标签： Jamaica

Jamaica’s national football team took a decisive step toward ending their 28-year World Cup absence with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over New Caledonia in their intercontinental playoff semifinal. The crucial match, played Thursday at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, saw an 18th-minute goal from striker Bailey Cadamarteri prove sufficient to secure the win.

Under the guidance of interim head coach Rudolph Speid in his first competitive match, the Reggae Boyz fielded a significantly altered lineup featuring two debutants—Ephron Mason-Clark and Andre Brooks—among seven total changes from their previous squad. The tactical adjustments paid dividends as left back Ronaldo Webster, making his first official start for Jamaica, emerged as an early offensive threat.

Webster’s powerful 20-yard free kick in the first half forced New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine into a difficult save that resulted in a rebound opportunity. Cadamarteri capitalized on the chance with a clinical close-range finish that would ultimately decide the contest.

Despite controlling much of the match, Jamaica faced late pressure as New Caledonia sought an equalizer. Goalkeeper Andre Blake preserved the clean sheet with a critical 87th-minute save against Gerard Waia’s firm strike from close range. Webster nearly doubled Jamaica’s advantage earlier in the second half with a one-on-one opportunity against Nyikeine, but his chipped effort was thwarted.

The victory sets up a final playoff showdown against DR Congo next Tuesday, with the winner earning a place in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Jamaica now stands one victory away from returning to football’s global stage after nearly three decades, having missed automatic qualification despite a strong campaign that saw them finish behind Curaçao in Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers Group B.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The stage is set for a spectacular showdown in the sprint events as Jamaica’s top high school athletes prepare for the 200m finals at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championship this Saturday.

In the Boys’ Class 1 category, defending champion Sanjay Seymore from William Knibb Memorial High School positioned himself as the clear favorite after dominating the qualifying rounds with an impressive time of 20.85 seconds. The talented sprinter faces formidable competition from Jamaica College’s Makaelan Woods, who clocked 20.97 seconds, and Camperdown High’s Deequan Maragh, who finished close behind with 21.03 seconds. Additional contenders include Omary Robinson of Jamaica College (21.11 seconds) and St. Mary High’s Tenny Daley (21.14 seconds).

The Class 2 event promises equal excitement with Kingston College’s Jason Pitter seeking to upgrade his bronze medal from last year. Fresh from his astonishing 400m victory on Thursday where he clocked 45.76 seconds, speculation mounts whether Pitter can challenge the meet record of 20.80 seconds established by Christopher Taylor of Calabar High in 2016. Pitter qualified second with 21.33 seconds, trailing only his teammate Emmile Higgins who led qualifying with 21.12 seconds. Other finalists include Mario Ross of Wolmer’s Boys’ School (21.46 seconds) and Rajaun Romelly of St. Jago High (21.71 seconds).

In Class 3 action, Kemanic Edwards of Kingston College and Wolmer’s Joshua McWilliams, the 100m silver medalist, both recorded identical times of 22.32 seconds in their semi-final heats. They will be joined by 100m champion Ajani Lumley of Wolmer’s (22.75 seconds) and Jamaica College’s Deandre Parker (22.79 seconds) in what promises to be a highly competitive final.

The Montego Bay Racing Association (MRA) celebrated the achievements of its 2025 season with a formal prize-giving ceremony on Saturday, February 28, hosted at the Toyota Jamaica showroom. The event served a dual purpose: to honor competitors and to unveil an ambitious expansion strategy for the 2026 racing season.

According to MRA representative Mark-Anthony March, the gathering was designed as a formal appreciation event for drivers, providing an environment for them to socialize with friends, family, and fans while receiving quality trophies. The association also distributed tokens of appreciation to sponsors and partners who supported the racing events throughout the season.

The ceremony achieved significant success with strong attendance from competitors, their families, and corporate partners. A particularly memorable moment occurred when regular competitor Alan Chen received a trophy in front of his children for the first time in his racing career.

Looking toward 2026, the MRA announced groundbreaking developments for the organization. The association revealed plans to establish its first-ever championship series that will crown an overall champion competitor based on cumulative performance across multiple events.

The expanded 2026 calendar will feature six events, including a strategic move beyond sprint racing into rally sport. The championship will incorporate both sprint events and two rally competitions, with drivers earning bonus points for participating in multiple disciplines. The sprint events will maintain their mixed surface format of tarmac and dirt courses, while the rally component will include a one-day event in Frome, Westmoreland, and a two-day international rally to conclude the racing season.

In regulatory updates, the MRA announced the elimination of the JC1 class from future competitions. March characterized the upcoming season as “a properly action-packed year for the MRA,” signaling an exciting new chapter for Jamaican motorsports.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The stage is set for an electrifying conclusion to the girls’ sprint hurdles at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships following a spectacular semifinal round on Friday. The national stadium witnessed an extraordinary display of young athletic prowess as multiple meet records were shattered, signaling intensely competitive finals on Saturday’s closing day.

In a stunning performance, Wolmer’s Tiana Marshall, the defending Class 2 champion, blazed through the 100m hurdles in 12.98 seconds, eclipsing the previous championship record of 13.00 seconds established by Hydel’s Oneka Wilson in 2022. Marshall will be joined in the final by St Jago’s Bryana Davidson (13.71), Penwood High’s Shakeya Reid (13.74), and Holmwood’s Regina Bailey (13.76).

The Class 3 80m hurdles produced even more dramatic results with three athletes surpassing the existing meet record. While Edwin Allen’s Tashana Godfrey clocked an impressive 10.75 seconds, her effort was assisted by an illegal tailwind of 2.6m/s. The new official record now belongs to Alpha Academy’s Azaria Harris, who posted a wind-legal 10.80 seconds, with Edwin Allen’s Danelia Clarke also breaking the previous standard at 10.82 seconds.

Additional standout performances included Hydel’s Keneisha Robinson matching the Class 4 70m hurdles record with 10.38 seconds, while Wolmer’s Akeelah Bell led the Class 2 qualifiers with a time of 13.15 seconds, positioning herself as a strong contender for the championship title.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The stage is set for an electrifying climax in the boys’ Class 1 high jump competition at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. All eyes will be on Santino Distin from St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) as he aims to transform last year’s silver into gold during Saturday’s finale at the National Stadium.

Distin, who previously competed for Herbert Morrison Technical before transferring to STETHS, secured his place in the finals after successfully clearing the automatic qualifying height of 1.95 meters during Friday’s preliminary rounds. The national junior champion has demonstrated consistent form this season, having matched his personal best of 2.05 meters on two separate occasions, though he encountered a single setback during the qualifying phase.

The competition features several formidable contenders who delivered flawless performances during qualifications. Wolmer’s Boys’ School standout Kabiki Thomas, Cornwall College’s Carlyle Tinglin—who achieved a new personal best during the event—and Kingston College’s Michael Neil all progressed without a single failure.

In a surprising turn of events, Happy Grove High’s Jaquan Souden, who entered the competition as the top-ranked athlete with a season’s best of 2.06 meters, was forced to withdraw after just one attempt at 1.90 meters due to undisclosed circumstances. His unexpected exit has reshaped the competitive landscape for Saturday’s final, creating an open contest for the championship title.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a spectacular finale to his high school athletic career, Jamaica College’s Michael-Andre Edwards delivered a monumental performance at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships. Edwards clinched the Boys Class 1 triple jump title with a massive personal best of 16.25 meters, achieved despite a slight headwind of -0.6m/s at the National Stadium.

The victory secured Edwards a prestigious jumps double, having successfully defended his long jump crown just days earlier on Wednesday. His championship journey began dramatically with an opening foul, but the athlete demonstrated remarkable composure to dominate the competition thereafter. Edwards saved his finest leap for the final attempt, shattering his previous personal record of 15.95 meters set at the prestigious Penn Relays earlier in the season.

This extraordinary achievement places Edwards second on the global Under-20 performance list for the current season, highlighting his world-class potential. The competition saw Kingston College’s Amani Phillips claim silver with a strong jump of 15.34 meters, while Calabar High’s Antonio Anderson made a stunning final-round surge from eighth to bronze medal position with a leap of 15.21 meters.

Edwards’ performance not only concludes his Boys Champs career in spectacular fashion but also establishes him as one of Jamaica’s most promising athletic talents with significant international potential.

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.