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• JC, Excelsior share spoils in entertaining 2-2 Zone F stalemate

  Jamaica College extended their unbeaten run in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup as they secured a hard-fought 2-2 stalemate with Excelsior in an intriguing Zone F encounter at Ashenheim Stadium on Thursday.

  Dyllan John’s brace in the 50^th and 88^th minutes rescued a point for the many-time champions after Kimarly Scott (53^rd) and Damarley Williams (58^th) got on the scoresheet for Excelsior.

  With the point, Jamaica College inched up to seven points atop the standing, one point ahead of Ascot High, who moved to six points after they edged Pembroke Hall 1-0 in the curtain-raiser of the double-header courtesy of Oshawny Facey’s 61st-minute strike.

  Excelsior sit third on four points, while Bridgeport and Pembroke Hall remain pointless on the five-team standing.

  Jamaica College’s head coach, Davion Ferguson, took heart from the performance.

  “I’m proud of the performance that we put on. We came up against a very good Excelsior team that got their tactics right in the first half, but we reacted well in the second half, and I think we should have won the game,” Ferguson said.

  “I didn’t have to motivate my players for this game; they have the quality and they know what is at stake. But like I said, I think Excelsior are a very good team, they gave us a challenge, and I think we responded well,” he added.

  

  Excelsior were more lively at the start and almost broke the deadlock in the fourth minute when Shadeko Wizzard unleashed a stinging left-footer that rocketed off the left upright.

  Jamaica College responded soon after through Giovanni Taylor, who got through on goal in the seventh minute, but his effort was kept out by Jamari Gordon, who left his line well.

  Wizzard was again left cursing his luck in the 14^th minute as he rifled another effort from an angle that burst through Nathaniel Aiken’s hands, but the ball came back off the crossbar.

  Jamaica College also went close to finding the go-ahead goal when Nashordo Gibbs’ went on the break in the 41^st minute but failed to beat Gordon’s outstretched leg as the score remained goalless at the break.

  The ‘Dark Blues’ maintained the momentum on the resumption and found the lead five minutes in when Gordon strayed well outside his area and lost possession to John, who capitalised with an effort from distant that trickled across the line.

  Excelsior pulled level three minutes later when Scott finished his third goal of the season with aplomb after Jamaica College failed to clear their line from Wizzard's cross.

  The Mountain View Avenue team then surged ahead five minutes later when Williams went on a break down the left channel and had enough time and space to set and slot through Aiken’s legs.

  Just when it seemed as if Excelsior had the points in the bag, John broke their hearts as he converted from the penalty spot after Jabari Howell's driven freekick was handled inside the area.

  Excelsior’s Head coach, Keon Broderick, welcomed the point but felt they deserved more.

  “I’m a bit disappointed that we couldn’t come out here with the three points, but, nonetheless, one point away from home is always good. A point at Jamaica College is definitely something to cheer about,” he noted.

  Thursday's results

  Jamaica College 2, Excelsior 2

  Ascot High 1, Pembroke Hall 0

  Wolmer's Boys 8, St Mary's College 0

  Edith Dalton 0, Denham Town 1

  Tivoli Gardens High 1, St Jago 0

• Olympic 800m finalist Shafiqua Maloney awarded USD$10,000 at homecoming ceremony in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

  Paris Olympics 800m finalist Shafiqua Maloney was celebrated during a welcome home ceremony at the Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, where it was announced that she would receive USD $10,000 in recognition of her outstanding performance at the Games.

  Maloney delivered a remarkable performance in the 800m final at the Paris Olympics, finishing fourth with a time of 1:57.66. In a fiercely contested race, Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson clinched gold in 1:56.72, followed by Ethiopia's Tisge Duguma, who secured silver in a lifetime best of 1:57.15, and Kenya's Mary Moraa, who claimed bronze in 1:57.42. Maloney's near-podium finish was a significant achievement, especially considering the financial challenges she faced during her preparation for the Olympics.

  The St Vincent Times reported that during the ceremony, Maloney reflected on her journey, expressing gratitude to those who supported her along the way. "This journey was not an easy one, but the support I received made all the difference," she said. With her sights set on further success, Maloney spoke about the road ahead and her aspirations for medals at the 2028 Olympics.

  Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves praised Maloney for her perseverance and announced that the government would present her with USD $10,000 in recognition of her accomplishments and the pride she has brought to the nation.

  Maloney's achievements have also earned her a place in the SVG delegation at the upcoming United Nations meeting, where she will accompany Prime Minister Gonsalves as he delivers his speech. This opportunity marks another milestone in her growing profile as a prominent athlete and representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

  A grand celebration has been planned for Maloney on October 9th, where the nation will come together to honor her accomplishments and contributions to Vincentian sports. Her performance at the Paris Olympics, coupled with her resilience and ambition, has cemented her status as a national hero and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes.

• Wanda Diamond League to increase athlete prize money to historic high

  The Wanda Diamond League will increase athlete prize money to the highest levels in the series’ history from next season.

  Following a decision by the Diamond League General Assembly on Sunday, the total amount of prize money paid over the course of the season will increase to US$9.24 million in 2025.

  The new total is almost a third higher than the sum paid during the pandemic-affected period of 2021-2024 and the highest ever since the Diamond League’s launch in 2010. 

  Including promotional fees for top athletes, a total of around US$18 million will be paid to athletes in total over the course of the 2025 season, with many more millions being invested in athlete services such as travel and transport, accommodation, and medical and physio provision.

  Under the new structure, the total prize money awarded per meeting will be US$500,000 at each of the 14 regular series meetings and US$2.240 million at the Wanda Diamond League Final.

  The total prize money per discipline will be between US$30,000 and US$50,000 at the series meetings and between US$60,000 and US$100,000 at the final. 

  As always, prize money is entirely gender-equal, with exactly the same rates for male and female athletes. The increase will also apply to all 32 Diamond disciplines, benefitting athletes across the full diversity of track and field. 
   
  The increase in prize money reflects the Wanda Diamond League’s position as athletics’ premier one-day series and the backbone of the outdoor season for the world’s biggest stars. 

  With 15 meetings in 13 countries on four different continents, the series provides elite athletes from across the globe with a chance to compete at the highest level from April to September. 

  Since 2010, the series and its meetings have invested an estimated US$270 million in athletes: US$180 million in promotional fees and prize money, and around US$90 million in athlete services.
    
  As it enters its 16th season in 2025, CEO of Diamond League AG, Petr Stastny, said the series will continue to provide the best conditions possible and highest level services for athletes in all disciplines. 

  “The Wanda Diamond League remains committed to rewarding the athletes more whilst at the same time ensuring the long-term sustainability of the series, so it continues to provide vital competition to the athletes for many more years to come,” Stastny declared.

  “In an ever-changing landscape in the sports, media, and entertainment world, we have always been on the forefront of innovation in our sport of athletics. Featuring a total of 32 disciplines over each season, we provide the world's best athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest possible level. Having competitors from around 100 countries every year allows for TV audiences in 150 countries and territories, making our series a truly universal and global league,” he added.