ebanks.

    With a vocal pro-Jamaica crowd looking on, Ebanks took the opening set 11-8. Eleuthere, however, stayed calm and reeled off three consecutive set wins to seal the victory, securing second place in Group 1 for Saint Lucia and booking his country’s place at the continental championships later this year.

    In the semifinal round, the unseeded Saint Lucian side fell to host nation the Dominican Republic in a 3-0 defeat, leaving them tied for third place overall with Group 2 runners-up Trinidad & Tobago. Eleuthere dropped his contest against Rafael Cabrera 3-0, while Francis fell 3-1 to Ramon Vila, and Harris suffered a 3-1 loss to Alexander Tejada. Even with the semifinal defeat, the team’s third-place finish marks a successful regional run, and qualifying for the continental finals represents a major milestone for youth table tennis in Saint Lucia.

    This week, the ITTF Americas Caribbean Youth Championships continue in Santo Domingo, with men’s singles and women’s team competition kicking off for young athletes across the region.

  • CRICKET WEST INDIES: Kevin Wickham- Honouring his father through his performances on the field

    CRICKET WEST INDIES: Kevin Wickham- Honouring his father through his performances on the field

    For 23-year-old Barbados Pride batsman Kevin Wickham, every stride across the cricket pitch is more than just a routine movement—it is a living tribute to the man who shaped his love for the game, his late father Herbert. Two years after Herbert’s passing, every perfectly timed stroke through the offside and every desperate dive at the boundary is stitched with quiet memory, as Wickham has channeled his grief into purpose, stepping onto the field not just as an athlete, but as a son carrying forward his father’s legacy.

    Just over a week ago, Wickham cemented his place in West Indies regional cricket history by becoming only the third Barbadian to score centuries in both innings of a first-class regional match since 2000, joining elite company with current West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (who achieved the feat against Guyana in 2015) and former all-rounder Ryan Hinds (who did so against the Leeward Islands in 2006). Facing Jamaica Scorpions’ bowling attack, the stylish right-hander delivered a dominant first-innings knock of 153, decorated with six fours and 12 towering sixes, before following up with an unbroken sparkling 108 in the second innings—marking a career-defining performance that followed a prolonged period of personal and professional struggle.

    In a post-match reflection, Wickham opened up about the hardest stretch of his young career, which came immediately after his father’s death. He was in Jamaica when he received news of Herbert’s declining health, and rushed home to be with his family. After returning to the pitch following the funeral, he struggled enormously with his form, as the loss hit him far harder mentally than it ever could physically. “The guys showed me a lot of support because it was more mental than physical, and having their support kept me above ground and helped me maintain high standards and be where I am supposed to be,” he explained.

    Herbert, Wickham recalled, was his earliest and most loyal supporter, following a quiet, old-school routine: he never attended matches in person, but never missed one, tuning in to radio broadcasts to track every run his son scored. “Every time I came home, he could tell me how much I scored, what I should and shouldn’t have done,” Wickham said. “To this day I miss him because I miss having those conversations, and when I’m not doing too well, I try to think back to his advice.” That steady guidance is what carried him through his recent record-breaking knock.

    Both centuries came when his team was in a precarious position, and Wickham stuck to the same mindset his father taught him: protect the wicket, build the innings, and put the team in a strong position. “The first innings century was very special to me because that is now my highest first class score, so that is a very good achievement because I came at the stage where the team was in a bit of trouble, so my aim was to stay at the crease for as long as possible and get a good total for the team,” he said. “The second one I found myself in a similar position where the team was in a bit of trouble, but the mindset was the same: get the team in a good position.”

    Wickham first emerged as one of the Caribbean’s most promising young talents after a standout century against Zimbabwe at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, but the transition from youth cricket to senior first-class cricket has not been without its challenges. “This phase has been different, a lot tougher in terms of expectations after coming out of Under-19 cricket because I had a few low scores, but coach always told me just to stick to my plans and when the runs are coming stay in decent touch as long as possible because in cricket a player will have more failures than success,” he noted.

    Looking ahead, Wickham has set a clear personal target of scoring three centuries in the ongoing bilateral series, with two already under his belt. To date, he has notched five first-class centuries in just 22 matches, holding a batting average above 40—impressive numbers that mark him as one of the region’s most exciting emerging prospects. For Wickham, though, every run is more than just a statistic: it is a chance to honor the man who started it all, who he knows is still walking alongside him, cheering every knock from beyond the boundary.

  • SVG sink Saint Lucia in women’s football

    SVG sink Saint Lucia in women’s football

    The 2026 CONCACAF Women’s Championship Qualifiers have delivered another disappointing result for the Saint Lucia national women’s football team, who slipped to the bottom of their group after falling to a fourth straight defeat on Saturday, April 18. Hosted at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, the tight contest ended in a 1-0 win for St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), leaving Saint Lucia still scrambling for solutions to reverse their poor run of form.

    The only goal of the match came early, in the 14th minute, after a foul was called against Saint Lucia’s Krysan St. Louis just outside the attacking half. That set piece opportunity fell to 25-year-old SVG midfielder Karesha Iton, a Chatham United central player who stepped up to take the 35-yard attempt. Iton unleashed a powerful, soaring strike that caught Saint Lucia’s goalkeeper completely off guard; the ball bounced just in front of the net before rolling across the goal line. What made the moment even more special for Iton is that it marked her first ever international goal, coming in only her second senior cap for SVG’s national side, the Lady Heat.

    Despite the lopsided final result on the scoreboard, possession statistics told a very different story. Saint Lucia dominated the ball for 58.2% of the match, and outshot SVG 11 attempts to six. However, the hosts struggled with final precision: only five of their 11 shots were on target, and just four came from inside the 18-yard box. St. Louis, Kayla Polius and Kyla Lionel all notched two shots apiece to lead Saint Lucia’s attacking efforts, but none could find the back of the net to equalize.

    For SVG, the three points capped off an impressive late turnaround in their qualifying campaign, closing out their group stage participation with two consecutive wins. They finished third in Group A with a 2-0-2 record, despite conceding 24 goals across their four matches. For Saint Lucia, the defeat extended a miserable run: the side has conceded 18 goals across five qualifying matches, while managing to score only one goal of their own, remaining rooted to the bottom of the group table. Mexico closed out Group A play with a flawless 4-0 record to secure their place at the top of the standings.

  • ACDNY swearing-in ceremony marks new leadership phase in New York

    ACDNY swearing-in ceremony marks new leadership phase in New York

    On April 18, 2026, the Asociación de Cronistas Deportivos de Nueva York (ACDNY) ushered in a transformative new chapter for its work with a formal swearing-in ceremony held in Upper Manhattan, New York. The gathering, hosted at the neighborhood’s Liquid Bar & Restaurant, drew dozens of members of the Dominican-American sports media community for an evening centered on institutional renewal, peer recognition, and reaffirmation of professional dedication.

    Leading the official ceremony was Gabriel Barcácel, the association’s newly sworn-in president. In his remarks, Barcácel outlined the core mission of ACDNY’s incoming leadership: to elevate and strengthen professional standards for sports journalism, while fostering deeper unity among Dominican reporters working across New York and the wider Dominican diaspora in the United States.

    A key highlight of the event was the formal induction of Junior Benjamín Carmona Soto as the association’s newest member. The induction underscored the organization’s steady growth and its intentional focus on nurturing and supporting the next generation of Dominican sports media professionals building their careers in the U.S.

    Beyond welcoming new leadership and talent, the ceremony paid tribute to the trailblazers who built Dominican sports journalism over decades. Veteran sports reporters César Rivera and Rafael Herrera were honored with formal awards recognizing their decades-long contributions to the field. The event also included a moving posthumous tribute to Armando Talavera, a revered veteran of sports broadcasting, with Talavera’s family in attendance to honor his enduring legacy in the industry.

    Organizers used the occasion to reaffirm ACDNY’s deep historical roots and connection to the global community of Dominican sports journalists. The association maintains longstanding ties to the Asociación de Cronistas Deportivos de Santo Domingo, the pioneering Dominican organization founded in 1929. Both groups share a core commitment to upholding ethical journalism practices and advancing the professional development of their members. The original historic emblem carrying the Latin motto “Mens Sana in Corpore Sano” (a healthy mind in a healthy body) was prominently displayed throughout the ceremony, serving as a symbol of the continuity of shared values and unwavering commitment to excellence in sports reporting.

    Today, ACDNY has solidified its position as a leading, influential voice for Dominican sports media across the United States. The organization remains dedicated to advancing the careers of its members, upholding rigorous ethical standards, and supporting responsible, high-quality journalism within New York’s large and vibrant Dominican community.

  • Peter Higgins appointed to Professional Football Jamaica Limited finance committee

    Peter Higgins appointed to Professional Football Jamaica Limited finance committee

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), the governing body for Jamaica’s top-tier football league, has strengthened its leadership framework with two strategic appointments to its finance committee, announcing a shake-up designed to embed stronger governance, tighter financial discipline, and more robust strategic oversight across the organisation.

    The role of finance committee chair will now be filled by Peter Higgins, a senior leader at Jamaica’s National Commercial Bank (NCB) who brings more than 30 years of hands-on experience across the Caribbean financial services sector. In an official statement released Monday, PFJL highlighted Higgins’ deep expertise in corporate finance, enterprise risk management, and long-term strategic planning, noting that his seasoned perspective will be instrumental as the organisation adapts to the rapidly shifting commercial landscape of modern professional football.

    Joining Higgins on the committee is Andrew Thomas, a certified chartered accountant and sitting PFJL board director. Thomas brings a complementary skill set focused on financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and internal organisational governance. His unique dual position as both a finance specialist and a sitting board member means he is well-placed to deliver meaningful input during committee deliberations and support the effective delivery of the body’s core mandates, PFJL said.

    These new appointments come at a critical juncture for PFJL, which is currently focused on overhauling its core financial structures, boosting end-to-end operational efficiency, and locking in long-term organisational sustainability across all of its programs and operations.

    Donovan White, PFJL’s interim chairman, emphasized that the board moved quickly to fill these roles to align with the organisation’s immediate and medium-term strategic priorities. “When we assessed our needs, the board moved urgently to put in place solid guidance for a range of critical near-term objectives,” White explained. “Our top priority was ensuring we had the right leadership and expert insight to steer our financial decision-making through this key period of growth for the league.”

    White added that strengthening internal governance frameworks remains a central pillar of PFJL’s entire long-term strategy, particularly as the league works to expand its commercial reach and deepen engagement with stakeholders across Jamaica and global markets.

    Beyond leadership changes, PFJL chief executive Owen Hill also shared key details for the upcoming 2025 JPL postseason, confirming fixed dates and venues for what he framed as a highly anticipated playoff tournament. “This year’s playoffs will kick off on May 6, with the championship final scheduled for May 24,” Hill announced. “All matches will be held on Wednesdays and Sundays at the iconic National Stadium, giving fans a consistent, easy-to-follow schedule that works for supporters across the country. We’re expecting a fiercely competitive playoff series that showcases the very best talent Jamaican football has to offer.”

    Hill also outlined the league’s ongoing work to expand digital access and improve the fan experience for local and international supporters alike. All playoff matches will be available via subscription to JPLTV, the league’s official streaming platform hosted on YouTube, giving Jamaican football fans based at home and around the world the chance to watch every minute of the postseason action. “This platform lets us build closer connections with our global community of JPL supporters,” Hill added.

  • New E-class sloop ‘Catherine’ christened for all-girl crew

    New E-class sloop ‘Catherine’ christened for all-girl crew

    In a traditional maritime ceremony steeped in centuries of sailing history, British High Commissioner to The Bahamas Smita Rossetti has officially launched a new E-class sailing sloop, Catherine, at Nassau Yacht Club over the weekend. Following longstanding custom, Rossetti broke a bottle of champagne across the vessel’s bow to mark its entry into service, capping off a public christening event that also brought the top diplomat together with emerging young Bahamian sailors and their coaching staff.

    Catherine is the first of two purpose-built sloops created through a collaborative initiative between the British High Commission and the Bahamas National Sailing School, designed exclusively to expand access to sailing for the country’s youth. The second vessel, named Independence, will join Catherine in serving young Bahamian competitors for years to come.

    The launch of Catherine comes just one day ahead of the start of the much-anticipated annual Exuma regatta, where the new sloop will make its competitive debut under an entirely female crew. The event organizers note the project doubles down on efforts to celebrate and sustain The Bahamas’ deep-rooted maritime and sailing heritage, which relies on passing skills and passion to the next generation of seafarers.

    The sloop draws its name from Catherine, Princess of Wales, an experienced sailor who has maintained a lifelong connection to the sport. Princess Catherine grew up sailing and often integrates the activity into her public and charitable royal engagements. Most notably, she and Prince William went head-to-head in a charity race during the 2022 Bahamas Platinum Jubilee Regatta during their royal tour of the country.

    Sailing holds unique cultural status in The Bahamas, after being formally designated the country’s national sport in 2023. Speaking at Saturday’s ceremony, Rossetti emphasized the shared commitment between the UK and local partners to growing youth participation in the iconic pastime.

    “Through this partnership between the UK and the Bahamas National Sailing School, we want to encourage more young Bahamians to get onto the water and try their hand at sailing,” Rossetti said. “It’s a sport that is about teamwork, resilience and perseverance – skills that are so valuable in life whatever you go onto do.”

    She added that the project team was particularly proud to see an all-girl crew take the helm of Catherine for its first competitive outing at the Exuma Regatta.

    The British High Commission is currently open to inquiries from individuals and organizations interested in supporting the expansion of the youth sailing partnership. Interested parties can reach the initiative’s team via email at ukinthebahamas@fcdo.gov.uk.

  • Levell, Thompson-Herah star at Velocity Fest

    Levell, Thompson-Herah star at Velocity Fest

    Jamaica’s National Stadium played host to a thrilling edition of Velocity Fest 19 on Sunday, where emerging talents and seasoned Olympic champions delivered a day of electric sprinting action and unexpected upsets that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

    The men’s 100m delivered one of the standout performances of the entire event, rising star Bryan Levell cementing his status as one of the world’s top sprinters with a blistering 9.90-second finish (+1.3 m/s wind assistance). Fresh off his bronze medal win in the 200m at the 2025 World Championships, Levell outpaced Sprintec’s Kadrian Goldson, who crossed the line second in a 9.99s personal best. Levell’s result marks the second-fastest men’s 100m time globally this season, trailing only Botswana’s Busang Kebinatshipi’s 9.89s, while Goldson’s effort slots him into seventh place on the year’s world rankings.

    In the women’s 100m, double Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah turned heads even before the final, clocking an impressive 10.92s (+0.8 m/s) in the qualifying heat to secure the top seed for the final. However, the Jamaican star later withdrew from the championship round, opening the door for Dynamic Speed’s Lavanya Williams to take the title in a personal best 10.96s (+0.7 m/s). MVP’s Jonielle Smith closed hard to claim second in a time that matched her own personal best of 10.99s, with Sprintec’s Jodean Williams rounding out the podium in 11.09s. Thompson-Herah still holds third place on the women’s 100m world rankings this year, and the event highlighted Jamaica’s unprecedented depth in the discipline: six of the top 10 fastest women’s 100m times this season belong to Jamaican sprinters, with Williams fourth, Shanoya Douglas fifth, Smith seventh, and Jodean Williams 10th.

    The most shocking upset of the day came in the men’s 200m, a race stacked with elite World Championship medalists. The field featured 2025 100m World champion Oblique Seville, 2023 400m World champion Antonio Watson, and 60m Indoor bronze medalist Ackeem Blake—all widely expected to dominate the podium. But it was relative unknown Adrian Kerr who stole the show, crossing the line first in 20.28s (+0.4 m/s) to take the win. Seville, who appeared out of peak racing shape, finished second in 20.43s, with Blake holding on for third in 20.58s, while Watson crossed fourth in 20.82s. Kerr’s winning time moves him into 18th place on the global 200m rankings for the season, announcing his arrival as a new contender to watch.

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Shaniqua Bascombe, competing for Uptimum Track Club, claimed the women’s 200m title in a personal best 22.68s, upsetting a talented trio of young Jamaican stars: Alana Reid (22.89s), Tina Clayton (23.02s), and Tia Clayton (23.04s), all of whom notched personal best times in the race. Top sprint hurdler Ackera Nugent finished fifth in 23.91s.

    In other track events, Deandre Watkins of Elite Track Club took the men’s 400m title in 45.50s, beating Racers’ Jeremy Bembridge (45.63s) to the line. In the women’s 400m, MVP’s Shericka Jackson, a multiple World Championship medalist, was upset by her clubmate Sada Williams of Barbados, who won in 51.38s. Jackson crossed second in 52.55s, with Sprintec’s Shiann Salmon taking third in 52.77s. High school standout Dejour Russell continued his successful comeback from injury, winning the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.53s (+0.8 m/s), while Racers’ Alexi James claimed the women’s 100m hurdles title in 12.94s.

    In field events, Shawn-D Thompson of Sprintec won the men’s long jump with a 7.78m leap, while UTech’s Canniga Powell took the women’s long jump title with a 5.68m mark. Tio-Josh Mowatt of Explosive Movement claimed the men’s shot put with a 15.29m throw, and UTech’s Altonique James won the women’s shot put with a 13.00m effort. MVP’s Samantha Hall broke the event’s meet record in the women’s discus with a 64.00m throw, adding to her already impressive season: her 66.39m throw at the Throw Town meet in the U.S. earlier this season slots her into seventh place in the global discus rankings.

  • Mount Pleasant FA secure spot in JPL play-offs

    Mount Pleasant FA secure spot in JPL play-offs

    In an action-packed Sunday of Jamaica Premier League fixtures across the island, Mount Pleasant Football Academy delivered a stunning second-half comeback to clinch a 2-2 draw against Treasure Beach and lock in their spot as the second team to qualify for the upcoming play-offs. The match, held at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School’s (STETHS) Sports Complex in Santa Cruz, saw the underdog Treasure Beach hold a commanding two-goal lead for much of the contest, before the league’s top contenders fought back in the final 20 minutes to claim the vital point they needed.

    Jhanni Flemmings put Treasure Beach on the scoreboard first in the 32nd minute, and Daniel Hardy doubled their advantage in the 69th minute, leaving Mount Pleasant on the brink of a defeat that would have delayed their playoff qualification. But substitute Cristojaye Daley changed the trajectory of the game just three minutes after Hardy’s goal, cutting the deficit to 2-1 for the visiting side. In the 86th minute, Raheem Edwards netted the equalizer — his 18th goal of an already standout 2023-24 season — to salvage the draw and push Mount Pleasant to 62 points overall. Sunday’s result marks the third drawn match between these two sides across the current campaign, following a 1-1 midweek draw for Mount Pleasant against Harbour View earlier in the week.

    League leaders Montego Bay United (MBU) held onto their top position with a dominant 4-1 victory over Racing United at Jarrett Park, extending their lead at the top of the table to six points with 68 points accumulated so far. MBU got off to a blistering start, opening up a two-goal lead inside the opening 25 minutes through strikes from Richardo Ramsey and Deonjay Brown. Timar Lewis made it 3-0 before halftime in the 36th minute, and Deverow McKenzie added a fourth just after the hour mark in the 54th. Former MBU forward Odane Nish grabbed a late consolation goal for Racing United in stoppage time, but the result did little to lift Racing, whose winless streak stretched to eight matches, dropping them two spots in the league standings following the defeat. The victory also marked MBU’s 20th win of the league season, cementing their status as the team to beat heading into the play-offs.

    Elsewhere across the weekend, Portmore United climbed one spot into third place in the table, moving to 59 points after a 2-0 away win over Chapelton Maroons at Turners Oval. Portmore got off to an early dream start when a Chapelton defender turned the ball into his own net in the 10th minute, and Ronaldo Robinson secured all three points with a late strike in the 87th minute. Waterhouse FC sit just behind Portmore in fourth place, also on 59 points, after a hard-fought 1-0 away win over Harbour View. Ky-mani Campbell netted the decisive goal in stoppage time to give Waterhouse the full three points.

    At Tivoli Gardens’ home ground, the side earned a 2-0 shutout victory over Dunbeholden FC, with both goals coming in the final 10 minutes of play. An 80th-minute own goal put Tivoli ahead, and Mickel Graham doubled the lead in stoppage time to seal the win. In the day’s relegation-battle clash, Molynes United pulled off a critical 3-0 shutout win over Arnett Gardens, enough to lift them out of the relegation zone. Nicholas Nelson scored a first-half brace, finding the back of the net in the 24th and 35th minutes, before Dhumar McLauglin added a third goal in the 71st minute to cap off the dominant win.

    Full Sunday Match Results:
    Treasure Beach 2, Mount Pleasant FA 2
    Tivoli Gardens 2, Dunbeholden FC 0
    Montego Bay United 4, Racing United 1
    Harbour View 0, Waterhouse FC 1
    Chapelton Maroons 0, Portmore United 2
    Molynes United 3, Arnett Gardens 0
    Reporting by Paul A. Reid