Leaders St Benedict's College (35 points) can clinch their second Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division crown in three years on Tuesday when they face the relegation-threatened Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (seven points) at the Mahaica Sporting Complex in Point Fortin in round 14 action.
St. Benedict's, winners of the premier division in 2022, have a six-point lead on the 16-team table ahead of challengers Presentation College San Fernando and holders Fatima College (both 29 with points).
With only a point against the visiting Miracle Ministries team, Benedict's will be able to claim the premier division crown while, on the other hand, their opponents will be looking to climb out of the relegation zone.
In Trincity, the 13th-placed Trinity College (10 points) will also have their eyes set on steering clear of the relegation zone when they host the third-placed Presentation.
Trinity are just one point ahead of the 14th-placed Speyside Secondary in the relegation zone, and a victory against the national intercol holders will be a huge step in their race for survival.
At the Arima Velodrome, hosts Arima North Secondary (24 points) will aim to keep their unbeaten 12-game run going when they welcome the second-placed Fatima.
The fourth-placed Arima have conceded just six goals in the league this season, will look to keep their defense strong against the league's highest scorers Fatima who have scored 40 goals.
At their Westmoorings base, St Anthony's College (24 points) will try to crack into the top four when they play the 12th-placed Signal Hill Secondary (ten points).
At the Speyside recreation ground, Speyside (nine points) will go after a much-needed three points when they host struggling St Mary's College (13 points).
At Fatima ground in Mucurapo, the cellar-placed East Mucurapo Secondary (six points) will also go in search of precious points when they entertain Queen's Royal College (17 points).
QRC are in ninth spot and well clear of the relegation zone, but Mucurapo will desperately need to find the winning touch if they are to remain in the premier division for another season.
At Lewis Street, San Fernando, four-time premier division champs Naparima College (22 points) will try to return to winning ways when they meet the tenth-placed San Juan North Secondary (13 points).
At Serpentine Road, St Clair, there will be an intriguing middle-table clash when the eighth-placed Malick Secondary (17 points) tackle a resurgent, seventh-placed St Augustine Secondary (21 points) outfit.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) is excited to announce the start of the highly anticipated CG United Super50 Cup 2024, which begins in Trinidad from Tuesday 29 October to Saturday 23 November.
This premier List A regional tournament is an essential platform for showcasing the region's best cricket talent and a vital part of our preparation for future international competitions, including the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027.
Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket, highlighted the tournament within the context of a bustling period for West Indies cricket: “We are in an exciting and busy period for West Indies cricket, with our Maroon Warriors just reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup and our senior men fresh off their tour of Sri Lanka and gearing up to battle rivals - England. The CG United Super50 Cup allows our players to showcase their talents at a crucial time. As we prepare for the Bangladesh tour, performances here could be a springboard for many players looking to represent the region. This tournament is an integral part of our development plans as we build towards the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup.”
He continued: “We are maintaining the bonus points system, as it aligns for our Key Performance Indicators for our ODI performances, and we look forward to seeing how the players equip themselves for this level of competition.”
Rupert Hunter, CWI’s new Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the significance of the event and CG United’s support:
The CG United Super50 Cup continues to be a cornerstone in the development of West Indies cricket, providing our players with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on a competitive stage. We are incredibly grateful to CG United for their dedicated support, which has helped strengthen our vision for the future of cricket in the region.
For the second consecutive year, teams will also be competing for increased prize money, with the winners set to receive US$100,000, while the runners-up will take home US$50,000. Both semi-finalists will be rewarded US$25,000 each.
In addition to the thrilling on-field action, fans will be able to watch matches live on ESPN Caribbean for games held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA). Matches from the Queen’s Park Oval (QPO) and the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground at the University of the West Indies Sport and Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC) will be streamed live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.
Tickets are available for all matches at both Queen’s Park Oval and Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Fans can purchase a 10-match package at a discounted rate of US$20/TT$150, while individual day tickets are priced at TT$20/US$3. Semi-final tickets cost US$8/TT$50, with final tickets at US$15/TT$100. Tickets are available online at www.tickets.windiescricket.com.
The eight teams competing in this year’s CG United Super50 Cup are:
The match schedule for the CG United Super50 Cup is as follows. Games at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy begin at 1pm AST| 12pm JA time and games at both UWI SPEC and the Queen's Park Oval begin at 9am AST|8am JA time.
29 October: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v CCC at UWI SPEC
29 October: Guyana Harpy Eagles v Windward Islands Volcanoes at BLCA
30 October: West Indies Academy v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at QPO
30 October: Barbados Pride v Jamaica Scorpions at BLCA
31 October: CCC v Guyana Harpy Eagles at UWI SPEC
1 November: Barbados Pride v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at QPO
1 November: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Windward Islands Volcanoes at BLCA
2 November: West Indies Academy v Jamaica Scorpions at UWI SPEC
3 November: Guyana Harpy Eagles v Barbados Pride at QPO
3 November: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at BLCA
4 November: CCC v West Indies Academy at UWI SPEC
5 November: Jamaica Scorpions v Windward Islands Volcanoes at QPO
5 November: Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Guyana Harpy Eagles at BLCA
7 November: Guyana Harpy Eagles v Jamaica Scorpions at QPO
7 November: West Indies Academy v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at UWI SPEC
8 November: Leeward Island Hurricanes v Windward Islands Volcanoes at UWI SPEC
8 November: CCC v Barbados Pride at BLCA
9 November: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Guyana Harpy Eagles at QPO
10 November: Jamaica Scorpions v CCC at QPO
11 November: Barbados Pride v Windward Islands Volcanoes at QPO
11 November: West Indies Academy v Guyana Harpy Eagles at BLCA
12 November: Jamaica Scorpions v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at BLCA
13 November: West Indies Academy v Barbados Pride at UWI SPEC
13 November: CCC v Windward Islands Volcanoes at BLCA
15 November: Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Jamaica Scorpions at BLCA
16 November: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Barbados Pride at QPO
17 November: CCC v Leeward Island Hurricanes at QPO
17 November: West Indies Academy v Windward Island Volcanoes at UWI SPEC
20 November: Semi-Final 1 at BLCA
20 November: Semi-Final 2 at BLCA
23 November: FINAL at BLCA
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino believes Lionel Messi is still "the best in the world", despite backing Vinicius Junior to scoop the Ballon d'Or.
Messi claimed the award for a record-extending eighth time last year after leading Argentina to their third World Cup crown in Qatar during the 2022-23 voting period, but he has not been nominated this year.
But that saw the Inter Miami boss question the criteria for the Ballon d'Or this time around, having seen first-hand the 37-year-old's impact in the MLS this season.
Messi led the Herons to a record points haul in the Eastern Conference, while also notching 20 goals and 10 assists in 19 league games.
The Argentine recorded another assist in Miami's 2-1 win over Atlanta United in the first game of their best-of-three series in the playoffs.
He now has a division-high 31 goal involvements so far this term, though five players are only one behind him, including team-mate Luis Suarez.
Messi also broke the record for the most assists in a single MLS game with five assists, while also scoring a brace to clinch the Supporters' Shield, the 46th trophy of his career.
However, Martino acknowledged the impressive season Vinicius had at Real Madrid, with the Brazilian starring in Los Blancos' LaLiga and Champions League successes.
Vinicius scored 24 goals and added 11 assists in all competitions last term, and Martino said he would be a worthy winner of football's most prestigious individual accolade.
"It [the Ballon d'Or] has never been something that caught my attention, nor was it clear to me whether the award is for the best in the world or of the year," Martino said.
"Vinicius Junior probably has the merit [of being the best last season], although if you ask me who is the best right now, it's Messi."
However, reports ahead of the ceremony suggested Madrid cancelled plans to attend after learning Vinicius had not won the award.
It is believed that Manchester City's Rodri has emerged victorious after winning the Premier League title and leading Spain to the European Championship crown.
Should the 28-year-old win the trophy, he would become the first Spaniard to win the award since Barcelona's Luis Suarez back in 1960.
Rodri would also be the first player to win the Ballon d'Or while playing for an English club since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, when he was turning out for Manchester United.
The intense rivalry between Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls and England’s Vitality Roses will see its next chapter when the teams meet in a crucial four-match Test series in November.
The Roses and the Sunshine Girls are currently second and fourth with 189 and 187 rating points, respectively, in the Netball World Rankings based on matches up to October 6.
Sandwiched between the two is New Zealand with 188 points while Australia have a comfortable lead atop the rankings with 209 rating points.
The series will see the Jamaicans travelling to England for matches on November 16 and 17 at the AO Arena in Manchester before hosting the Roses at the National Indoor Sports Centre on November 25 and 26.
As has been previously stated, this rivalry has been one of the most competitive in global netball and, to give some context, here are the results from various series and matchups between the two over the last 10 years.
The teams met on five occasions in total in 2015. They met in a three-match Test series in January in Jamaica which the hosts won 2-1 before meeting twice at the Netball World Cup in Australia in August.
Drawn together in the Group Stage, England defeated the Sunshine Girls 54-50 in the preliminaries before producing a dominant display in the bronze-medal game, winning 66-44.
A year later, the teams met again in a three-match Test series, this time in England with the Jamaicans once again coming out 2-1 winners.
Current Sunshine Girls captain and best goal shooter in the world at the moment, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, kept it simple when recalling her favourite memory facing the Roses throughout her illustrious career.
“My best memory playing against England throughout my career has to definitely be any time we’ve beaten them,” she told Sportsmax.tv at a Sunshine Girls training session at the National Indoor Sports Centre last Friday.
“I take great joy in going up against them, especially beating them on their home turf,” she added.
A major tournament was once again the setting for the pair’s next meeting, this time at the 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series in Australia.
Jamaica defeated England 47-38 in the round robin stage but it was England who had the last laugh, defeating the Sunshine Girls 34-29 when it mattered most to win the title for the first time.
The teams next locked horns in the last four at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
England entered that game in red hot form, dominating everyone in the preliminary round on their way to a 5-0 record while Jamaica’s only loss up to that point in their five preliminary round games was to Australia.
The teams fought to the death in the semi-final with England eventually coming out victorious 56-55 before winning another nail-biter, 52-51 over Australia, to win gold.
Jamaica took bronze with a 60-55 win over New Zealand.
Current Sunshine Girl and global netball star, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, described that semi-final as a bittersweet moment when asked about her most vivid memories of facing the Roses in her career.
“I would say it’s a bad and a good memory because at least we were able to challenge England to that extent,” she told Sportsmax.tv.
A few months later that same year, the Girls got their revenge with a 3-0 Test series whitewash over their counterparts at home. The 2023 Suncorp Super Netball player of the year described this series as the best moment of her national team career, so far.
Moving on to the 2019 Netball World Cup which was hosted by England where the rivalry renewed in the preliminary round.
The hosts came out winners 56-48 and went on to claim bronze while Jamaica failed to advance to the semi-finals, finishing fifth.
Jamaica came out on top over the Roses at the 2020 Netball Nations Cup in England. They met in the third round with the Sunshine Girls coming out 70-66 winners before eventually losing the final 56-67 to New Zealand.
2021 saw England’s Roses secure their first Test series win over the Sunshine Girls since 2013 with a 2-1 win in Nottingham.
The two sides last met in January 2023 in a three-match test series played in Manchester and London which saw the Vitality Roses defeat Jamaica 73-52 in the first match, take a narrow 58-61 loss in the second match, and claim the series with a 63-59 win in the third and final test.
Amazingly, the two sides didn’t meet at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham or last summer’s Netball World Cup in South Africa.
The Sunshine Girls took silver in Birmingham while the Roses finished fourth. The World Cup saw England take home a historic silver medal while Jamaica took bronze.
It remains to be seen who will come out on top in the latest edition of this rivalry but one thing’s for sure, it will be exciting.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has marked a groundbreaking milestone in West Indies cricket by awarding year-long annual contracts to fourteen female players across the region. This first-time initiative is a significant step forward in CWI’s strategic commitment to Elite and High Performance cricket and signals a continued investment in the growth of the women’s game in the Caribbean. This expansion brings the total of contracted regional players to 104 for the year and 164 in total including Senior and Academy players.
CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, noted the significance of this initiative:
"Awarding contracts to these talented female players underscores CWI’s commitment to advancing cricket in the region. We are extremely proud of the Maroon Warriors, who are on their way back from an impressive semi-final showing at the Women’s T20 World Cup. The only way to ensure that West Indies teams, both men and women, have consistent showings at the international level is to ensure the development and growth at the regional level. CWI is dedicated to making this further investment in our regional talent and building a strong foundation for future success, which is in line with our strategic plan.
"These contracts reinforce CWI’s goal of supporting players as they progress along the pathway to elite performance, creating a sustainable pipeline of talent that can perform on the global stage. Alongside the female contracts, CWI has also renewed annual contracts for 90 male players across six territories, maintaining its commitment to building regional strength across both men’s and women’s cricket."
Contracted Regional Players List 2024/25:
14 Female Contracted Players:
Barbados: Shanika Bruce, Alisa Scantlebury
Guyana: Shenetta Grimmond, Plaffiana Millington, Mandy Mangru
Jamaica: Celina Whyte
Trinidad & Tobago: Shalini Samaroo, KD Jazz Mitchell, Reniece Boyce
Leeward Islands: Melicia Clarke, Kimberley Anthony
Windward Islands: Earnisha Fontaine, Abini St. Jean, Nerissa Crafton,
90 Male Contracted Players (by territory):
BARBADOS
Kadeem Alleyne (U25*), Shaquille Cumberbatch, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Matthew Forde, Chaim Alexis Holder, Chemar Holder, Akeem Jordan, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Smith, Jomel Warrican and Kevin Wickham (U25*).
GUYANA
Kevlon Anderson (U25*), Ronaldo Alimohamed, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, Matthew Nandu, Ashmead Nedd, Raymond Perez, Veerasammy Permaul Kemol Savory, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Isai Thorne (U25*), Sylus Tyndall and Sachin Singh.
JAMAICA
Andre Bailey, Brad Barnes, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brown, Gordon Bryan, John Campbell, Jordan Johnson (U25*), Abhijai Mansingh, Kirk McKenzie (U25*), Odain Orland McCatty, Marquino Mindley, Romaine Morris, Jeavor Royal, Peat Salmon and Ojay Shields
LEEWARD ISLANDS
Jewel Andrew (U25*), Colin Archibald, Jaleel Clarke, Rahkeem Cornwall, Daniel Doram, Karima Gore, Justin Greaves, Jahmar Hamilton, Kofi James, Jeremiah Louis, Mikyle Louis, Cameron Pennyfeather, Javier Spencer, Oshane Thomas and Hayden Walsh.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Navin Bidaisee (U25*), Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper (U25*), Shannon Gabriel, Jyd Goolie, Terrance Hinds, Amir Jangoo, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Kjorn Ottley, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Isaiah Rajah and Tion Webster.
WINDWARD ISLANDS
Sunil Ambris, Darel Cyrus, Kenneth Dember, Shadrack Descartes, Johnnel Eugene, Keon Gaston, Khamal Hamilton, Ryan John, Noelle Leo (U25*), Darius Martin, Kimani Melius, Stephan Pascal (U25*), Jeremy Solozano, Shamar Springer and Gilon Tyson.
*Territorial Boards are mandated by CWI to have a minimum of two U25 players in their pool of 15 contracted players.
CWI congratulates all the contracted players and remains committed to supporting their development.
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Denis Bouanga and Cristian Olivera were on target as Los Angeles FC edged out the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Sunday.
LAFC, the 2022 MLS Cup champions, will book their place in the next round should they win north of the border next week.
Ryan Gauld netted in the 94th minute for the Whitecaps, but it was too little, too late for the Canadian side, who hammered the Portland Timbers in the wildcard round.
LAFC have now won seven straight playoff games against Western Conference opponents, while Bouanga has netted eight goals in nine postseason appearances.
Hugo Lloris, however, says LAFC must sharpen up.
"The performance is not [good] enough, but we got the result so that's the most important thing," Lloris said.
"We need to increase [our levels] if we want to have ambition. A win is a win, so that's positive, but there were things we need to fix if we are to improve."
Elsewhere, Orlando City also made a winning start to their playoff campaign as they beat Charlotte FC 2-0.
Facundo Torres put Orlando ahead in the 32nd minute at Inter&Co Stadium, with Martin Ojeda doubling the hosts' tally 14 minutes from time.
A frustrating day for Dean Smith's Charlotte team was compounded when Pep Biel was sent off late on, though they will at least have home advantage when they look to turn the best-of-three series around next time out.
Emil Forsberg believes the New York Red Bulls have the capacity to hurt the Columbus Crew in Game 1 of their MLS playoff tie, despite a poor end to the regular season.
The Red Bulls finished seventh in the Eastern Conference despite only winning one of 10 matches after the Leagues Cup break, finishing their campaign with a 3-2 defeat at home to the Crew, in which Forsberg scored.
They will now face the MLS Cup holders again in a three-match first-round series, and Forsberg believes they have shown they can get at Wilfried Nancy's champions.
"I think we were dangerous, we hurt them, we created chances and we showed them and ourselves what we can do when we play with that kind of intensity," Forsberg said.
"We're a really good team when we can do that, and we know we can hurt them. We have a lot to take with us into the playoffs.
"When it comes to the playoffs, it's small details, whether you have your day or not, whether you're mentally prepared for every situation that can occur.
"That's something I'm going to push with the guys."
Nancy, meanwhile, was pleased to see Columbus tested in their final regular-season game, as New York recovered from 2-0 down to level before Malte Andersen hit a last-gasp winner.
"Yeah, we had many highs, and after that, we had 10 minutes where we allowed New York to play their style, and they did it well," Nancy said after the match.
"I'm happy that it happened, to be honest with you, because we played a really good first half. After that, the second half was also interesting.
"This is perfect because sometimes we have to feel certain things to get better. We found a way to win the game, and this is also good for team spirit."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Hernandez's assist against the Red Bulls last week was his 32nd goal contribution of 2024 (19 goals, 13 assists), breaking Stern John's Crew record of 31 set in 1998.
The forward has five goal contributions against New York (two goals, three assists), only totalling more against Atlanta (eight) and Orlando (seven).
New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg
Forsberg scored both of the Red Bulls' goals in their 3-2 defeat to the Crew on Decision Day, and only Lewis Morgan (13) has bettered his nine strikes for the team in 2024.
MATCH PREDICTION – COLUMBUS CREW WIN
The Red Bulls won just 18 points from their final 18 regular-season matches of 2024 (three wins, nine draws, six defeats).
They were one of nine teams to collect 20 points or fewer since that run began in early June, but the only one of those nine sides to make the playoffs.
Having lost 3-2 to the Crew in their last game, they approach this one as major outsiders. The Red Bulls have lost each of their last six away playoff matches dating back to 2018, being outscored 15-5 in those matches.
The Crew, meanwhile, have won the MLS Cup in each of the last two seasons in which they made the playoffs (2020, 2023), advancing from eight consecutive playoff ties. This equals the best such run in MLS history, after D.C. United won eight straight ties from 1996 to 1998.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Columbus Crew – 64.3%
New York Red Bulls – 16.6%
Draw – 19.1%
Darin Richards and Yeonie Campbell claimed top honors at the Jamaica Rifle Association’s (JRA) Jamaica Cup IPSC Level 3 shoot, held at the JRA's head office and shooting range on Mountain View Avenue in Kingston. The event, a qualifier for the 2025 IPSC World Cup in South Africa, drew fierce competition as shooters battled under scorching conditions for coveted spots on the national team.
Richards took home the title in the Standard Division, a win he credited to his disciplined approach to mastering steel targets. “It was very awesome. The stages were very challenging," Richards said, describing the intensity of the competition. "I personally had some issues but was determined. I did my best, and I thank God I won my division.” His focused preparation paid off, earning him 741.42 points ahead of Paul Dixon, who scored 711.12, and Thomas Jones with 681.69.
In the Production Division, Campbell, also the JRA's pistol captain and match director, secured the win with an impressive 766.90 points. Balancing her roles as organizer and competitor, she described the experience as both rewarding and intense. “It was very pressuring. I had to organize the match itself...The team of us worked very hard to put on the production, and I am glad it came across very well,” Campbell shared, noting that winning her division made the effort all the more fulfilling. Campbell finished ahead of Sanjay Wilson (709.32) and Josimar Clarke (689.36).
Other notable performances included Ryan Bramwell’s victory in the Production Optics Division, scoring 1049.81 points. Bramwell, a seasoned competitor who made a switch to Production Optics for the event, comfortably outscored Chris Hart (946.20) and Adrian Randle (946.02). Alrice Palmer dominated the Open Division, scoring 1011.28 points, while Petrano Belafonte (971.93) and Alvin More (964.49) finished in second and third, respectively.
JRA President Rohan Wilson praised the event, noting its success since its inception in 2015. “I am very grateful that it was a safe day. I am very grateful that everyone came out and enjoyed it,” Wilson said. “The weather, the heat was grueling, but all in all, it was a successful day. The sport of practical pistol is still a very relevant sport.”
Island Car Rentals, the event’s main sponsor, supported this year’s Jamaica Cup IPSC Level 3 shoot, adding further prestige to an already impactful competition.
World Athletics has officially ratified Jaydon Hibbert’s world U20 triple jump record of 17.66m, achieved on July 21, 2023, at the Herculis meet in Monaco. The Jamaican standout set the record at just 18 years old, surpassing his previous best of 17.54m set in Albuquerque earlier that year on March 11.
Notably, Hibbert's mark of 17.87m set at the SEC Championships in May 2023, was not the mark ratified by World Athletics.
Hibbert’s leap of 17.66m was one of three U20 world records recently ratified by World Athletics, alongside impressive marks in the women’s 5000m and javelin events. Medina Eisa of Ethiopia set the world U20 record in the 5000m with a time of 14:21.89 at the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 14, 2024, finishing second to Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet. Eisa’s time shattered the previous record of 14:30.88 held by Tirunesh Dibaba since 2004. Meanwhile, China’s Yan Ziyi set a world U20 javelin record of 64.41m, also on September 14, in Quzhou, improving on her earlier record of 64.28m from April.
Hibbert, a former youth star from Jamaica, has been steadily rising in the international athletics scene, with his performance in Monaco marking a breakthrough moment. His achievements have raised expectations for his potential as he continues to develop in the discipline.
Alongside these U20 achievements, World Athletics also ratified Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s world high jump record of 2.10m, achieved in Paris in July. The Ukrainian star surpassed one of the longest-standing records in the sport, set by Stefka Kostadinova in 1987. Mahuchikh’s historic jump of 2.10m was part of a spectacular season, as she went on to win Olympic gold in Paris in August.
Roje Stona, Jamaica’s Olympic discus champion who created history in Paris this summer with a record-breaking throw of 70m, is contemplating a surprising career shift to the NFL. The 25-year-old, who became the first Jamaican to win Olympic gold in the shot put, is exploring the possibility of trying his hand in American football, a sport he has little experience in but significant curiosity about.
Prior to the Paris Olympic Games, the former Ruseas and St Jago High School student and Clemson University and University of Arkansas alumnus took part in NFL rookie training camps with the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. Though unfamiliar with the game—he donned a football helmet for the first time during these sessions—Stona is intrigued by the opportunity to translate his athletic prowess to the football field. "If there’s like a 99 percent chance that I’ll make a team, then, obviously, I’ll go for it,” Stona shared in an interview with CNN Sport, acknowledging the risk to his athletics career, "but if it’s like one or two, though, I got to be realistic."
Having initially been inspired by Usain Bolt's Olympic gold at Beijing 2008, Stona gravitated toward athletics after a youth spent exploring various sports, including soccer, his first love. It wasn’t until high school that he found his true calling in track and field, particularly the discus throw. "I yanked it, it just dropped right out of 20 meters," he recalled of his first experience with the discipline.
Stona’s path to Olympic glory was further shaped by his collegiate career in the United States. At Clemson and later at the University of Arkansas, he was mentored by Ryan Crouser, a three-time Olympic shot put champion. Crouser’s guidance during Stona’s final year of collegiate eligibility instilled in him the confidence to push his limits, ultimately leading to his standout performance in Paris.
While his NFL aspirations remain in the exploratory stage, Stona is taking a calculated approach. With the NFL season already underway, he plans to prioritize rest and recovery after a demanding athletics season but admits his interest is piqued. "Everywhere I go, people don’t ask, ‘Hey, you’re a discus thrower?’ No, people don’t ask that!" Stona joked. “Especially in the States, they ask, ‘Do you play football?’”
Stona’s next steps will involve discussions with agents and coaches to assess the feasibility of an NFL career. "As soon as I get advice from agents and coaches, that will put me in a better position to make a very important decision or just be more decisive if it’s worth it or not,” he said. “If that part leads me there, then I’m going to give it my all because it’s kind of now or never. I’m curious as to what I can do on the field, and if I end up playing in the NFL, that would be a part of my legacy – I’d love to do that.”
On October 25, 2024, Fayetteville State University celebrated the remarkable career of Jamaican Olympian Inez Turner by bestowing upon her a Lifetime Achievement Award and inducting her into the 2024 Wall and Hall of Fame. Turner, the head coach of Track and Field and Cross Country at Fayetteville State, was recognized for her enduring contributions to athletics, her stellar coaching career, and her legacy as an elite competitor on the international stage.
The induction ceremony, held at the John D. Fuller, Sr. Recreational Athletic Complex, was organized by Chairman Stephen Sims and his committee. Turner joined an esteemed group of inductees, including other former athletes, coaches, and the celebrated 2002 CIAA Championship Football Team, as they were formally enshrined into the institution’s Hall of Fame.
A native of Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, Turner’s journey in athletics began at Barton Community College, where she earned an impressive 16 National Junior College All-America honors and set multiple school records. In 1993, she captured the NJCAA Division I Championship in the 800m with a record-breaking 2:04.88, setting the stage for her future as an elite athlete. Representing Jamaica on the global stage, Turner competed in the 800m and 4x400m relay at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She won gold in the 800m at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and a bronze in the 4x400m relay at the 1997 World Championships, adding to her collection of medals from the CARIFTA Games and CAC Junior Championships.
Turner’s athletic achievements transitioned seamlessly into a coaching career beginning in 2004, with stints at New York Track Club and North Carolina A&T State University. As head coach at Winston-Salem State University, she led her teams to nine conference titles and was named CIAA Coach of the Year eight times. Her success continued upon joining Fayetteville State University in 2017, where she transformed the program into a powerhouse. Under her guidance, the women's cross country team secured six consecutive CIAA titles, while the indoor track & field team also excelled, capturing multiple championships. In total, Turner has led her teams to 23 CIAA Championship titles, each one cemented with a Coach of the Year honor.
Turner’s influence extends beyond the track, as evidenced by the Inez Turner Foundation, which she founded in 2012 to support disadvantaged students at her alma mater, Vere Technical High School. Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State University, Turner’s dedication to empowering others reflects the purpose of Fayetteville State University’s Athletics Hall of Fame: honoring those who have made outstanding and significant contributions to the program.
Turner’s recognition serves as a testament to her profound impact on the sport and the lives she has touched throughout her career. Her legacy, both as an athlete and a coach, will inspire generations to come, underscoring the power of commitment, resilience, and a passion for excellence.
The LA Galaxy thrashed the Colorado Rapids 5-0 in their MLS playoff opener, with Dejan Loveljic and Riqui Puig scoring twice each.
In Saturday's first contest of a best-of-three series, the Galaxy, who finished second behind Los Angeles FC in the Western Conference, made light work of the Rapids.
Loveljic opened the scoring in the 32nd minute at Dignity Health Sports Park, heading in from Puig's corner.
John Nelson coolly put Galaxy 2-0 up early in the second half, with Puig grabbing his first two minutes later to put them out of sight, with Loveljic the provider on that occasion.
Loveljic doubled up when he finished from a rebounded attempt by Gabriel Pec, who subsequently turned provider for Puig to slot in a fifth late on.
The Rapids must now beat the Galaxy next week if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Data Debrief: Home comforts
The Galaxy have now won 31 of their 37 all-time home playoff matches, including the last 10 in a row.
Indeed, the Galaxy have not lost a home playoff game since a 1-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes in 2012.
The Rapids, meanwhile, have lost their last eight away postseason matches, scoring just three goals in those games.
Kemps Hill High and Ocho Rios registered the widest margin of victory to kick start the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Wata daCosta Cup round of 16, as both secured 5-0 scorelines over Alphansus Davis High and Happy Grove, respectively, on Saturday.
The win by Kemps Hill saw them take pole position in Zone One ahead of Garvey Maceo and St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS), who played out a 1-1 stalemate. Alphansus Davis is the early cellar dweller.
Ocho Rios’ win also put them tops in Zone Three ahead of the in-form Glenmuir High, who were 4-0 winners over Dinthill Technical.
Meanwhile, reigning champions Clarendon College were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Frome Technical in Zone 2. That result allowed Munro College to grab early pole in the zone after they registered a 4-1 win over Cornwall College.
Saturday’s results
Frome Tech 1, Clarendon College 1
Kemps Hill 5, Alphansus Davis High 0
STETHS 1, Garvey Maceo 1
Happy Grove 0, Ocho Rios High 5
Munro College 4, Cornwall College 1
McGrath High 3, Denbigh High 2
Central High 3, Manchester High 1
Glenmuir High 4, Dinthill Technical 0
Former champions Kingston College continued their rich scoring form in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup as they hammered Hydel High 6-1 to kick start the second round in a dominant manner at Stadium East on Saturday.
Having tallied 71 goals in the first round of the competition, Kingston College showed that they are by no means scored out as they overwhelmed a timid-looking Hydel unit with consummate ease.
Deshawn Byfield led the way with a brace in the 36th and 77th minutes, while Kamaul Patterson (8th), Kvist Paul (20th), Shereef Ricketts (57th), and Zaire Douse (86th) got the others.
Captain Ronaldo Barrett (72nd) got Hydel's consolation from the penalty spot.
The win pushed Kingston College into pole position in Group Three, ahead of St Andrew Technical (STATHS) and Wolmer's Boys on a point each. Hydel will have to play catch up from the foot of the four-team standing as only the top two progress to the quarterfinals.
Winning coach Vassell Reynolds attributed their performance to proper preparation and efficient execution.
"We spoke about our goalscoring exploits, and we rode on it today; we had no doubt that we would have created opportunities; it's just a matter of whether we would have made good use of them, and we did that very well. One of the other contributors to this win is the fact that we were well prepared for this; we did some work against our opponents, and it worked well, and I'm proud of the youngsters," Reynolds said.
It was expected to be a more competitive encounter, and the manner in which Hydel started hinted at that possibility, as Shannon Power got off their first warning shot from close range in the sixth minute.
However, Kingston College quickly found their rhythm and broke the deadlock two minutes later when Patterson headed home at the far post from Jaeshawn Edwards' weighted corner kick.
As the heavy rains poured down, Kingston College unlocked the floodgates, and before Hydel could catch their breaths, they were hit again in the 20th when Paul converted a free header at the far post from another weighted cross, this time from captain Kimani Reece in the 20th.
It should have been three minutes later as Byfield went on the break down the right channel and played a pass across the face of goal, but Damaine Smith failed to apply the finishing touch from close range.
Kingston College again went close in the 26th when Patterson rifled one from a distance, but Daquan Jemison, in goal for Hydel, did well to parry.
The North Street boys inevitably increased their tall courtesy of the menacing Byfield, who tucked away an effort from deep inside the 18-yard box to make it 3-0 at the break.
With a handsome lead under their belt, Kingston College gradually eased up on the resumption, but such was the lack of resistance from Hydel that they continued to score at will. The fourth goal came 12 minutes after the break when Ricketts drove a left-footer past substitute keeper Idrian Robinson.
Hydel eventually showed some semblance of like in attack and pulled one back when captain Barrett converted from the 12-yard spot.
But it was back to regular proceedings for Kingston College two minutes later when Byfield finished a rebound after Robinson pushed Ricketts' initial effort into his path.
And as if things couldn't get any worse for Hydel, Douse, with his first touch mere seconds after coming onto the pitch, drove home a delightful strike on the volley from the top of the 18-yard box after Robinson's weak punch fell perfectly into his path.
Hydel's Head coach, Devon Anderson, was bitterly disappointed with the outcome.
"This is definitely not how we wanted to start the second round but we failed to contest the crosses coming into the box and so we were left with the bitter end of the stick. Football is a game of competing with and for the ball and we didn't do that; Kingston College did so kudos to them," Anderson stated.
Saturday's results
Jamaica College 3, Calabar 3
Eltham 2, Excelsior 3
Kingston College 6, Hydel 1
Campion College 3, St George’s College 0
St Catherine 1, Charlie Smith 0
Tivoli Gardens 5, Jonathan Grant 0
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