分类： sports

Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, one of the most decorated track and field athletes in history, has been appointed as a new Global Ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good movement, the organization confirmed in an official statement.

Fraser-Pryce, who claimed the 2023 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, brings a decades-long legacy of athletic excellence and community impact to the role, aligning perfectly with Laureus’ core mission to transform young lives through the power of sport. Off the track, the five-time Olympian founded the Pocket Rocket Foundation, a non-profit organization that delivers academic scholarships, one-on-one mentorship, and targeted support to emerging Jamaican student-athletes facing barriers to opportunity.

In its announcement, Laureus emphasized that Fraser-Pryce’s lifelong commitment to lifting up her local community through sport directly mirrors the organization’s foundational goals, a shared values alignment that has drawn hundreds of top global athletes to join the Laureus Ambassador network in recent years.

Fraser-Pryce’s first official assignment in her new post will be a public appearance at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, scheduled to take place in Madrid on April 20. The appearance will mark her return to the iconic Laureus red carpet, six years after her first nomination for the World Sportswoman of the Year award – a honor she went on to win in 2023, capping a career that includes six total nominations for the award.

The 2026 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year shortlist features three standout stars from the 2025 World Athletics Championships: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who swept gold in the women’s 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay; Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who clocked the second-fastest 400m time in human history to claim gold; and Faith Kipyegon, who secured her fourth consecutive world title in the 1500m event.

Speaking on her new appointment, Fraser-Pryce noted that Laureus has long been a key part of her professional journey, and that she is deeply honored to step into the ambassador role. “This moment reflects a continued commitment to the sport and to the athletes coming behind me,” she said. “My experience has given me a deep understanding of both the opportunities and challenges athletes face today, and I’m passionate about using that perspective to guide, uplift, and empower the next generation to rise to even greater heights.”

Sebastian Coe, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy and president of World Athletics, praised Fraser-Pryce’s addition to the network, calling her one of the most dominant and enduring athletes in modern sports. “For nearly 20 years she set extraordinary standards on the track, not only through her unmatched performances but through the grace and resilience she brings to everything she does,” Coe explained. “Her commitment to education and expanding opportunity for young people – in particular in her home country of Jamaica – is deeply aligned with the values of Laureus. We are delighted to welcome her as a Laureus Ambassador and I know she will play a huge role in helping Laureus continue its mission of improving young lives through the power of sport.”

Over a 20-year elite career, Fraser-Pryce has claimed three Olympic gold medals and 10 World Championship titles, making her the most globally decorated sprinter in the history of track and field. One of her most iconic achievements came at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, where she won the 100m gold after becoming a mother in 2019, breaking records to become the oldest athlete ever to claim a global sprint title. She has inspired millions of sports fans across the world with her longevity, skill, and consistent commitment to giving back.

Fraser-Pryce joins a global roster of more than 200 Laureus Ambassadors, all elite athletes who volunteer their platforms, voices, and passion to advance the Laureus Sport for Good mission. Since the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, other high-profile athletes to join the volunteer ambassador network include freestyle skier Eileen Gu, football stars Jude Bellingham and Thiago Alcântara, and gymnastics legend Simone Biles.

The National Stadium in Kingston is gearing up for a high-stakes clash on Friday evening, as Jamaica’s senior women’s national football team, the Reggae Girlz, kick off their much-anticipated Concacaf Women’s World Cup qualifier against Antigua and Barbuda. With Group B standings hanging in the balance and a spot at the upcoming Concacaf Women’s Championship on the line, the Jamaican side is gunning for a three-point win in front of their home crowd.

Entering the fixture, the Reggae Girlz sit atop Group B with a perfect record of six points from two matches. While Nicaragua and Guyana also hold six points, both have played one extra match, leaving Jamaica in a strong position to extend their lead with a victory. At the bottom of the group, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have yet to pick up a single point from their opening two outings. Only one team from each group will progress to the continental championship later this year, making every remaining fixture a must-win for title contenders.

For head coach Hubert Busby, returning to play on home turf adds extra weight to the match. It marks the first time in months the squad has competed together in front of Jamaican supporters, and the team is eager to deliver a memorable performance. “It’s been a while since we’ve been on home soil, and it’s great to be back in Jamaica as a group,” Busby told reporters ahead of the game. “We want to make sure we get the result and do well in front of our own people. The camp has been good thus far, and we’re obviously looking forward to kickoff.”

Despite the excitement of a home game, Busby has emphasized to his squad that complacency has no place in World Cup qualifying. Every fixture carries the same high stakes, he argues, even against a side that has already been eliminated from tournament contention. After securing a hard-fought road win in Nicaragua earlier in the campaign, Busby said the team has remained locked in on their goal, one match at a time.

Against Antigua and Barbuda, Busby warned his players that elimination could work in the opposition’s favor. “We know that they’ve been officially eliminated, and that comes with a different sort of challenge,” he explained. “The reality is that they can maybe play with a little bit more freedom than they did before – the pressure is off for them.” He also noted that as group leaders, the Reggae Girlz now face a new test as the hunted, rather than the hunter, a shift that requires extra focus and preparation.

Busby reiterated his gameplan ahead of kickoff: “Overall we are going to take one game at a time. We’ll deal with Antigua, turn the page, take the learnings and findings from that, and then move on to the Guyana match. But right now our sole focus is dealing with what we need to do and take care of Antigua.”

The Jamaican side will face one unexpected hurdle going into the fixture, however, as star striker Jody Brown has been ruled out of the match as a precautionary measure by her club. Brown, who recently returned from a injury spell, was held back to protect her long-term fitness – a decision Busby said he respects, even if he is disappointed to lose her for the home game.

Busby acknowledged Brown was heartbroken to miss the opportunity to play in front of her home fans, but he expressed full confidence in his squad’s depth to cover the gap left by her absence. “She will be missed, but when she is not there another opportunity comes along,” he said. “We have a deep pool of players, and we have no doubt that someone will take that mantle along and do very well at this camp.”

The fixture also brings a historic milestone for one Jamaican veteran: midfielder Chantelle Swaby is on the brink of becoming the first player in Reggae Girlz history to earn 50 senior international caps. Swaby received a special commemorative jersey from Busby during pre-match events on Thursday, and she said she is thrilled to hit the milestone in front of a home crowd.

“I am definitely feeling excited for the game,” Swaby said. “It’s really exciting to be back home, back in front of the fans, and having a really good group of girls here with us and being able to get us through the next round. I am really excited about the game.”

The entire Reggae Girlz squad wrapped up their final training session at the National Stadium on Thursday, fine-tuning their tactics and getting accustomed to the pitch ahead of the 7:00 pm kickoff. As anticipation builds across the country, all eyes will be on Jamaica to see if they can secure the win that keeps their World Cup dream on track.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As the countdown to Friday’s CONCACAF W Championship qualifier ticks down, the head coach of Jamaica’s senior women’s national football team, the Reggae Girlz, Hubert Busby, has made clear that his side is laser-focused on securing a commanding performance against Antigua and Barbuda at the iconic National Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:00 pm local time.

Speaking to reporters at a pre-match media briefing held Thursday, Busby emphasized what a meaningful moment this is for the entire squad, marking their first return to compete on home turf after a lengthy stretch of matches and training away from Jamaica. “It’s an incredible feeling to be back together on Jamaican soil,” Busby told the assembled press. “Our players have waited far too long for this opportunity to play in front of our own fans. Competing at home means everything to us, so we’re not just here to get the win — we’re here to put on a performance our supporters can be proud of.”

As the fixture forms part of the qualification pathway for the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup through the CONCACAF confederation, Busby stressed that every single remaining group stage match carries non-negotiable stakes for his side. “At the end of the day, every point matters in World Cup qualifying. Everyone in this group understands exactly what’s on the line, and we know we have to get the job done tomorrow,” he said. Busby added that the team is sticking to its proven game plan of focusing on one match at a time: “We’re locked in on Antigua and Barbuda first, and once that’s over, we’ll shift our full attention to our next fixture against Guyana.”

While Antigua and Barbuda has already been officially eliminated from contention for a spot in the 2026 CONCACAF W Championship, Busby warned against underestimating the Caribbean side. With qualification pressure lifted entirely, he noted that Antigua and Barbuda will be able to play with unfiltered freedom, creating an unexpected challenge for the Reggae Girlz. “They’ve got nothing to lose right now, so they can go out and play without any of the stress we’re carrying. That makes them dangerous, and we’ve prepared specifically for that brand of play,” he explained.

Busby also touched on the growing depth of his squad, pointing out that a handful of injury absences in the lead-up to the match have created unexpected opportunities for up-and-coming players to prove themselves at the international level. “We’ve built a really deep roster of talented players across the board, so I have zero doubt that the players stepping into these gaps will rise to the occasion and deliver strong performances in this qualifying camp,” he said.

Looking ahead to the later stages of the qualification process, Busby emphasized that steady improvement and consistent focus are more important than chasing perfection in every early fixture. “This isn’t about being flawless from the first minute. We’re here to build momentum, get better with every match, and stay focused on the task in front of us right now,” he said.

Fans in attendance can expect the Reggae Girlz to come out swinging with an aggressive, high-energy attacking style, as the side looks to leverage its home-field advantage to pick up three points and carry positive momentum into their upcoming qualifier against Guyana. Busby closed his remarks with an open call for Jamaican football supporters to turn out in force: “I’m urging everyone who can make it to come out to the stadium. These women are an incredible asset to this country, and they deserve all the support we can give them. Come cheer us on tomorrow.”

The ongoing CONCACAF W Championship qualifiers will ultimately decide which confederation teams advance to compete in the 2026 CONCACAF W Championship tournament, scheduled to take place in November 2026.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A historic milestone is on the horizon for Jamaican women’s football this Friday, as Chantelle Swaby is set to earn her 50th senior cap for the Reggae Girlz when they kick off their Concacaf Women’s World Cup qualifier against Antigua and Barbuda at Kingston’s National Stadium.

Coming off a hard-fought 3-2 away win over Nicaragua in Managua back in March, the Jamaican technical staff has reshaped their starting eleven for this home fixture, making five total changes to the starting side that secured three points on the road. One of the most notable new inclusions is central defender Tianna Harris, who will make her senior home debut for the Reggae Girlz in the match.

Joining Harris and milestone-chasing Swaby in the revised starting lineup are winger Olufolasade Adamalekun, defender Kalyssa Van Zanten, defender Allyson Swaby – Chantelle’s teammate and sister – young forward Kameron Simmonds, and attacking midfielder Atlanta Primus, all of whom earned starting nods from the coaching staff.

The two sides last met in international competition back in 2018, when Jamaica dominated the fixture to secure a lopsided 9-0 victory over Antigua and Barbuda. Friday’s match will give fans a chance to see how Lorne Donaldson’s side has progressed in the years since that encounter, as they push toward qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The full starting lineup named by the Jamaican coaching staff is as follows: Rebecca Spencer (goalkeeper), Tianna Harris, Chantelle Swaby, Shania Hayles, Khadija Shaw, Kalyssa Van Zanten, Deneisha Blackwood, Allyson Swaby, Kameron Simmonds, Atlanta Primus, and Olufolasade Adamalekun.

Fresh off a dominant, eye-catching debut performance at the track on April 6, 2026, three-year-old American-bred bay filly Imjustagirl has emerged as one of the most promising young prospects in Jamaican thoroughbred racing, leaving her trainer cautiously optimistic about what the future may hold for the young champion.

Coming into her first official outing after a string of exceptional morning training sessions, the long-striding filly lived up to every bit of the pre-race hype, delivering a masterclass performance that left onlookers impressed. Competing over a 6-furlong (1,200-meter) distance in the Restricted Allowance II race — an event open to non-winners with two races under their belt among native-bred three-year-olds, and maidens aged three and up for imported runners — Imjustagirl crossed the finish line a full seven lengths ahead of her nearest competitor, posting a blistering overall time of 1:11.3, with split times of 21.4 seconds for the opening quarter, 45.2 for the half-mile, and 58.1 for the five-furlong mark.

In a post-race interview with Jamaica Observer’s *The Supreme Racing Guide*, trainer Jason DaCosta shared that he had been tracking Imjustagirl’s development through training and had never seen a horse post such remarkable morning gallops on Jamaican tracks. He entered the debut with high hopes, and the young filly far exceeded even his lofty expectations. DaCosta revealed he had simple instructions for jockey Robert Halledeen ahead of the race: avoid overworking the young horse early on, and conserve her energy for the stretch run, a strategy that paid off dividends.

“She did it effortless, very impressive time, basically jogging around, and I couldn’t be happier,” DaCosta said. “She beat a good horse and she did it effortless.”

The race unfolded exactly according to plan for Imjustagirl and her team. The filly broke cleanly from the starting gate and grabbed the early lead within the first few strides, holding the top spot through the half-mile mark as second-place finisher Army Tank, ridden by Dane Dawkins, worked to recover from a slow start out of the gate. As the field entered the final stretch, Imjustagirl was still cruising comfortably, and Halledeen only needed to give her a light cue to accelerate before she powered away from the competition to secure the landslide victory. Purosangue, ridden by Clive Lynch, rounded out the top three.

While the debut performance has put the racing world on notice of Imjustagirl’s talent, DaCosta emphasized that the filly is still early in her development, and his team plans to take a patient, measured approach moving forward. The trainer’s top priority is keeping the three-year-old healthy and happy as she prepares for future races, with the goal of a strong full season ahead. “It is early days and so we are going to take it step by step, one day at a time,” he added.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A dominant individual performance from star forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw carried Jamaica’s national women’s football team, the Reggae Girlz, to a convincing 4-0 victory over Antigua and Barbuda in Friday’s Concacaf W Championship Group B qualifying match at Kingston’s National Stadium.

Shaw’s three-goal haul, which pushed her career international goal tally to an impressive 66, combined with a late second-half penalty conversion from defender Deneisha Blackwood, locked in three more points for Jamaica. The result stretched Jamaica’s perfect start to the qualifying campaign to three matches, leaving them atop Group B with a maximum nine points. They now enter their final group fixture against Guyana next week needing only a single draw to secure the group’s top spot.

Despite the lopsided final scoreline, the Reggae Girlz faced a far more stubborn test than the scoreline suggests. The Jamaican side dominated possession and attacking opportunities, firing a staggering 36 shots toward the Antigua and Barbuda goal without the opposition registering a single attempt on target. Even so, Jamaica hit the woodwork four times and were repeatedly denied by a standout performance from Antiguan goalkeeper Anik Jarvis, who pulled off a string of spectacular saves to keep the scoreline down early in the match.

The first breakthrough finally came for Jamaica in stoppage time at the end of the first half, when Antigua defender Jessica Powell was called for a foul on Atlanta Primus inside the 18-yard box. Shaw stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, opening the scoring for the hosts just before the halftime whistle.

Shaw doubled her personal tally and Jamaica’s lead just four minutes into the second half. A perfectly weighted through ball from Kalyssa Van Zanten found Shaw in space behind the Antigua backline; she turned away from her marking defender, fired a low, hard left-footed strike past Jarvis, and put Jamaica up 2-0.

Six minutes after her second goal, Shaw completed her hat-trick with a well-executed diving header, once again set up by a pinpoint cross from Van Zanten. The goal put the result beyond any doubt for the hosts, who continued to create chances for the rest of the half.

The scoring wrapped up in second-half stoppage time, when Antigua substitute Kamiellia Hughes was called for a handball inside the box while attempting to block a shot from Blackwood. Blackwood took the penalty herself and converted to cap the 4-0 win, extending Jamaica’s lead at the top of the group heading into the final matchday.

A wave of standout performances from Caribbean-born collegiate track and field athletes competing across the United States this weekend delivered historic milestones, long-standing record breaks, and career-best results that have turned heads across the NCAA circuit.

In Knoxville, Jamaican thrower Cedricka Williams of the University of Tennessee etched her name into the program’s history books at the annual Tennessee Invite on Friday. Claiming victory in the women’s discus event, Williams landed a 60.57-meter throw – a new personal season’s best – that pushed her past a nearly half-century-old school record. The previous mark of 60.56m had stood untouched since it was set by Jane Haist back in 1974, 49 years prior. Williams hit her record-breaking launch in the second round of competition, and her result currently ranks as the second-best discus throw posted by any NCAA athlete so far this outdoor season. A former standout at Jamaica’s Holmwood Technical and Barton County College, Williams’ breakthrough has cemented her status as one of the top throwers in collegiate track this year.

Down in Waco at the Baylor Invitational, two Louisiana State University athletes put up strong results in the women’s 200-meter dash. Freshman sprinter Skyler Franklin clocked a new program freshman record of 22.99 seconds with a 0.7m/s tailwind to claim third place overall, while fellow LSU competitor Kemba Nelson finished sixth with a time of 23.28 seconds into a 1.7m/s wind.

Over in Tampa at the South Florida Invitational, Zachary Cox, a former ISSA Champs finalist from Jamaica’s Cornwall College now competing with Boston University, notched two new outdoor personal bests in just his second collegiate outdoor meet. Cox first took fifth place in the men’s 100-meter dash with a 10.36-second run (1.2m/s wind), which marks the second-fastest 100m time in Boston University program history. Shortly after competing on BU’s second-place 4x100m relay team that finished in 40.49 seconds, Cox returned to the track to win the men’s 200m with a 20.98-second run (1.4m/s wind). That result shaved 0.08 seconds off his previous personal best and now ranks as the ninth-fastest 200m in Boston University history.

At Dartmouth College, former Jamaica College Champs gold medalist J’Voughn Blake notched a solid second-place finish in the men’s 800-meter run, crossing the line in a season-best 1 minute 48.54 seconds. The race marked only Blake’s second competitive outing in nearly a year, after he last competed at the NCAA East Regional in late May of 2023.

Rounding out the weekend of Caribbean success, Fabrienne Foster of the University of North Texas set two new personal bests at the 44 Farms Invitational hosted by Texas A&M University. Foster placed seventh in the women’s hammer throw with a 51.84m toss, and followed that up with an eighth-place finish in the discus throw, hitting a personal best 48.87m.