2003 champions Frome Technical went to Merlene Ottey and won 8-0 to remain unbeaten atop Zone B of the ISSA/Digicel DaCosta Cup on Wednesday.
Frome, who also beat Green Island 5-1 on Monday, lead the zone with 15 points from their five games and have scored 32 goals while conceding only one. 11-time champions Rusea’s also have 15 points but have played one more match than Frome. They secured a 3-0 home win against Hopewell.
Zone A leaders Irwin High got their third consecutive draw, 1-1 with Maldon at home to move to 15 points from their seven outings, five points more than Green Pond in second. 12-time champions Cornwall College got a vital 2-1 win over Green Pond at Green Pond on Tuesday to close the gap between the two to just one point. Wednesday’s other zone clash saw St. James High record a 3-2 victory over Anchovy at Jarrett Park.
William Knibb now has four wins from four games to lead Zone C after a 3-0 win over Spot Valley at Spot Valley. Wednesday’s other zone game saw Herbert Morrison secure a 1-0 home win over Muschett. Cedric Titus is second in the zone and also have four wins out of four after a 5-0 win over Muschett on Monday.
Lacovia beat Munro College 1-0 at home in Zone E. Lacovia now have nine points from eight games for fourth in the zone while Munro are still second with 11 points but are now ten adrift of leaders STETHS who won their seventh match out of seven, 2-0 over Maggotty at Maggotty on Tuesday. B.B Coke also beat Sydney Pagon 3-1 at home on Tuesday and are now a single point behind Munro in third.
Belair High took over the lead in Zone F thanks to a 1-0 home win over Manchester to move to 15 points from six games, two points ahead of their opponents in second. DeCarteret College are now just one point behind Manchester in third after a 2-0 win over Bellefield at Bellefield while Mt. St. Joseph beat May Day 3-0 at home in the other zone game.
Clarendon College beat Kellits 5-1 at home for their fifth win in as many games to stretch their lead in Zone H. Edwin Allen and Lennon High played out a 0-0 draw at Lennon and are currently second and third in the zone on eight and seven points, respectively.
Vere Technical hammered Winston Jones 10-0 to move to the top of Zone N with 10 points after four games. Defending champions Garvey Maceo also have 10 points thanks to a 4-1 away win against Kemps Hill. They also beat Foga Road 3-1 at home on Monday.
In Zone O, Happy Grove hammered Fair Prospect 6-0 at Hector’s River to move to lead with eight points from four games. Titchfield also have eight points from four thanks to a 1-1 draw with Port Antonio at Carder Park.
In Zone J, Tacky moved to 15 points from seven games after a 1-1 draw with St. Mary Tech at Richmond Farm, maintaining a five-point lead over St. Mary High who beat Horace Clarke 1-0 at Horace Clarke on Tuesday. Wednesday’s other zone game saw Wycliffe Martin lose 2-3 at home to Annotto Bay High.
Central High moved to the top of Zone M with a 5-0 win over Tacius Golding at the Port Esquivel Sports Club. They now have 12 points from five games, three more than Glenmuir who have also played two less games. Glenmuir beat Old Harbour 2-0 at home on Monday.
In more Tuesday results, Manning’s dropped their first points of the season with a 0-0 draw at Godfrey Stewart in Zone D. With 19 points from seven games, they now lead Petersfield, who drew 1-1 with Black River at Black River, by seven points. Godfrey Stewart sits third with nine points while Belmont Academy are now a point behind them in fourth after a 1-0 win over Grange Hill at the Llandilo Sports Complex.
Holmwood secured a 2-1 win over Alphansus Davis High at Brooks Park to maintain their lead in Zone G. They now have 13 points from five games, six points more than Christiana High who beat Alston 5-0 at Kirkvine. Christiana have played two games less than Holmwood.
York Castle took over the lead in Zone I thanks to a 2-0 win over Browns Town at the Mount Pleasant Academy. They now have 13 points in five games to lead Oracabessa, who played out a 1-1 draw with Ocho Rios at Drax Hall, by three points.
Dinthill Technical got their eighth win in as many games to maintain top spot in Zone K. They secured a 5-1 win over Enid Bennett at the Bybrook Sports Club to move to 24 points. McGrath High remain second on 18 points from eight games after a 1-0 win over Charlemont, who are third with 15 points. Ewarton beat Guys Hill 1-0 at the Ewarton Sports Complex in the other zone game on Tuesday.
Jamaica U17 Men’s Basketball program selects 50-player training group for Centrobasket U17 Championship
The Jamaica U17 Men's National Team Program has selected fifty players who will form the training cohort for the upcoming Centrobasket U17 Championship in Belize City, Belize.
The group will undergo rigorous training and compete alongside players from international try-outs, all with one common goal – to bring the gold medal back to Jamaica.
The journey begins with intensive training in regional cohorts, where these young athletes will receive specialized coaching and development. The regional cohorts will be based in St. James, Mandeville, St. Catherine and Kingston & St. Andrew. This comprehensive training program aims to enhance their skills, foster teamwork, and strengthen their mental and physical resilience. The players will dedicate themselves to honing their craft, working tirelessly to elevate their game to new heights.
To further their progress, the players will come together on weekends at the P.H.A.S.E. 1 National Training Centre. This unique opportunity allows them to train side by side, sharing experiences, pushing each other to the limit, and building the camaraderie essential for a successful team.
Prior to their departure for Belize, the athletes will showcase their skills and compete at the highly anticipated P.H.A.S.E. 1 Hoops Invitational on July 4th at GC Foster College in Spanish Town. This event will serve as a platform for the players to demonstrate their talents and gain valuable game experience.
Selected players will also embark on an exciting journey to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from July 5-10, to participate in an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) event. This international exposure will test their abilities against top-tier competition, further sharpening their skills and expanding their basketball horizons.
Upon their return, the select players will reunite with the local and international Jamaica U17 cohort members for a final training camp at the Jamaica Basketball Star Search Camp, scheduled for July 16-22. This crucial period will be marked by intense training sessions, strategic game play analysis, and a keen focus on team chemistry.
"Our aim is to build a team that exemplifies intense defence, unwavering toughness, and a never-give-up attitude. We are focused on instilling these core values into our players through rigorous training and creating an environment that fosters growth and unity. We believe that with the right preparation and mindset, we can achieve greatness on the international stage" according to Wayne Dawkins, technical director for the Jamaica U17 National Team Program
Following the arduous training journey, the final selection will be made, and the chosen team will embark on their journey to Belize, to compete in the highly anticipated Centrobasket U17 Championship from July 26-30. It will be a momentous occasion as these young athletes proudly represent Jamaica, fuelled by passion, determination, and an unwavering desire to bring home the coveted gold medal.
Ja's gymnasts take positives from failed qualification bid at PanAm Champs in Colombia
Despite failing to secure qualification to the Pan American (PanAm) Games nor the World Championships, Jamaica's artistic gymnasts Tyesha Mattis and Kiara Richmon took heart from their respective performances at the just-concluded PanAm Gymnastics Championships in Medellin, Colombia.
Mattis, Richmon and newcomer Mya Absolam, all produced credible showings in a highly competitive environment at the three-day championships which ended on Sunday but were unable to break into a coveted top 12 position.
The England-born Mattis, who was Jamaica’s standout performer at last year’s event when she qualified for the World championships, expressed some disappointment that she wasn’t able to repeat the feat, as she was firmly set on getting to the PanAm Games in Chile and the World Championships in Belgium, later this year.
She placed 32nd overall with an all-around total of 44.500, after scoring 12.867 on vault, 10.533 on uneven bars, 10.733 on the balance beam and 10.367 for her floor routine.
"I was happy with parts of my performances, but I felt like I put a little bit too much pressure on myself to qualify and so I didn’t do as well as I would have liked to,” Mattis said shortly after competition.
However, the 24-year-old did find a few positive takeaways that she hopes to improve on ahead of next month’s Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador, when she is next expected to parade her skills for the island.
“I managed to complete a 2 1/2 twist off beam again after not putting that out in competition for over four years, so I am super proud of myself in that regards as I am proving to myself that I can do more than I am limiting myself to,” she reasoned.
“I am more than capable, and I just need to trust that my body can do the work and again, not putting too much pressure on myself. I work so hard in the gym and when I really wanted to put out my best, I made a couple mistakes.
“But I have to remember I’m only human and I can learn from some of my mistakes and so I am really looking forward to a better performance out in El Salvador in a couple weeks. Looking forward to trying some different routines there and putting out more of my skills as I know I have so much more up my sleeve and the more I compete internationally, the more confident I feel,” Mattis added.
For Richmon, who placed 36th overall with an all-around score of 42.866, just being able to represent Jamaica at the event, represents a remarkable achievement and another significant milestone in her budding career.
Her total includes score of 11.100 on vault, 10.233 on the uneven bars, 10.400 on the balance beam and 11.133 for her floor routine.
“I feel like I did my best with my performance at the championships, especially being that I only had two weeks to prepare. So, I am definitely proud that I was able to hit all four apparatus and getting to be here with the team,” Richmon shared.
With this being her first elite outing since 2019, the 21-year-old Fisk University student is eagerly looking forward to continuing her journey, as her unwavering determination, relentless work ethic and immense potential positions her as one of country’s gymnast to watch.
“It felt amazing, and this performance will definitely serve as motivation for me going forward, I just need to just trust my training and do not over work myself. I also need to have more confidence and belief in myself and hopefully on my next competition I can produce a stronger performance with cleaner routines,” the US-born Richmon said.
Meanwhile, Absolam, another England-born gymnast, had an all-around total of 39.533, after scoring 10.333, 10.033, 8.600, 10.567, on vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor, respectively. She placed 42nd overall.
On the male side, Canada-born Elel Wahrmann-Baker, was Jamaica’s top performer, placing 27th overall, with an all-around total of 72.301. Wahrmann-Baker had scores of 12.767 on floor, 13.067 on the pommel horse, 11.067 on rings, 13.100 on vault, 13.133 parallel bars and 10.167 on high bar.
Caleb Faulk placed 29th overall with scores of 12.300, 10.900, 12.400, 12.767, 11.9667 and 11.667 for an all-Around total of 72.001, while Matthew McClymont tallied 63.165 for 47th overall. His scores include 12.233, 9.133, 7.533, 12.733, 10.800 and 10.733.
Jamaica’s other representative Michael Reid only took on the pommel horse and parallel bars where he scored 11.933 and 12.467 for a total 24.400.
Wayde van Niekerk Embraces Jamaican Track Culture Ahead of Racers Grand Prix
Wayde van Niekerk, the reigning world record holder in the Men's 400m, is eagerly preparing for his appearance at the Racers Grand Prix set to take place at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday, June 3, 2023.
The South African sprinter has faced an arduous journey to regain full fitness following a devastating knee injury in 2017, just a year after his remarkable Olympic triumph. Throughout his recovery, van Niekerk has relied on the expertise of his Jamaican therapist, an important contributor to his rehabilitation process.
“I’m extremely excited, this is one of my highlights for a while now. I love the culture, I love the country, I love the people, and I mean you guys are genuine track lovers,” van Niekerk declared.
Expressing his deep admiration for Jamaica, van Niekerk revealed his love for the country's track and field culture, referring to it as the "Mecca of track and field.” He praised Jamaicans' genuine passion, knowledge, and unwavering support for the sport, recognizing their unparalleled contributions to the world of athletics.
Van Niekerk feels honoured to be able to compete in a country that has produced several track and field legends. He expressed his excitement about the opportunity to leave his mark on Jamaican soil, paying tribute to the great athletes who have emerged from the nation.
“If you look at the amazing athletes that have come through in track and field, and being able to, not just honour the greats that have come out of Jamaica, but also to put my feet into Jamaican soil and compete there and leave my mark behind in such a country that I respect when it comes to track and field, it's exciting for me.”
The Racers Grand Prix holds significant importance for van Niekerk, serving as a vital part of his preparation for the upcoming World Championships. “I'm in a stage now where I need to build my confidence, to get back to winning ways and that's where my mentality is at. I’m looking forward to the positives that lay ahead of me, and I’m hoping to use Jamaica as one of my positive stepping stones, moving forward for the major competitions that do await us, and also use it as a positive step forward,” he remarked.
Recognizing the passionate support that Jamaican fans bring to track and field, van Niekerk is eager to utilize their energy and enthusiasm to his advantage. He believes that competing in an environment that embraces and loves the sport will provide him with a positive atmosphere to achieve outstanding results.
With his eyes set on the podium at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, van Niekerk hopes that a successful performance at the Racers Grand Prix will help set the stage for a triumphant return to the top-tier of the 400m event.
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