标签： Jamaica

Jamaica College has established a commanding position at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships following a spectacular display of athletic prowess on the third day of competition. The school from 189 Old Hope Road built a formidable 51-point lead, accumulating 119 points through a series of exceptional performances that shattered records and redefined expectations.

The day’s most remarkable achievement came from Joseph Salmon, who demolished the Class One discus record not once, but twice. His phenomenal throw of 67.55 meters not only broke Travis Smikle’s 2011 record of 66.88m but also established a new National Junior Record. Salmon’s consistency was equally impressive, with five of his six throws exceeding the previous championship standard. The talented athlete, who will be joining the University of Nebraska next season, demonstrated why he ranks eighth globally on the Under-20 all-time list.

In an equally stunning performance, fifteen-year-old Jason Pitter rewrote the history books in the Class Two 400m. He obliterated Christopher Taylor’s 2016 record of 46.33 seconds with a breathtaking time of 45.76 seconds. Remarkably, Pitter’s time surpassed even the Class One winner Paul Henry of Foga Road High, who clocked 46.21 seconds.

The quarter-mile events proved particularly fruitful for Jamaica College, with Jayen White leading a one-two finish in Class Three with a time of 50.10 seconds, followed by teammate Tariq Creary at 50.69 seconds. This dominance extended to field events, where Brandon Lawrence of Munro College claimed the Class Two shot put title with an impressive 18.40m throw.

Despite Jamaica College’s overwhelming lead, competition remains fierce with Calabar in third position (65.5 points), St Jago High in fourth (41 points), and Wolmer’s Boys completing the top five (30 points). The championships continue with several key events still to be decided, including the highly anticipated 4×100 relays where all top schools have qualified comfortably.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A new era in Jamaican junior hurdling dawned at the National Stadium on Friday as Marquies Page spectacularly broke a longstanding record at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. The emerging talent clocked an astonishing 12.98 seconds in the Boys’ Class 2 110m hurdles semi-finals, demolishing the previous record of 13.26 seconds set by Vashaun Vascianna back in 2019. Page’s performance sliced a remarkable 0.28 seconds off the seven-year benchmark. The record-breaking semi-final also saw Calabar High’s Divondrae Matthews secure his finals position with a time of 13.34 seconds, alongside Mark-Daniel Allen of Wolmers (13.39) and Jhabarie Whyte of Vere (13.65). In the Class 1 qualifiers, Calabar High’s Dijon Swaine emerged as the frontrunner with 13.35 seconds, followed closely by Kingston College’s Taj-Oneil Gordon (13.39), Hydel High’s Robert Miller (13.45), and Buff Bay High’s Davion Myers (13.47). The Class 3 100m hurdles competition witnessed equally impressive performances, with Jamaica College’s Adrian Phillips leading the pack at 12.96 seconds. William Knibb’s Jamali Laing followed with 13.19 seconds, while Kingston College’s Drequan Jones recorded 13.28 seconds. Calabar High’s Alex Lewis and Manchester High’s Dylan Bent both clocked identical times of 13.35 seconds, setting the stage for an intensely competitive finals session on Saturday.

In a landmark move for Jamaican football development, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has formally endorsed the Youth Football League (YFL) and established an official partnership commencing with the 2026 season. This collaboration marks a pivotal advancement in synchronizing grassroots initiatives with the national football framework, creating a unified pathway for talent identification and development.

The partnership will launch with an unprecedented Easter weekend football festival on April 4-5, 2026, featuring simultaneous tournaments at two premier venues. The U-14 Girlz Can Play Too tournament will be hosted at Funland Jamaica Football Field, while the Next Cup competition will unfold at The UWI Mona Bowl. This dual-event format represents the most significant grassroots football gathering in recent Jamaican history.

Andrew Peart, JFF Director of Football, emphasized the federation’s commitment: “Our collaboration with YFL’s four annual events, particularly the Girlz Can Play Too initiative, demonstrates our dedication to foundational football development. JFF technical staff will be actively scouting during the Easter weekend events to identify and nurture emerging talent.”

The Girlz Can Play Too tournament, now in its third year, continues to break barriers in female football development. In response to participation challenges for adolescent girls, this year’s edition will permit teams to include up to two Under-15 players, expanding competitive opportunities for young female athletes.

Paula Pinnock, Managing Director of FYI Consultancy Group, noted: “This JFF endorsement validates our efforts and strengthens the developmental pathway for young players. We remain focused on delivering professionally organized tournaments that contribute meaningfully to national player development.”

Parallel to the girls’ tournament, the Next Cup will engage clubs, schools, and academies across multiple age groups. The competition features a unique scoring system that crowns an overall champion based on cumulative points from Under-7 to Under-15 categories, encouraging comprehensive program development. Ballaz Academy earned distinction as inaugural overall champions in 2025 for their exceptional performance across all age groups.

The 2026 season will conclude with the prestigious Champions Cup, an invitation-only tournament showcasing Jamaica’s top four primary and preparatory schools.

Complementing the competitive events, YFL’s Gears for Greatness initiative continues to address equipment accessibility barriers by collecting and distributing new and gently used football gear to participants in need, ensuring equitable access to proper sporting equipment.

Since its reactivation in 2022, with origins dating to 2013, YFL has fundamentally transformed Jamaica’s grassroots football landscape through elevated organizational standards, expanded participation, and enhanced player development protocols. Registration for all 2026 YFL tournaments remains open to interested teams.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships witnessed extraordinary displays of speed and athleticism during Thursday’s 400m events, with several athletes delivering career-best performances at the National Stadium.

In a spectacular upgrade from her previous achievement, Edwin Allen’s Kelly-Ann Carr captured the Class 1 gold medal with a remarkable personal best of 52.20 seconds, shaving more than a second off her previous record of 53.38 seconds set just one month earlier at the Central Championships. This blistering performance now ranks as the second-fastest time globally among under-20 female athletes.

The podium featured Hydel High’s Nastassia Fletcher, last year’s Class 2 champion, who secured silver with 52.48 seconds, while Holmwood Technical’s Abrina Wright claimed bronze with 52.81 seconds.

Foga Road High’s Shameika McLean achieved consecutive championship golds, adding the Class 2 title to her previous Class 3 victory from last year. McLean’s dominant performance clocked in at a lifetime best of 52.22 seconds, marking a historic moment as she delivered her school’s first-ever gold medal in the championships. She outperformed Hydel High’s Sashana Johnson (53.43 seconds), who collected silver for the second consecutive year, while Holmwood Technical’s Annastacia Hall completed the top three with 54.22 seconds.

An elated McLean expressed both satisfaction and ambition following her victory: ‘I did not know that I could run another 52 seconds race. I wanted to run a 51 seconds,’ she remarked, indicating her aspirations for even faster times.

The Class 3 event saw Hydel High’s Tyecia McDonald triumph with a time of 55.00 seconds, narrowly defeating Alpha Academy’s Sha-Jay Davis (55.34 seconds) and Holmwood’s Malya McClennon (55.36 seconds) in a closely contested finish.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a stunning display of athletic prowess and personal redemption, Sushana Johnson of Edwin Allen High clinched the gold medal in the Girls’ 200m steeplechase with a commanding time of 7:00.04. The victory marked a significant turnaround for Johnson, who had been defeated by Hydel High’s record-setting Taiefa Gowe in the previous year’s competition.

The race culminated in an exceptional one-two finish for Edwin Allen High, with teammate Briana Morris capturing the silver medal in 7:52.58. This dual achievement significantly bolstered the school’s position in the ongoing championship standings.

Completing the podium was Chevelle White from Alphansus Davis, who secured the bronze medal with a time of 7:54.7. Morris’s performance represented a remarkable improvement from her fifth-place finish in the previous year’s event, highlighting the intense training and development among these young athletes.

Johnson’s triumphant return to form demonstrated both mental resilience and physical preparation, showcasing the competitive spirit that defines Jamaican track and field athletics at the interscholastic level.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships reached a spectacular climax on its third day at the National Stadium, highlighted by a breathtaking record-breaking performance in the 400 meters. Kingston College’s Jason Pitter delivered an extraordinary run in the boys’ Class 2 final, obliterating the longstanding record with a phenomenal time of 45.76 seconds. This monumental achievement eclipsed the previous benchmark of 46.33 seconds, established by Christopher Taylor back in 2016. Pitter, who entered the race with a personal best of 46.35 seconds, dominated a highly competitive field from start to finish, securing a commanding victory. The silver medal was claimed by Jaeden Campbell of Excelsior High, who crossed the line in 46.74 seconds, while Calabar High’s Diwayne Sharpe captured bronze with a time of 46.82 seconds. The excitement continued in the Class 1 final, where Foga Road High’s Paul Henry staged a dramatic comeback in the final 60 meters, surging past three competitors to seize the gold in a new personal best of 46.21 seconds. Junior Gallimore from Hydel High secured second place with 46.33 seconds, and Makaelan Woods of Jamaica College, who had led for most of the race, finished third in 46.39 seconds. Jamaica College further demonstrated its sprinting prowess by claiming a one-two finish in the Class 3 final. Jayden White led the charge with a winning time of 50.10 seconds, followed closely by teammate Tariq Creary at 50.69 seconds. Darrian Francis of Lacovia High, a gold medalist at the Western Champs, rounded out the podium by taking bronze in 50.73 seconds.