Tabbrel Williams accepts her winning prize from Manchester princial Jasford Gabriel
contributed
Winston Dehaney and Tabbrel Williams topped the male and female sections of the second Manchester Capital Run in the parish capital of Mandeville, on Sunday.
Alphansus Davis High School was another big winner, as they secured five of the top six spots in the male and female sections to grab the team prize and the $70,000 prize money.
The 5K Run/Walk challenged most of the competitors, courtesy of the undulating nature of the course which boasted several hills to climb.
Dehaney started close to the front and took over the lead about halfway and never looked back. He crossed in 18 minutes and 39 seconds, ahead of Tyre Hopkins, who stopped the clock in at 19 minutes and five seconds, and Andrew Powell, who clocked 19 minutes and 27 seconds.
Hopkins and Powell hail from Alphansus Davis High.
"The first part was pretty hilly so even when I try to take it easy, it still took some energy out of me. (The route) it was tough. It did take some effort out of me, but it was a good run. I was hoping to be near to the front, but the first half is not what determines the winner, it is how you finish in the second half," Dehaney said.
On the female side, Williams, who won in a time of 22 minutes and 13 seconds, led a Alphansus Davis sweep, as her teammates Carlene Temple (22 minutes and 53 seconds), and Alikay Reynolds (23 miniutes and 57 seconds), were second and third.
Williams was delighted by her win.
"I love that this route was kind of very much long, and I am hoping that it will help to improve my time because that's what I came for, especially since I am running the 800 and 1500 metres. This is a really good training for my body and how to maintain my breathing and so forth," she shared.
The top three male walkers were Duwell Allen (27 minutes and 19 seconds), Kevoy Graham (29 minutes and 55 seconds), and Jowaine Williams (32 minutes), while the top three female walkers were Shinelle Jhagroo-Bryan (38 minutes and 20 seconds), Trudyann Peart (40 minutes and 36 seconds), and Dhavia Humpstead (40 minutes and 43 seconds).
Jasford Gabriel, principal of Manchester High School, who also walked the route, beamed about the success of the event.
"At Manchester High School, we deem ourselves as leaders in the education landscape and whatever we do we give it our all. So, this is significant in the context of what we want to do as a school in terms of building partnerships, creating opportunities for our students, and this will go a far way. The mayor was here, the custos was here, medical fraternity, civic community and many others, and so it's a great platform on which to build as we go forward," Gabriel said.
Gabriel gave credit to the many sponsors, who helped to ensure that the event was successful to assist the school's sports programmes.
Sports Ministry giving J$45M in grants to Olympians, Paralympian
As a token of appreciation for their efforts, members of Jamaica’s team to the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France will be compensated through grants from the Government of Jamaica, the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said at a press conference on Monday.
“I have J$45M allocated to provide Appreciation Grants to members of Jamaica’s delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” she said.
Grange said the money was being disbursed directly to 66 athletes, including one Paralympian, and 21 athlete support personnel who formed Jamaica’s delegation to the games.
These grants are in addition to over twenty million dollars disbursed to athletes under the Athletes Assistance Programme as they prepared for the Paris Games, according to Grange.
Junior athletes who competed at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru will also receive gift vouchers totaling J$760,000 from the Ministry.
The Minister was speaking at the press conference to announce the Jamaica leg of the new global athletics league, Grand Slam Track, being led by the former World and Olympic champion and record holder, Michael Johnson.
T&T to host inaugural Special Olympics Regional Beach Games
Trinidad & Tobago is set to create history next month when it plays home to the first-ever Special Olympics Regional Beach Games.
The Games is scheduled to run from November 8 to 10 and is being facilitated by Special Olympics T&T (SOTT), with the Digicel Foundation as one of the event’s main sponsors.
This new regional event will bring together 130 athletes, 70 coaches, and delegates from Special Olympics programmes across the Caribbean and North America to compete in a variety of beach sports, including Aquathlon, Beach Bocce, Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball and Open Water Swimming, at venues in both Trinidad and Tobago.
Digicel Foundation Chief Executive Officer Penny Gomez said the company was pleased to be associated with such an important event.
“The dedication and commitment demonstrated by our special athletes and coaches is nothing short of inspiring.
“It’s a great honour for T&T to have been selected to host the inaugural Special Olympics Regional Beach Games, and this recognition of our very own SOTT is very well-deserved,” Gomez said.
Special Olympics T&T (SOTT) is the only Special Olympics programme that currently includes the Beach Games as an annual multi-sport event and has done so since 2016.
CANOC President Keith Joseph commends Turks and Caicos for commitment to sport as a tool for national development
CANOC (Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees) President Keith Joseph has praised the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands for its strong commitment to using sport as a key pillar of the nation’s development strategy. Joseph's remarks came after a productive meeting held on Tuesday, October 15, at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters in Providenciales, signaling the start of CANOC’s week of activities in the country.
The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Social Services; Permanent Secretary Chery-Ann Jones; Director of Sports Keisha Taylor; Deputy Director of Sports Amin McCartney; Deputy Permanent Secretary Jarrett Forbes; and Alvin Parker, Deputy Director of the TCI Sports Commission. CANOC representatives at the meeting included General Secretary Brian Lewis and Second Vice President John Abramson Jr.
During the discussions, Minister Taylor and her team outlined various initiatives aimed at integrating sports into the nation’s overall development framework. Topics included government support for national sports federations, the importance of sports in schools, coaching development, and the potential for sport tourism to boost the economy. The conversation also touched on gender equality in sport, a global issue that remains relevant to local development efforts.
Joseph commended the government’s efforts, noting the key role sport can play in youth development. "We are very pleased with the Turks and Caicos’ proactive approach in using sport as a tool for addressing some of the challenges facing today’s youth. It’s encouraging to see a comprehensive strategy that focuses not only on competitive success but on using sport as a means to build character and develop the nation’s children into well-rounded individuals."
Minister Taylor highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives to engage youth in sports, emphasizing their broader goal of fostering commitment to the well-being of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Sport is seen not only as a path to healthier lifestyles but as a vehicle for national pride and community development.
The Turks and Caicos Islands also aim to capitalize on their natural beauty and strategic location to enhance sport tourism, a growing sector within the region. The government's vision includes developing policies and programs that position the islands as a premier destination for sporting events, training camps, and international conferences.
CANOC expressed its appreciation to the government for their continued support of the Commonwealth Games Association of the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially for hosting the meetings of the Commonwealth Games Federation, the CANOC Annual Workshop and General Assembly, and the first-ever CANOC Caribbean Sports Awards Gala.
Joseph reaffirmed CANOC’s commitment to working closely with the Turks and Caicos Islands to further enhance sport development in the region, underscoring the importance of sharing knowledge and best practices across Caribbean nations.
With the government’s strong backing and CANOC’s ongoing support, the Turks and Caicos Islands are poised to make significant strides in both national development through sport and sport tourism in the coming years.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
