Stakeholders in the 2nd Ardenne Optima 5K engage in conversation at the recent launch on the school campus. (From L to R) Flo Darby, President of the Ardenne Alumni Foundation, Jacqueline Pinto, Principal of Ardenne High School, Takese Foga, Director Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry of Health and Wellness and race manager, Alfred 'Franno' Francis of Running Events Ltd.
Ardenne High School has launched its second annual Optima 5K Run/Walk, a major fundraising initiative to support the construction of a wellness centre on the school’s campus. The event, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, at 6:30 am, will be managed by Running Events Limited for the first time, with registration available through runningeventsja.com.
The 5K, organized by the Ardenne Alumni Foundation under the leadership of Chairperson Flo Darby, is the foundation’s largest fundraiser to date, with all proceeds going toward the wellness centre, which will be the first of its kind for a Jamaican high school. With a growing student population of over 2,000, Ardenne High sees the wellness centre as crucial for supporting both the physical and mental health of its students and staff.
“We are planning to build a wellness centre for Ardenne High School, a space that focuses on physical and emotional health,” said Darby. “We’ll have a nurse on site, as well as rooms for guidance counsellors, a part-time psychiatrist, psychologist, and social worker. It will be the first of its kind in Jamaica, improving the environment for our students.”
Current estimates place the cost of the wellness centre at J$64 million, with a targeted completion date before the school’s 100th anniversary in 2027.
Two Olympians, 400m specialist and past Ardenne student Brandon Simpson and decathlete Maurice Smith, attended the event launch to endorse the initiative. Smith, whose siblings attended Ardenne, will also join Simpson at the start line on November 16, encouraging fellow athletes and supporters to participate in the cause.
Alfred “Franno” Francis of Running Events Limited expressed his excitement for the project, noting the importance of fostering a healthy lifestyle. “We will try our best to execute a well-organized event, giving participants the support they need while raising funds for this exceptional cause,” he said. “This initiative is exemplary for other schools to follow, and we hope to see strong participation from current and past Ardenne students, along with anyone interested in health and wellness.”
The route, as outlined by Francis, will start on Ardenne Road, then proceed through Trafalgar Park, onto Trafalgar Road, and follow a path along Lady Musgrave Road to Vale Royal. The course then turns onto Upper Montrose Road, onto Seymour Avenue, and returns to Ardenne Road, where participants will cross the finish line.
Registration costs are J$2,000 for adults and J$1,500 for students, with proceeds directly benefiting the wellness centre.
Terrence Ram, the head boy at Ardenne, emphasized the need for the centre, explaining that expanded facilities will provide students with a safe place to connect, relax, and engage with guidance staff. “The Ardenne Wellness Centre will give students a space to interact with guidance counsellors, share their thoughts, and develop personally,” Ram said.
The launch was attended by several prominent supporters, including school principal Jacqueline Pinto, Ardenne Alumni Association President Dr. Winston De La Haye, alumni, foundation members, and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, including Takese Foga, Director of Health Promotion and Education.
The Ardenne Optima 5K Run/Walk is poised to bring together students, alumni, and community members in a meaningful effort to foster a culture of wellness at Ardenne High School and build a lasting resource for future generations.
Holmwood Technical completes ISSA rural area Netball double; St. Catherine, Wolmer’s Girls win urban area titles
Defending all-island champions Holmwood Technical retained their ISSA rural area Under-19 netball title with a 38-30 victory over Denbigh High in Thursday's decider at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
The May Pen-based won the first quarter 9-8 before the defending champions rallied to lead 15-14 at the half and 37-24 at the end of the third quarter.
The victory for Holmwood completed the double on the day as their Under-16 team had earlier secured the crown with a 21-16 win in an all-Manchester affair over defending champions Manchester High in a repeat of last year's final.
In the urban area final, St Catherine High captured their third straight Under-19 title with a 32-24 win over The Queen's School. The St John's Road-based school led all quarters 11-3, 20-12 and 23-16.
Meanwhile, Wolmer's Girls took the Under-16 crown after beating St Hugh's 27-21 in their decider.
Manchester High defeated Glenmuir 46-44 to claim third place in the rural area Under-19 category while Mile Gully High claimed third in the Under-16 category with a 32-17 win over Titchfield.
In the urban area, Gaynstead High claimed third in both the Under-19 and Under-16 categories with wins over St. Catherine High and Camperdown High, respectively.
They beat St. Catherine 34-19 and Camperdown 37-23.
Tickets for Grand Slam Track™ go on sale today
Tickets for the highly anticipated Grand Slam Track™, the revolutionary global stage for elite track and field competition, go on sale today, December 6, 2024, at 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern. Founded by four-time U.S. Olympic champion Michael Johnson, who also serves as the league's commissioner, the event promises to redefine the sport with its inaugural season kicking off in Kingston, Jamaica, in April 2025.
Johnson expressed his excitement about the league’s progress, stating: "Grand Slam Track™ continues to build momentum as we get closer to our inaugural 2025 season. The attention and recognition this league is gaining is incredible, and it continues to be clear that the best in the world want to be a part of it. We’re creating something truly special – a Festival of Speed – for fans to enjoy."
The league will feature 48 top-tier athletes, known as Grand Slam Track™ Racers, competing in all four Slam events: Kingston, Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Among the confirmed stars are Jamaicans Ackera Nugent and Roshawn Clarke, alongside global icons such as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Marileidy Paulino, Grant Fisher, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Alison Dos Santos, and Jereem Richards.
Additionally, 48 Grand Slam Track™ Challengers will join individual Slams, selected based on recent performances and intriguing matchups. Racers and Challengers will compete across categories such as short sprints, hurdles, middle distance, and long distance, with each competitor racing twice during the three-day events.
Grand Slam Track™ shifts the focus from time-based performances to head-to-head competition. Unlike traditional meets, there will be no rabbits or pacing lights. Each Slam is independently scored, with a $100,000 prize for the winner of each group and $10,000 for eighth place. A total of $12.6 million in prize money will be awarded annually, alongside base compensation and appearance fees.
The league is also breaking with tradition by allowing athletes to compete in custom kits designed with their sponsors, free from traditional bibs or hip numbers. This unique approach emphasizes individuality and creativity while showcasing the athletes’ personalities.
With over $30 million in financial commitments from investors, including Winners Alliance, the league aims to revolutionize fan engagement and elevate track and field’s biggest stars through innovative storytelling.
Tickets for all four Slams are now available. Fans are encouraged to secure their seats to witness the Festival of Speed and see the world’s best athletes compete on this groundbreaking platform.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit grandslamtrack.com/events.
Olympic medalists Stona and Ricketts head nominees for RJR Sports Foundation Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year
Olympic gold medalist Roje Stona and trailblazing triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts lead the charge as nominees for the prestigious RJR Sports Foundation Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards for 2024. The announcement was made during a televised ceremony at the studios of Television Jamaica on Wednesday, unveiling a star-studded lineup of athletes who shone on the global stage.
Stona, who made history by clinching Jamaica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the men’s discus at the Paris 2024 Olympics, headlines the list of eight male nominees. The field is dominated by track and field stars, all of whom delivered remarkable performances throughout the year: Akeem Blake, bronze medalist in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow; Rasheed Broadbell, 110m hurdles bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics; Rajindra Campbell, shot put bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics; Rusheen McDonald, 400m bronze medalist at the World Indoor Championships; Carey McLeod, long jump bronze medalist at the World Indoor Championships; Wayne Pinnock, Olympic silver medalist in the long jump; and Kishane Thompson, 100m silver medalist at the Paris Olympics.
On the women’s side, Shanieka Ricketts, who became the first Jamaican woman to medal in the triple jump at the Olympics, is joined by a stellar group of nominees: Rushell Clayton, national 400m hurdles champion and finalist at the Paris Olympics; Ackera Nugent, record-breaking hurdler with a new national and world-leading time of 12.24 seconds in the 100m hurdles; Nickisha Pryce, the first Jamaican woman to break the 49-second barrier in the 400m; and Llori Sharpe, cyclist and gold medalist in the Women’s Road Race at the Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships in Guyana, breaking the track and field dominance among nominees.
The ceremony also revealed six nominees for The People’s Choice Performance of the Year, recognizing standout moments that captured the imagination of sports fans: Rasheed Broadbell for his bronze medal-winning run in the 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics; Ackera Nugent for her world-leading 12.24-second run in the Diamond League; Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw for a spectacular goal against Liverpool in the Women’s Super League; Roje Stona for his historic gold-medal throw in the men’s discus at the Olympics; Kishane Thompson for his 100m silver-medal sprint at the Paris Olympics; and Chavany Willis for his stunning goal for Arnett Gardens against Portmore United in the Jamaica Premier League.
The winners will be announced at the RJR Gleaner National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards Gala on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. This prestigious event will celebrate the exceptional achievements of Jamaica’s athletes, recognizing those who have left an indelible mark on the nation’s sporting legacy in 2024.
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