Jamaica School of Gymnastics (JSG) won the top prize at the Yamilet Pena Classic held in the Dominican Republic from August 13-14.
The Jamaican gymnasts edged out the hosts while making the highest All-Around score of the competition. More than 300 gymnasts from 19 clubs from more than14 countries including Mexico, Aruba, Panama and the United States.
Two clubs from Jamaica participated in the tournament.
The Jamaica School of Gymnastics fielded 29 gymnasts who competed at Recreational, USAG Compulsory level 1 to 4 as well as USAG Advance Level 6-8. The other club, Westmoreland Gymnastics, was represented by five gymnasts who competed at Recreational, USAG level 1 and 2.
JSG’s Level Four team of Leah-Paige Phillips, Alayna Wilson, and Jade-Ann James topped their category while the Level Six team of Jurn’e Davis, Kamaria Smith, Janay Howel and Jesanique Scott finished third.
The Level Seven team of Leanna Blake, Arianna Richardson, Savanna Adams, Danique Meek and Sukhuri-Shay Smith finished first while the Level Eight team of Zuri-Matandara-Clarke, Mariah Gordon, Elyssa Alexander and Natashley Prehay was third.
Not to be outdone, Westmoreland Gymnastics’ gymnast Lowaynia Myers was third on Vault (9.85) and fifth in the All Around with a score of 37.7 at the Recreational Level.
Meanwhile, also at the Recreational Level, JSG’s Kalyssa Campbell was second on Floor with a 9.4 and eighth in the All Around with a score of 37.0; Lenessa Whyte was fourth on Vault with a 9.8 and 10th in the All Around with a score of 37.0
At Level 3, Elissa Ennis was fifth on vault with a score of 9.25 and sixth in the All Around with a score of 34.1.
At Level 4, Leah-Paige Phillips was first on Bars with a 9.6 and fourth in the All Around with a score of 35.65.
At Level 6, Kamaria Smith was second on Bars with a 9.25 and sixth in the All Around with a score of 35.7 and Jesanique Scott was third on Bars and seventh in the All Around with a score of 35.7.
At Level 7 in the 12-plus age group, Leanna Blake was first in the Bars with 9.6 and first in the All Around.
In the 9-11 age group, Danique Meek was first on Floor (9.1) and first on Beam (8.4). She was also top of the All Around with a score of 35.9.
And at Level 8, Zuri Matandara- Clarke was first on Beam and Bars with a 9.1 and 9.35, respectively, and second in the All Around with a score of 35.35.
President of the Jamaica Gymnastics Association, Nicole Grant, believe the performances of the gymnasts demonstrate the continued growth of the sport at the local level.
“Jamaica School of Gymnastics has transitioned since 2019 when we first built a state-of-the-art gymnasium which serves the gymnastics community well,” Grant said.
“The club has grown and has used much of the time during the Covid-19 pandemic to train our coaches to be more vigilant when it comes to technique and the gymnasts' physical and mental preparation.
“As coach of the Level 7s and 8s along with coaches Nadeen Whyte (Recreational, 4 and 6) and Kerieon Grant (1-3) at the JSG club, we are elated that all the girls went out and did the best they could, knowing that they were competing internationally for the first time in two years as a club.
“They were up against more seasoned competitors and this made them very nervous but they went out and gave their best and for that, we are super proud of them.”
Grant said club managers Nadeen Whyte and Kerieon Grant have put in place a new and technical program for the girls and it showed in their execution. They also put in a lot of work to make this tour a success, she said.
“We must thank the parents, who helped to fund this competition as without their input it would not have been possible,” Grant said. “Shantel Jackson-Blake and Christina Francis, who manages the team, have done a wonderful job and we can’t thank them enough.
“We are also grateful to parents who chip in and help financially fund others and ensure that they do whatever they can to assist whether they are on the tour or at home.”
She also expressed pride at the performance of the gymnasts from Westmoreland Gymnastics.
“Westmoreland Gymnastics is our sister club and we would like to really congratulate Coach Natanja Morris for the hard work put into the preparation of the 5 girls who have done very well,” the JGA president said.
The team is expected to arrive in Jamaica late Monday afternoon.
T&T's Soca Warriors back in top 100 on FIFA World Rankings list; Reggae Boyz now at 56th
Eight-time Caribbean Cup champions Trinidad and Tobago have surged inside the top 100 on the FIFA World Rankings list for the first time in almost five years following recent wins over El Salvador and Curacao.
The Soca Warriors – in the latest list published Thursday – climbed four places up to 98th from 102, a spot they held in the last rankings in July. They were last inside the FIFA top 100 at 92nd in December 2018. Based on their world position, the twin island republic remains the fourth highest rated in Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz jumped two places up the FIFA list to 56th and remain number in CFU ahead of Haiti at 87th world ranked and Curacao (90th). Antigua and Barbuda complete the CFU’s top five at 137th.
In the only change to the CFU’s top 10, Guyana have climbed into 10th position with a three place move to 165th in the world, as Barbados – the result of Nations League losses to Montserrat and Nicaragua – slipped out of the top 10. The fell six places on the world list from 166th to 172nd.
World champions Argentina strengthened their grip at the summit of the world rankings. The Argentines, who dethroned Brazil at the top in April, defeated Ecuador and Bolivia in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers earlier this month to improve their status.
Despite losing to Germany in a friendly last week, France retained second place, followed by Brazil (third), England (fourth) and Belgium (fifth).
Thomas's hat-trick lifts Cavalier above Dom Rep's Moca
Shaniel Thomas notched a hat-trick to help Jamaican club Cavalier take a big step toward the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Club semifinals with a 3-0 victory on Tuesday night against Moca of the Dominican Republic in Group A action at Sabina Park.
With the win, Cavalier now sit atop the group with seven points through three matches, while Moca remain in third place with three points after two games.
Thomas's hat-trick, which is the first in Caribbean Cup history, propelled him to the top of the tournament goalscoring leaderboard with four goals.
It was a fairly even start between the two sides, but midway through the first 45 minutes, in the 24th, Cavalier were able to break the deadlock through Thomas.
A long ball was hoofed up the left flank for Makenson Cadet, who ran onto it and then chipped over a defender, allowing Thomas to meet the ball with a powerful header into net and a 1-0 Cavalier advantage.
Cavalier kept their foot on the gas and a swinging right-footed effort from Nicholas Hamilton in the 49th that curled just wide was the next big look at goal for the hosts.
Another chance would come for Cavalier in the 58th and they made the most of it when the Moca defence failed to clear their lines and Thomas was all too happy to take a simple back pass and hammer in a shot from a few yards out to double the lead to 2-0.
Thomas wasn’t done, and a minute after, he was brought down by Moca defender Manuel Vidal in the area, the Cavalier frontman smashed home a penalty in the 77th to nail down his hat-trick and the 3-0 Cavalier victory.
Irie Gunners emerge as Champions of the 2023 NPAJ GraceKennedy Powerlifting Gym League
In the heart of Manchester, the Fusion Gym in Mandeville was buzzing with excitement on Saturday, September 9th, 2023.
Powerlifting enthusiasts from across Jamaica had gathered for the NPAJ/GraceKennedy Money Services Powerlifting Gym League finals. It was a day filled with passion, strength, and determination, but one team stood above the rest - the Irie Gunners.
The crowd watched in awe as the athletes from Team Fit Farm in St. Andrew and Irie Gunners from Manchester gave their all on the platform. The atmosphere was electric, and the anticipation was palpable. It was evident that this year's championship would be fiercely contested.
As the competition progressed, it became clear that the Irie Gunners were on a mission. They started the season as favorites, and they were determined to live up to the expectations. Their dedication to training and their unwavering focus had set them on a path to glory.
The highlight of the event came when the Irie duo of Roxroy Campbell and Aiesha Denton took centre stage. Roxroy Campbell showcased his incredible strength in the squat, bench press, and deadlift, totaling an impressive 703 kilograms. His performance earned him the title of the top male lifter in the competition.
On the female side, Aiesha Denton was an unstoppable force. She demonstrated her prowess in the squat, bench press, and deadlift, amassing a total of 474 kilograms. Aiesha's performance secured her the title of the top female lifter of the competition.
But the victory was not solely attributed to them. The entire Irie Gunners team showed exceptional teamwork and determination. Tashian Wallace, Nadesha Thompson, and Roxroy Campbell all contributed significantly to the team's success, accumulating points that would ultimately tip the scales in their favor.
When the dust settled and the final scores were tallied, it was official - Irie Gunners from Manchester had been crowned the Champion of the NPAJ/GraceKennedy Money Services Powerlifting Gym League for 2023. The Fusion Gym erupted in cheers as the Irie Gunners celebrated their well-deserved victory.
Irie Gunners had scored a total of 249 GL Points, showcasing their dominance throughout the season. Team Fit Farm, the runner-up, put up a valiant effort, amassing 220.80 GL Points. The competition had been intense, but Irie Gunners had proven themselves as the top powerlifting team in Jamaica.
In the end, the individual performances of each athlete from both teams contributed to the thrilling spectacle of strength and determination. Deidre Lewis, Fiona Binns, Jonhio Vaughn, and Desmond Thompson from Team Fit Farm had all showcased their incredible abilities, pushing their limits to achieve greatness.
In an interview with Powerlifting Voice, Mr. Zacariah Thompson, the head coach of the Irie Gunners Gym, shed light on the key moments and strategies that led to their victory in the NPAJ GraceKennedy Money Services Powerlifting Gym League 2023 Championship. According to Coach Thompson, a pivotal moment in the competition was when Aiesha successfully executed a 405-pound squat, a feat that signaled their imminent victory. He emphasized the significance of their rigorous training regimen, highlighting the exceptional dedication of each team member as a crucial factor in their triumph.
Coach Thompson also discussed their unique training approach in preparation for the championship. Instead of following their traditional routine, they began by assessing each athlete's strength and focusing on their core area, a method that seemed to pay off. When addressing the mental aspect of powerlifting, Coach Thompson emphasized the importance of instilling self-belief in his athletes, motivating them to realize their potential and strive for greatness.
When asked about standout performances, Coach Thompson commended all the team members for their outstanding efforts, with a special mention of the female athletes who achieved personal records. He also praised Dane's (Roxroy) consistent improvement in every competition.
Looking ahead, Coach Thompson expressed his determination to maintain and enhance the team's success.
Roxroy Campbell, who was named the top male athlete in the NPAJ Powerlifting Gym League 2023 Final, talked about his journey to success. Campbell mentioned a crucial moment during the competition - his second squat attempt - which he believes was a significant contributor to his victory.
Campbell credited his mental discipline for keeping him focused and motivated. He drew inspiration from those around him and his coach.
Aiesha Denton, who was crowned the top female athlete at the NPAJ Powerlifting Gym League 2023 Final, expressed elation when asked about her feelings regarding the prestigious title.
Ms. Denton credited her achievement to her unyielding commitment and diligent efforts, highlighting the crucial aspects of steadfastness, concentration, and determination that drove her to succeed. She admitted encountering challenges during the competition, particularly about squat depth and bench press strength, but her determination enabled her to overcome these obstacles.
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