Tahjay Gayle

Gayle, the 2019 World Champion, jumped a world-leading 8.27m to win the long-jump competition in which five jumpers went beyond eight metres. However, those who won medals were Holland Martin of the Bahamas who jumped 8.15m for second place while Damacus Simpson finished third with his best jump of 8.05m.

Meanwhile, Thomas-Dodd was a class above the rest winning the shot put with a mark of 19.17m, the third-best in the world this year. She was almost half-metre better than second-placed Magdalyn Ewen of the USA, who managed 18.69m for second place.

Ewen’s compatriot Jessica Ramsay finished among the medals with her best throw of 18.61m.

Three-time NCAA champion Jamaica’s Natoya Goule was among the best Caribbean performers, the Jamaican finishing second in the 800m after leading the race for about 750m before she was passed by her US rival Ajee Wilson who crossed first in 2:00.57.  Goule’s clocked 2:00.92. Allie Wilson was third in 2:02.58.

In the men’s equivalent Jamaica’s Rahjay Hamilton, came out the worst in a three-way battle down the home stretch, finishing third in 1:48.32. Meanwhile, USA’s Kameron Jones, who led for most of the race was pipped at the line by Abe Alvarado who took the win in 1:47.29, three-hundredths of a second ahead of Jones, who clocked 1:47.32.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Cejhae Green ran a season-best 10.00 to finish third in the 100m won by Kyrie King in 9.97, just ahead of veteran Justin Gatlin, who ran 9.98.

Stephenie-Ann McPherson ran 51.09 for fourth and Chrisann Gordon-Powell 51.39 for sixth in the hotly contested 400m won by 400m hurdler Shamier Little in a lifetime best of 49.91, just holding off Quanera Haynes who was timed in 49.92.

Kendall Ellis made it a 1-2-3 finish for the USA as she was third in 50.48.

Thompson-Herah the Olympic 200m champion and Briana Williams, the 2018 World U20 200m champion, were fourth and sixth in 22.44 and 22.93, respectively in the half-lap sprint won by the USA’s Jenna Prandini in 22.29.

Bahrain’s Brittany Brown was second 22.39 with Candice Hill of the USA not far behind in 22.43.

The meet ended on a sad note for Jamaica’s Akeem Bloomfield, who fell to the track in the men’s 200m and did not finish. There was no official word on what was the nature of his injury in the race won by Kenny Bednarek in a windy 19.65. The race was run with a trailing wind of 4m/s, twice the allowable limit.

Emmanuel Matadi finished second in 20.20 while EJ Floreal was third in 20.41.

Woman International Master and Candidate Master Rachel Miller as well as multiple ISKA World Championships gold medalist Richard Stone were also awardees at the ceremony at which youth who have excelled and contributed to national development are recognized.

Gayle, 24, shocked the world in Doha, Qatar in 2019 when he became the first Jamaican to win a gold medal at a global athletic event. His mark of 8.69m was a new national record and the best wind-legal jump in the world for a decade.

He said he was honoured to be receive the award.

Walker, the Mr Olympia Amateur winner in 2018, finished third in the IFBB Atlanta Pro tournament in August, despite not being able to prepare for months because of the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic that forced the closure of gyms in Florida where he is based. “This has been a milestone for myself and the Jamaica Bodybuilding Association,” he said.

Miller, 20, became the second Women International Master back in 2014 and is currently the highest rated active female player in Jamaica. She appreciated that the committee saw it fit for her to receive the award as in Jamaica chess is not as highly regarded as other sports.

“I am very humbled and happy to be recognized by the Prime Minister Youth Award Committee mainly because chess is seen as a minor sport in Jamaica, and usually there is more focus on the higher sports such as track and field and football. However, I am really glad that they have been able to recognize me, especially as there are not many chess players in the country,” she said.

Stone, 27, won gold medals in points and continuous sparring at the International Sports Kickboxing Amateur Members Association in Ireland. To be recognized, he said, “brings attention to the sport so that the island can be aware that we are fighters and we have been doing much good for the country.”