Vincentian Shafiqua Maloney continued her impressive start to the 2024 season with a national record to take top spot in the women’s 600m at the Miramar Invitational at the Ansin Sports Complex in Florida on Saturday.

Maloney, an 800m gold medallist at the NACAC U-23 Championships in 2021, ran 1:23.80 to win ahead of Americans Sadi Henderson (1:27.81) and Ajee Wilson (1:27.86).

The 25-year-old is coming off an excellent season indoors that included 800m wins at the Arkansas Invitational on January 12, Razorback Invitational on January 27 and the Tyson Invitational on February 10.

Also among the winners on Saturday were Bajan two-time World Championships 400m bronze medallist Sada Williams, Jamaican sprint hurdler Tyler Mason and Bahamian quarter miler Alonzo Russell.

Williams produced 22.82 to take the women’s 200m ahead of Denmark’s Ida Karstoft (23.010 and American Kynnedy Flannel (23.32).

Mason took the win in the men’s 110m hurdles with a time of 13.57. American Eric Edwards was second in 13.60 while Great Britain’s Andrew Pozzi was third in 13.63.

Russell ran a season’s best 45.35 to win the men’s 400m ahead of Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic (45.36) and Bahamian Wendell Miller (46.00).

World Indoor 60m bronze medallist Ackeem Blake ran 10.28 to finish second in the men’s 100m, just behind American Courtney Lindsey who ran the same time as Blake. Another Jamaican, Andre Ewers, ran 10.43 to finish third.

In the field, 2019 World Championships silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.72m for third in the women’s shot put behind American Maggie Ewen (18.95m) and Chase Jackson (19.88m).

Jamaican Chanice Porter jumped 6.36m for second in the women’s long jump. The USA’s Taliyah Brooks narrowly won the event with 6.38m while Puerto Rico’s Alysbeth Felix-Boyer was third with a season’s best 6.28m.

Two-time World 200m champion Shericka Jackson has withdrawn from the Miramar Invitational scheduled for Saturday at the Ansin Sports Complex.

This marks the third instance in which the current Olympic 100m bronze medalist has postponed her season opener.

Jackson previously withdrew from the JAAA Puma/Fuller/Anderson Development Meet at GC Foster College in Spanish Town on January 13 due to illness, and the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Development meet at the National Stadium on January 26.

"Never Quit. Unfortunately, Shericka won’t be competing at the Miramar Invitational this Saturday. Will definitely keep y’all updated whenever the season opener is scheduled," Jackson said in a post on her Facebook page on Friday.

She was scheduled to compete in the 200m.

Jackson is the second high-profile athlete to withdraw from the meet as reigning world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the USA also announced her non-participation on social media on Wednesday.

Buoyed by the team’s performance at the just-concluded Carifta Artistic Swimming Championships in Florida, Robyn Chin Sang, the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) vice-president with responsibility for artistic swimming, is hoping it will bring more recognition and support to the sport across the island.

Chin Sang, who beamed with pride about the exploits of Jordyana Thomas, Johanna Doman and Joydayne White, believes their performances speak volumes of the talent that the country boasts, as they defied the odds to claim one silver and five bronze and those were complemented by credible placements in other categories.

“Having team Jamaica represent at the Carifta Championships for artistic swimming was a big accomplishment for the country and for the girls to have qualified to make it to that event shows the potential of our athletes,” Chin Sang told SportsMax.TV.

She pointed out that attending events like these are important, as they introduce athletes to different levels of competition, and the manner in which the athletes displayed their prowess among more illustrious competitors, augurs well for their continued growth and development.

Artistic swimming, previously known as synchronised swimming, requires athletes to perform coordinated or identical movements in time to music, with performances lasting several minutes.

“Our delegation of three athletes was the smallest federation team at the championships, but having those three athletes place in the top eight for their category was an accomplishment. There is always room for growth, not just for each swimmer, but for the national team as a whole. The sport is growing across the island, and it is our aim to have a larger team representing at future championships,” Chin Sang declared.

That said, Chin Sang reaffirmed her commitment to bring heightened appreciation to the sport and its athletes, and, as such, renewed calls for sponsorship and support.

“My overall objective is to have the sport and its athletes recognized on both the local and international scene. The girls representing at the prestigious Carifta Championship for Artistic swimming was a great achievement. The girls gained knowledge, experience and managed to bring home 14 awards while representing their country even with the limited resources and support given,” Chin Sang shared.

“The sport is an expensive sport, but I refuse to let the finances or background of an athlete stop them from achieving and utilizing their God-given talents.  Our next international meet is in May, and we will continue to make big splashes of success with our little stars, as we continue to seek support and sponsorship for the team of 22 athletes,” she ended.

Jamaica’s former WBA featherweight world champion Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters, now campaigning at lightweight, continued his comeback with a 10-round unanimous decision win over Joseph Adorno in the ProBox main event at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida, on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Walters, who returned from a six-and-a-half-year layoff last year, outworked his opponent for the most parts, as Adorno was also deducted a point for a punch after the bell in round nine.

Walters’ recent squash matches with hapless Colombian journeymen, one of whom was over 45, might have suggested that this was more of a cash-out than a genuine attempt at a comeback. However, the Panama-based boxer proved that was very much not the case and that he clearly still had plenty in the tank.

He steadily took apart the 24-year-old Adorno with crisp jabs over the course of 10 rounds.

At the end, Walters won by scores of 95-94, 97-92, 98-91, as he claimed the WBA Continental Americas lightweight title and improved his ring record to 29 wins, 22 of which are by knockouts. He also has one loss and one draw.

Adorno’s record has now slipped to 18 wins (15 kos) against four losses and two draws.

Walters created history by becoming the first Jamaican to win a world boxing title at home, defeating Daulis Prescott via a 7th round TKO victory at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston for the WBA World Featherweight title.

Jenson Button and Damon Hill have paid tribute to Indy 500 winner Gil De Ferran, who has died aged 56.

The Brazilian reportedly suffered a heart attack in Florida.

Button wrote on Instagram: “Still in shock that we lost one of the good ones so young, one of the best behind the wheel and all round great guy Gil De Ferran. I will miss that wonderful smile, rest in peace my friend.”

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Fellow Formula One world champion Hill tweeted: “One of the nicest guys I ever met. He made me laugh. He got it.

“Jesus, Gil, you left too soon. My sincere condolences to his lovely family and all who knew him (there are many, many, many) and all at McLaren. He was a fighter and a winner. Big loss.”

De Ferran won the Indy 500 for Team Penske in 2003.

Team boss Roger Penske said in a statement: “We are terribly saddened to hear about today’s tragic passing of Gil De Ferran. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela, Anna, Luke and the entire De Ferran family.

“Gil defined class as a driver and as a gentleman. As an INDYCAR Champion and an Indianapolis 500 winner, Gil accomplished so much during his career, both on and off the track.

“Gil was beloved by so many. He was a great friend to the Team Penske and INDYCAR family, as well as the entire international motorsports community. Gil’s passing is a terrible loss and he will be deeply missed.”

2022 Commonwealth 110m hurdles champion Rasheed Broadbell opened his 2023 outdoor season with a 13.12 effort to finish second in the preliminaries of the 110m hurdles at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational at the Percy Beard Track in Gainesville on Saturday.

Broadbell, who opened his season last year with 13.31 in Kingston, was beaten by American World Champion Grant Holloway who produced a world leading 13.03 for victory. American Robert Dunning was third in 13.40.

Broadbell didn’t run in the final that was, once again, won by Holloway in 13.05 ahead of Dunning (13.23) and Brazilian Rafael Pereira (13.34).

Bahamian Commonwealth Games silver medallist Devynne Charlton opened her outdoor season with a 12.64 effort for third in the Women’s 100m hurdles. The race was won by American 2019 World Champion Nia Ali in 12.53 ahead of Nigerian Olympic Champion and World Record Holder Tobi Amusan (12.59).

Jamaican 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams was fourth in 12.74 while 2022 World Under-20 Champion Kerrica Hill was fifth in 12.86 in her first outing since going pro.

Jamaicans Rajay Hamilton and national indoor record holder Tarees Rhoden both produced personal bests to finish first and second, respectively, in the Men’s 800m.

Hamilton, 27, dipped below 1:46.00 for the first time in his career with 1:45.91 for victory.

Clemson’s Rhoden, who set a national indoor record 1:46.61 earlier this season at the ACC Indoor Championships, ran 1:46.20 for second while Kameron Jones, running unattached, was third in 1:46.47.

Hamilton’s personal best before this meet was 1:46.16 in June last year while Rhoden’s was 1:47.43 done in May 2022.

Julien Alfred took her incredible indoor form outdoors on Friday, running a world-leading 21.91 to win the College Women 200m at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida.

Alfred, the Texas Longhorn senior who ran a NCAA record 22.01, the second fastest time ever indoors to win the NCAA Indoor Nationals last month, also established a new national record in the event that was contested over two heats.

Lenae Thomas also of Texas was second overall in a wind-aided 22.30 (+3.1m/s) that won the second heat.

MacKenzie Long of Ole Miss, second in Alfred’s heat, was third overall in 22.31. Kevona Davis, who was third in Alfred’s heat ran 22.47 for fifth overall.

In the Women Olympic Development 200m, World Championship 100m bronze medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah, running her first 200m of the season, finished in second place in her heat in 23.23, a time good enough for second overall.

Melissa Jefferson of the USA, who won Thompson-Herah’s heat, was the fastest with a time of 23.02.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce said she was honoured to receive the 2023 International Humanitarian Award from the American Friends of Jamaica at their Charity Gala held at the Intercontinental Miami, Florida last Saturday night, March 11.

The multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medallist was honoured for her work through the Pocket Rocket Foundation out of her desire to give back to the sport and create lasting change for high-school student athletes through sports and education.

Fraser-Pryce, who will be going for an unprecedented sixth world 100m title in Budapest in August, was glad that her philanthropy was being recognized.

“ I am honored to receive the 2023 International Humanitarian Award from @AFJCares for my work with @sfppocketrocketfoundation and beyond. One’s legacy isn’t measured by medals alone, but by impact. Your legacy is the result of your life’s work,” she said.

“I understand what it is like be born into circumstances that are outside of my control, and am grateful for the people that empowered me to realize that I had control of my future. Special shout out to Wolmers Girl School and many thanks to everyone who came together to make (the night) special.”

The woman, who many pundits believe is the greatest female 100m sprinter of all time, opens the 2023 season in Botswana on April 29.

Retired businessman Douglas Orane was also honoured at the ceremony.

Jamaica's Practical Pistol shooters were in impressive at the recently concluded Florida Open Pistol Shooting Tournament in Fostproof, Florida.

Despite going up against more than 200 shooters that included Grand Master from 12 countries from the Americas, Europe and the Caribbean, the local team overcame the odds to win several awards.

Ryan Bramwell, one of Jamaica's Master Class shooters was the runner-up in the Carry Optics Division (Master Class). Pistol captain Alrice Palmer walked away with first place in the B Class category while Thomas Hall finished third in C Class while Adrian Randle was fourth in A class.

Ekpedeme Otoukon was awarded second place in the Senior category.

"I am really proud of my team's achievement. Based on the growth and development of the male and female members of this team and the club, I am seeing where we will have several Master Class shooters in the near future," said Bramwell, who was the only Master Class shooter on the team.

Jamaica pulled off a sweep in the Men’s Limited Division B Class in which Darin Richards finished first, Owen Campbell second and Ellesworth Dixon was third. Campbell also finished first in the Senior Category of his division.

Jamaica was also represented in the Open and Production Division where Bernard Lawrence (Open Division) and Sanjay Welsh (Production Division) were equally impressive, copping third place in C Class and second place in B Class, respectively.

The two Alpha Angels female shooters on tour were not to be outdone as Constable Shayon Francis was on target winning the Carry Optics C Class and was second in the Carry Optics Lady Category while team captain Detective Corporal Sasha-Gay Mullings finished in third place.

"The match was a very good one. The shooting stages were fun and I'm really happy with my performance and by extension my team's performance,” Francis said.

“We could have even done better, however, some of our members had equipment malfunction and we dropped some points on those stages but our team did exceptionally well nonetheless."

Meanwhile, Evan Medley who placed fourth in the Production Division and Keith Miller were among the range officers who officiated the match.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo will not be defending her 400m title at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest in August. She will also not be running the 200m because she is going to be a mommy!

Ballaz Academy experienced mixed results on day one of the Springs Holiday Cup in Ft. Lauderdale Florida on Saturday as two of the four teams won both their games played while the other two teams won one but lost the other.

On a cold, wet Saturday morning, the Under-13 team failed to get going and went down 0-2 to Parkland Soccer Club but rebounded to win 2-0 against Boynton United FC later in the afternoon in warmer conditions.

Christopher Reid scored in the first half while Richard Clarke scored with virtually the last kick of the match to help improve their goal difference.

 The Under-11 team suffered a similar fate as they too struggled in the cold morning conditions and went down 0-1 to Team Boca but ended their day with a 1-0 win over Parkland Soccer Club courtesy of a goal from Nathan Royal.

 But as the day grew warmer, the results got better for Ballaz.

 The Under-12 team went two from two with dominant displays against Strikers Miami FC and Springs Soccer Club.

 Led by a brace from captain Jude Davis, Ballaz beat Strikers Miami 4-1 in their mid-morning game. Jacob Smith and Orique Gordon got the other goals.

 In the second game, they beat the hosts Springs Soccer Club 3-1 with Malik Campbell, Jaden Virtue and Davis getting the goals.

 The Under-10 team made a real statement of intent as they also recorded consecutive wins on Saturday.

 After waiting until 2:15pm to take the field of play, Cahvanie White scored a brace while Braden Burkett and Makiri D’Aguilar got the other goals in their victory over Strikers Miami FC.

 In the late game, the youngest Ballaz team were surprised by Cooper City Optimist Cobras who stung them early in the game to go 1-0 up but they rebounded to draw level through Kirk Holgate before a second brace of the day by White and another from D’Aguilar ensured the win and secured their spot at the top of their group.

Cahvanie White was the top scorer for Ballaz on day one with four goals.

 Today (Sunday), the Under-10 team needs a win over Galacticos Soccer Academy in their final group game to clinch a spot in the final while the U-11 and the U-13 teams need big wins against Springs Soccer Club and Prime FC Elite to make it through to their respective finals.

The U-12’s will have to play a semifinal game to make it through to the final. They will know their opponents later Sunday.

Jamaica seems on course to successfully defend its title at the 2022 Caribbean Golf Association's (CGA) Four-Ball Championship in Florida after improving on its day-one standing at the end of day two.

Jamaica began its defence of the Caribbean Golf Association's (CGA) Four-Ball Championship by ending Tuesday’s opening day atop the leaderboard in three of the five team categories.

The three-day, the five-country championship is being played in Florida at the Golden Palm Golf Course with  Jamaica is gunning for its third consecutive win after copping the country trophy, the Ambrose Gouthro Cup in 2019 and 2021.

 There was no championship in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The team of Jodi Munn-Barrow and Lisa Gardner who are defending the Maria Nunes Trophy led the Ladies 35 and Over category with a seven over-par 78. They are three shots ahead of Puerto Rico’s team of Mara Pagan and Rebekah Alford who 81.

Meanwhile, Maggie Lyn and Michelle McCreath have it all to play for as the only team vying for the Desire Henry Trophy.  They posted a first-round score of 84 in the category for Ladies 50 and over.

On the men's side, the team of Philip Prendergast and Owen Samuda led their group in defence of the Ramon Baez Romano Trophy (for men 35 and over).  They carded 73 in the opening round and were trailed by Lynford Miller and Ashley Glinton of the Bahamas who shot 75.

The Higgs & Higgs Cup for Men 60 and over, saw Joe Delfillipo and Roger Hanson of the Cayman Islands, and Fernando Diaz and Arturo Morales of Puerto Rico tied up for the lead.

Wayne Chai Chong and Rory Jardine are tied for second along with three other teams after posting four over par 75 for the round.

Robert Chin and Dorrel Allen were one stroke back on five over par 75 in seventh place.

 The third local team in the category, Peter Chin and George Hugh, were nine over for a score of 80 and ninth place.

In the play for the Francis Steel Perkins Trophy, two of the three Jamaican teams are in joint fifth place.  Dr Mark Newnhan and Michael Gliechman, and Metry Seaga and Dave Cameron both posted six over par 77 at the end of round one.

The other team of William 'Tommy' Lee and Carlyle Hudson were just one stroke back in seventh place after scoring seven over par 78.

Bahamian pair Peter McIntosh and Horace Miller posted 72 to lead the group at the end of day one.

"(The) course was long, especially for the ladies,” Jonathan Newnham said afterwards.

“Overall, we had a few tough holes that we compounded with errors but (we are) proud of the fight throughout.  (We) kept ourselves in it with each category with two days to go."

Former Jamaica national football footballer Christopher Zaidie died on Sunday after a bout with cancer. He was 55.

Between the 1980s and 1990s, Zaidie, a midfielder, was a staple in local football in Jamaica.

As a member of the St. George’s College Manning Cup team between 1980 and 1984, Zaidie was teammates with the likes of Ziggy Marley, Andrew Price, Christopher Morgan, Michael Forbes, Nicholas Zaidie, Brian Hamilton and Garfield Pearcy. Under the guidance of the late coach Dennis Zaidie, he won the coveted triple twice – Manning Cup, Nutrament Shield, and Olivier Shield in 1983 and the Manning Cup, Walker Cup and Olivier Shield in 1984.

Dennis Zaidie and Jackie Bell, who coached Premier League club Santos, would perish in a motor vehicle accident in Mexico in 1986 having gone there to watch a match in the FIFA World Cup.

Chris would go on to represent Jamaica during the 1994 World Cup campaign, playing six matches between 1992 and 1993.

Price, who is now the head coach at Jamaica Premier League club Humble Lion and three-time Manning Cup champions Calabar High School, has been close friends with Zaidie since they played against each other in Alberga Cup football in the late 1970s– Zaidie for St Peter and Paul, Price for Alpha.

“Chris was more than a teammate, he was a friend and a brother and somebody who I could depend on and he could on me,” Price recalled of Zaidie, who at the time of his death worked as a teacher in Miramar, Florida.

“We were close from we were kids and played Alberga Cup football. We ended up at George’s and as schoolboys played for Kingston Lions in the now defunct Caribbean semi-professional league and Boys Town FC.”

Zaidie is survived by his wife Debbie and two children.

Jamaica’s basketball community is mourning the passing of Enid Sterling Angus, who died early Thursday morning in Florida at the age of 64.

Suffering from late-stage cancer, Sterling-Angus was on life support in a Forida hospital up until Wednesday evening when she was taken off and transitioned mere hours later leaving a massive void in Jamaica’s basketball fraternity.

For more than three decades, Sterling-Angus gave yeoman service to the sport was introduced to by chance but which she grew to love.

“I stumbled on the sport while in high school over 30 years ago. I was hanging around the stadium courts one afternoon after playing in a netball tournament there, and a friend who was a member of the Aqua Youth Swim Club invited me to join her at the Stadium pools,” she said during an interview in 2016.

“Later that evening we went back to the netball/basketball courts where the Aqua men’s team was playing in the Berger Paint league game, which is now called the National Basketball League (NBL), and I’ve been hooked ever since then.

“Ironically, I’m still not a swimmer; in fact, I’m still petrified of large pools of water. And even though I no longer reside in Jamaica, I still support the organization because I believe in their objective, which ultimately is to empower our youngsters by providing academic and athletic opportunities through scholarship.”

And support she did. She was a past vice president of overseas operations for the Jamaica Basketball Association and worked tirelessly behind the scenes providing support for Jamaica’s men’s and women’s teams.

AS a project manager for JABA, she handled logistics and planning for national teams and identified players for all national levels. She also funded national teams and youth-team initiatives and helped create scholarship opportunities for both male and female players including players like netball turned basketball player Marvadene ‘Bubbles’ Anderson, who once held the record of being the tallest teenager in the world.

Her death leaves a void within the fraternity, said JABA President Paulton Gordon.

“The Jamaica basketball community is indeed saddened by the passing of Enid Sterling Angus, a longstanding advocate and supporter of the development of basketball in Jamaica,” Gordon told Sportsmax.TV on Thursday.

“Enid was a passionate soul who loved the game and endeavoured to create platforms for our young people to access opportunities based on their God-given talent. She served as one of the overseas liaison between Jamaica basketball and key stakeholders at the FIBA and diaspora levels and was always integral in clarifying policy, rules and processes when our teams are involved in regional or international competitions.

“Enid will be sadly missed and the Jamaica basketball association uses this medium to express our deepest condolences to her immediate family and friends.”

Ajani Williams, who was JABA president between 2009 and 2014, said Enid’s impact on Jamaica’s basketball was iconic.

“Enid Angus is the definition of love of people through sport. She emptied herself in pursuit of advancing the lives of young Jamaican students and national team athletes, male and female, she squeezed every bit of the juice out of the orange for national progress through basketball,” he said.

“An African proverb says when an elder transitions a library goes with them and this is indicative of Enid’s passing. This is a big loss to basketball in Jamaica and, personally, without Enid by my side, many of the national team successes we achieved would not have happened- she is forever a teammate.”

Under Williams’ leadership, Jamaica were CARICOM Champions in 2009 and were the bronze medallists in 2011. The team won the bronze medal at the Centro Basketball Tournament in 2012, the first time Jamaica was achieving top-four, which meant they qualified for the FIBA Tournament of the Americas.

In 2013, at the FIBA Tournament of the Americas, Jamaica defeated the number nine ranked Brazil and the number-three ranked Argentina and just missed out on qualifying for the World Championships.

“The foundation of all of that was aided and supported by Enid,” Williams said.

In addition to her support of the JABA, Enid was a mentor to many Jamaican players like Kimani Ffriend, who played in the NBA and in Europe, winning the MVP title in the Serbian League in 2017. News of her passing was devastating.

“We lost a beautiful soul this morning. Enid, thank you for your warm spirit and beautiful heart,” he said in a post on social media.

“Never told me no. Always there to support me and encourage me during my toughest times. Many don’t know the sacrifices that you have made to help put Jamaica basketball on the map and the countless high school, college and pro players you have helped and identified along the way.”

Another former national representative Vashil Fernandez was in disbelief.

“Can’t believe this. Wow,” he posted while commenting on Ffriend’s post.

Meanwhile, former Women’s coach Oberon Pitterson-Nattie was saddened by the news.

“Sad to know she is no longer with it. She worked tirelessly for Jamaica basketball. May her beautiful soul rest in peace.”

Sterling Angus is survived by her three children, Martin, Terry and Donielle.