Olympic gold medalist Thea LaFond-Gadson, a 2015 graduate of the University of Maryland, will be honoured during the university’s football game against Northwestern on Friday night at SECU Stadium. LaFond-Gadson, who made history this summer by winning Dominica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the triple jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be recognized on the field during the first quarter of the game.

LaFond-Gadson’s return to the University of Maryland is part of a broader celebration of her outstanding achievements. In addition to Friday’s honour, she will also serve as one of the grand marshals for the university’s Homecoming celebrations on October 18 and 19. Joining her as co-grand marshal is Alyssa Thomas, a 2014 graduate and basketball star who helped Team USA capture its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in women's basketball.

The honorary grand marshal role is a prestigious position reintroduced to homecoming for the first time in over a decade. LaFond-Gadson and Thomas will lead homecoming activities during the week of festivities, which culminates with Maryland’s football game against USC on October 19.

While LaFond-Gadson will be celebrated for her athletic prowess and for bringing pride to her home country of Dominica, Thomas will be further recognized with induction into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame that weekend.

Thea LaFond-Gadson’s incredible journey from collegiate athlete to Olympic champion exemplifies the values of hard work, determination, and resilience. Her return to the University of Maryland to be honored by her alma mater serves as an inspiration to current students, alumni, and the entire community.

Dominican Republic maintained their positive start to the Concacaf Nations League campaign, while Bermuda is now on the board as both registered victories in the League B, Group D double-header at the ABFA Technical Center in Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday.

The Dominican Republic defeated Dominica 2-0 in a top-of-the-table clash, and Bermuda clipped hosts Antigua and Barbuda 1-0 to end the September window on a positive note.

With the win, Dominican Republic moved up to six points, three ahead of Bermuda and Dominica, while Antigua and Barbuda will head into the next window without a point.

Dominican Republic vs. Dominica

Having won their opening encounters, this contest was expected to be a closely contested affair, but it was the Dominican Republic who proved the better team on the day.

Ronaldo Vasquez broke the deadlock with a cheeky finish in the 11th minute.

Dorny Romero doubled the lead with 25th-minute strike that secured the points for Dominican Republic to boost their promotion hopes.

Antigua and Barbuda vs. Bermuda

Bermuda’s 1-0 scoreline marked their first victory Antigua and Barbuda in an official match for the first time since 1992.

Kane Crichlow found the all-important goal in the 56th minute as he dazzled defenders with nippy footwork on his way to slotting home.

Antigua and Barbuda battled hard and should have had the equaliser in the 87th, but Keon Greene hit a volleyed effort just wide of the target from deep inside the 18-yard box.

Meanwhile, Belize, Barbados, and St Kitts and Nevis remained atop their respective League groups in League C.

Belize edged Anguilla 1-0 courtesy of Jordy Polanco’s 26th-minute strike to sit comfortably atop Group B on six points. Anguilla (three) and Turks and Caicos Islands (zero) follow.

Barbados, through goals from Carl Hinkson (15th), Niall Reid-Stephen (86th) and Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (90+3), topped US Virgin Islands 3-0 in Group A. Barbados now have six points, five ahead of Bahamas and US Virgin Islands with a point each.

Meanwhile, Tiquanny Williams with a brace in the 11th and 64th minutes, propelled St Kitts and Nevis to a 2-0 win over British Virgin Islands in Group C.

The win saw St Kitts and Nevis (six points) move three ahead of Cayman Islands (three points), as British Virgin Islands remain pointless.

The Caribbean will be well represented in the men’s and women’s 100m finals at the World Under-20 Championships as the main protagonists safely progressed from their respective semi-finals in Lima, Peru, on Tuesday.

Jamaica’s Deandre Daley cruised to victory in semi-final one to lead the men’s qualifiers with his 10.34s. Japan’s Naoki Nishioka (10.43s) also progressed.

Another Jamaican and medal favourite, Gary Card, was beaten into third in semi-final two, but his 10.39s was good enough for one of the fastest non-automatic qualifying spots. The race was won by Thailand’s Puripol Boonson (10.30s), ahead of South African Bradley Nkoana (10.30s). Carlos Brown Jr (10.63s) of the Bahamas missed out.

The other finalists are Bayanda Walaza (10.33s) of South Africa, Teddy Wilson (10.35s) of Great Britain, and China’s Jinxian He (10.36s).

On the women’s side, Kishawna Niles of Barbados easily progressed from semi-final one, which she topped in 11.39s ahead of Great Britain’s Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, who was also timed at 11.39s. Dominican Republic’s Liranyi Alonso (11.89s) finished down the track and missed out.

Jamaica’s Olympian Alana Reid expectedly topped semi-final two in 11.44s, ahead of Nigerian Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan (11.56s).

British Virgin Islands Olympian Adaejah Hodge (11.59s) booked her spot in the final as she placed second in the third semi-final behind Germany’s Chelsea Kadiri, who won in 11.52s. Puerto Rico’s Frances Colon (11.74s) was fourth but failed to secure one of the fastest non-automatic spots.

The 100m finals are scheduled for 6:30pm Jamaica time on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Lebron James of Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica’s Addison Alickson James both failed to progress to the men’s javelin finals. Lebron James threw a best of 62.67m for 13^th and Addison James mustered 60.58m for 15^th in Group A.

Dominican Olympic triple jump champion Thea LaFond-Gadson will receive her country’s highest national award, the Dominica Award for Honour, Dominican Prime Minister the hon. Roosevelt Skerrit announced on Tuesday.

LaFond-Gadson made history at the Paris Olympics in August, jumping a personal best and national record 15.02m to claim her country’s first ever Olympic medal.

This performance was the culmination of a brilliant 2024 for the 30-year-old when it comes to major championships.

She also took gold at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March, her country’s first medal at a global championship.

In addition to her national award, LaFond-Gadson will also receive $400,000, a lot at Warner and a diplomatic appointment as a sports ambassador.

“We once again congratulate Thea on her achievement and wish her continued success in her athletics career,” Skerrit said.

Barbados and Bermuda were among teams that opened their 2024 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Boys’ U-14 Challenge Series campaigns in convincing manners with 6-2 and 4-0 victories over St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada on Friday.

The tournament being hosted in Trinidad and Tobago started as expected, with Barbados dominating proceedings in a lopsided Group A, Tier II affair against St Vincent and the Grenadines. Games are played over 70 minutes.

Barbados broke the deadlock in the fourth minute through Maleek Peters, who tucked away a rebound after St Vincent and the Grenadines goalkeeper Kevon Phillips saved captain Jamarco Johnson’s effort.

They doubled the lead four minutes later, courtesy of Sacha Pounder, who finished a pass from Trey Barker.

St Vincent and the Grenadines pulled one back in the 17th when Jomain Ollivierre latched onto a through pass from Beau Hoyte and fired past goalkeeper Shaquan King.

Barker’s second assist came in the 32nd when he played a cross to Johnson, who finished from a tight angle to put Barbados 3-1 up at the break.

St Vincent and the Grenadines again reduced the deficit in the 42nd through Xavier Thorne's own goal. However, that was all they would get from the contest, as Barbados took control from there when Peters completed his brace in the 45th.

Substitute Rajari Rollins in the 50th with an easy finish from a Barker assist to make it 5-2 for Barbados. Barker was eventually rewarded for his efforts with a strike of his own in the 59th to complete the 6-2 scoreline.

Bermuda 4-0 Grenada

Bermuda also dominated their first match of Tier II Group C against Grenada at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Jeon Wolfe got Bermuda’s show going with a quick brace in the sixth and seventh minutes. He opened the scoring with a tidy finish from a Zydon Lightbourne Furbert assist and then slotted into an empty net a minute later.

An unfortunate own-goal pushed Grenada further behind, before Lightbourne Furbert capped Bermuda’s win with a 38th-minute strike.

Anguilla 1- 3 Turks and Caicos Islands

Over at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Turks and Caicos Islands scored a comfortable 3-1 win over Anguilla when the teams met in Tier II, Group B action.

Turks and Caicos struck first in the fourth minute courtesy of Wilsony Charles, who made no mistakes from close range. They doubled the lead a minute later when Khazaiviyon Basden-Darvol converted from the penalty spot, and that just about signalled the writing on the wall for Anguilla.

Anguilla pulled one back in the 36th through Zahir Hennis, who tucked home at the far post. However, Turk and Caicos restored their two-goal cushion and, by extension, wrapped up the win when Charles completed his brace with a well-driven shot from just outside the 18-yard box.

Antigua and Barbuda 2-1 Guyana

Antigua and Barbuda scored a 2-1 win over Guyana in Tier II Group A play at Larry Gomes Stadium.

Captain Shemar Walters opened the scoring for Antigua and Barbuda in the second minute with a well-taken effort.

Guyana's Mark Glasgow pulled his team level when he fired home in the 15th to keep things interesting.

But their celebrations were short-lived as Luke Harney Rogerson restored Antigua and Barbuda’s lead with a 21st-minute effort.

Though they continued to create chances, Antigua and Barbuda failed to add to their tally, but will hope to improve their scoring form in their next encounter on Sunday.

Bonaire 2-1 St. Lucia 

Bonaire secured a 2-1 hard-fought victory over St Lucia at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Tier II, Group C.

St Lucia dominated the opening moments, mainly through Randall Monroe, as the Bonaire defenders found the lanky winger’s running and technical ability difficult to handle. The St Lucians were rewarded for their early hard work and took the lead in the match through an own goal.  

Monroe got in behind the defence, and his cross found Eustace Blackstock on the back post. Blackstock’s redirected header came off Bonaire’s Julian Garcia Henriquez to give St. Lucia a 1-0 lead.

Bonaire drew level through Rayvion Simon, whose powerful volley from the top of the penalty area left Jervonti Toussaint rooted to the spot.

Margall Statie then gifted Bonaire the lead in the 32nd minute when got on the end of a Rushando Arrow whipped cross and finished with a expert header. 

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday. Bonaire plays Bermuda, and St Lucia takes on St Maarten.

Dominica 3-0 British Virgin Islands

Dominica blanked British Virgin Islands 3-0 when the teams met in Tier II Group B at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Che Etienne opened the scoring in the 11^th with an easy finish through the legs of BVI’s custodian, Trevon Steven. 

Taran George quickly made it 2-0 in the 12th with a comfortable finish from close range. He later completed his brace and his team’s victory with a 28-minute strike.

Dominica play the US Virgin Islands at 6:00 pm on Saturday, while BVI play Turks and Caicos Islands at 4:00 pm. 

The 2024 Paris Olympics marked a historic moment for the English-speaking Caribbean, with athletes from the region delivering extraordinary performances that etched their names into Olympic history. This edition of the Games was particularly significant for several Caribbean nations, as they celebrated groundbreaking victories and shattered longstanding records, further solidifying the region's presence on the global stage.

St Lucia experienced a moment of immense national pride, as the island nation secured its first-ever Olympic medals in spectacular fashion. Julien Alfred became a household name after she clinched gold in the women’s 100m, blazing across the finish line in a remarkable 10.72 seconds, breaking her own national record and earning St Lucia its first Olympic gold. Alfred’s incredible speed nearly led her to a double triumph, but she settled for silver in the women’s 200m, clocking a commendable 22.08 seconds. These achievements not only catapulted Alfred into the spotlight but also marked a historic milestone for St Lucia, a small island nation now basking in the glory of its Olympic success.

Dominica also had its first taste of Olympic victory, thanks to the outstanding performance of Thea LaFond. Competing in the women’s triple jump, LaFond delivered a stunning leap of 15.02m, breaking the national record and securing Dominica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. LaFond’s triumph in Paris resonated deeply within the nation, bringing joy and pride to Dominicans worldwide.

Grenada, a nation with a rich Olympic history, added to its growing medal tally with two more bronze medals. Anderson Peters, a seasoned javelin thrower, once again demonstrated his prowess by securing bronze in the men’s javelin throw with an impressive distance of 88.54m. Lindon Victor further bolstered Grenada’s standing with a hard-fought bronze in the men’s decathlon, excelling across 10 grueling events to earn his place on the podium.

It was the first time that the Spice Island had won multiple medals at the same Olympic Games. These achievements continued Grenada’s tradition of Olympic success, adding new chapters to the island’s storied athletic history.

Jamaica, a nation synonymous with sprinting dominance, experienced a shift in its Olympic narrative at the 2024 Games, with the majority of its six medals coming from field events. Roje Stona led the charge, breaking the Olympic record in the men’s discus throw with a colossal throw of 70.00m, securing Jamaica’s first and only gold medal of the Games. Wayne Pinnock contributed to the island’s medal haul with a silver in the men’s long jump, leaping an impressive 8.36m. Rajindra Campbell added to the field event success with a bronze in the men’s shot put, delivering a powerful throw of 22.15m.

Shanieka Ricketts also created history when she won the silver medal in the triple jump, securing Jamaica’s first ever medal in the field at an Olympic Games.

In addition to their field event successes, Jamaica’s sprinters also made their mark. Kishane Thompson, a rising star in the sprinting world, claimed silver in the men’s 100m with a blistering time of 9.79 seconds, a result determined by a photo finish that showcased the razor-thin margins of victory at the highest level.

 Rasheed Broadbell added to Jamaica’s sprinting legacy by earning a bronze in the 110m hurdles, clocking a season-best 13.09 seconds in another photo finish that highlighted the intense competition in Paris.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered as a landmark event for the Caribbean, where athletes from St Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, and Jamaica not only created history but also underscored the region’s growing influence in global athletics. These remarkable performances brought immense pride to their nations and showcased the Caribbean’s burgeoning talent and determination on the world stage. As the athletes returned home, they carried with them not just medals, but also the hopes and dreams of their countries, inspiring future generations to strive for greatness.

Day 8 of Track and Field at the 2024 Paris Olympics was a day of mixed emotions for Caribbean athletes, highlighted by a standout performance from Jamaica's women in the 4x100m relay. As the morning session unfolded, the Jamaican quartet delivered a strong run to secure their place in the finals, a beacon of hope on an otherwise challenging day for the region.

The Jamaican team, comprised of Alana Reid, Kemba Nelson, Shashalee Forbes, and Tia Clayton finished third in their heat with a season-best time of 42.35 seconds, which placed them sixth overall and earned them a coveted spot in the finals.

In stark contrast, Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s relay team faced disappointment. Despite their best efforts, they finished eighth in their heat with a time of 43.99 seconds, which was not enough to advance to the finals. The team, consisting of Akilah Lewis, Sole Frederick, Sanaa Frederick, and Leah Bertrand, gave it their all but ultimately fell short.

The men’s 4x100m relay saw similar heartbreak for Jamaica. The team, made up of Ackeem Blake, Jelani Walker, Jehlani Gordon, and Kishane Thompson, ran a season-best time of 38.45 seconds but finished fourth in their heat and 11th overall, failing to make it to the finals. It was a bitter pill to swallow as they had high hopes for a strong finish.

Elsewhere, the Caribbean faced tough outcomes in other events.

In the women's shot put, Jamaica's Danniel Thomas-Dodd and Lloydricia Cameron, along with Trinidad & Tobago's Portious Warren, did not advance past the qualification round. Thomas-Dodd threw 18.12m, Cameron achieved a season-best of 18.02m, and Warren managed 17.22m. Their efforts were valiant but fell short of the 19.15m qualification standard, ending their Olympic journeys in this event.

The women's 100m hurdles also saw Caribbean athletes falling short. Emelia Chatfield of Haiti and Denisha Cartwright of the Bahamas competed fiercely but did not make it past the repechage round. Chatfield finished sixth in her heat with a time of 13.24 seconds, while Cartwright was seventh, clocking 13.45 seconds. Despite their strong performances, they were unable to advance to the semifinals.

In the men's 800m, St Vincent and the Grenadines' Handal Roban, Jamaica’s Navasky Anderson, and Dominica’s Dennick Luke all faced similar fates in the repechage round. Roban finished fourth with a time of 1:45.80, Anderson fifth in his heat with 1:46.01, and Luke set a national record of 1:46.81 but finished sixth in his heat. None of these times were sufficient to move on to the semifinals, marking the end of their Olympic campaigns in this event.

The anticipation for the 2024 Paris Olympics is building as Caribbean athletes have arrived in the French capital, sharing their experiences and activities on social media. Ahead of Friday's highly anticipated Opening Ceremony, these athletes are giving fans a glimpse into their Olympic journey.

Dominican triple jumper Thea Lafond was among the first to share her arrival in Paris. In an Instagram post captioned "We Made It," she stands proudly with her husband and coach in front of a Paris 2024 banner, capturing the excitement of reaching this milestone. Her coach and husband, Aaron Gadson, has been documenting their stay in Paris on his Instagram page, showcasing their arrival, the layout of the Olympic Village, and various facilities, including the training center, cafeteria, and entertainment center.

Team Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also in Paris ahead of the games. The SVG Olympic Committee shared images on Instagram of their team, which includes swimmers Alexander Joachim and Kennice Greene, poolside and in training for the Olympics. Joachim and Greene are set to compete in the 50m freestyle events. Track and field athletes Shafiqua Maloney and Handal Roban, competing in the women's and men's 800m events respectively, have also been spotted training on the track.

 Jamaica's athletes have started to arrive in Paris as well. Navasky Anderson, who will run in the 800m, posted on Instagram about his arrival and shared videos from the Olympic Village, showing his teammates in high spirits. Jaydon Hibbert, set to compete in the men's triple jump, detailed his journey to Paris in a vlog on his X and Instagram accounts, capturing the excitement of arriving with teammates and settling into the Olympic Village.

Long jumper Chanice Porter took to Instagram to share photos of herself and other athletes in Paris. She reposted a photo with Cejhae Green, an Antiguan and Barbudan sprinter competing in the men's 100m. In an Instagram story, Porter can be seen sitting in the Olympic rings beside teammate Jehlani Gordon, who will compete in the 4x100m relay.

 Barbadian athlete Sada Williams, who will compete in the women’s 400m, announced her arrival in Paris with a picture captioned "Paris, I've arrived!" on Instagram, adding to the growing excitement among fans.

 Fans have been flooding the athletes' posts with positive comments, offering words of encouragement and praise. The vibrant social media updates have not only provided a behind-the-scenes look at the Olympic preparations but have also heightened the anticipation and excitement for the upcoming games.

 As more Caribbean athletes continue to arrive in Paris, their enthusiasm and high spirits are palpable. They are eager to represent their countries and showcase their talents on the world stage, bringing pride to their nations and inspiring fans back home.

Jamaica's assistant coach, John Wall, voiced strong criticism following the Reggae Boyz's 3-2 win over Dominica in their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier on Sunday. Despite securing three points, Wall expressed disappointment with Jamaica's performance and the substandard condition of the pitch at Windsor Park.

"The result was better than the performance," Wall stated bluntly. "We should have killed this game a lot earlier based on the chances that we had. The conversion rate was low. The best of it was the result—we got away with three points."

The state of the pitch was another sore point for Wall, who didn't mince words about its impact on the game. "It was more based on the pitch," he said regarding the slow tempo of Jamaica’s play. "There was a lot more to ask for. It was a 120m in depth and 72/75m wide; that’s a cricket pitch. For me, it’s not up to standard."

Reflecting on the match, Wall acknowledged Dominica's commendable performance and their effective counter-attacks. "Overall, Dominica performed well, and counter-attacked with the two, three players that they had up front. But overall we should have contained the game much better and just finished it off with the chances that we had," he added.

Jamaica entered the match on a high note following their 1-0 victory against the Dominican Republic in Kingston on June 6. However, despite creating numerous scoring opportunities, the Reggae Boyz struggled to find the net until the 31st minute when Shamar Nicholson broke the deadlock.

Kaheim Dixon doubled Jamaica’s lead just before halftime, scoring from close range to send the team into the break with a 2-0 advantage. The second half mirrored the first, with Jamaica continuing to squander opportunities. Dixon missed a glaring chance by hitting the upright from inside the box, while Nicholson also failed to convert several chances, often thwarted by goalkeeper Glenson Prince.

With 10 minutes remaining, Nicholson finally added a third goal from the penalty spot after a Dominica defender handled the ball inside the box. This goal proved crucial as Dominica mounted a late comeback.

Javid George capitalized on a counter-attack, beating an advancing Jahmali Waite and scoring into an empty net. Moments later, Troy Jules fired in a stunning free kick from just outside the 18-yard box, making it 3-2.

Nicholson had a chance to secure the win but lobbed the ball over the advancing Prince and the crossbar, leaving Jamaica to hold on for a nervy finish.

Suriname, Curacao, Nicaragua, and Guatemala opened their Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers account on a winning note, while Trinidad and Tobago had to come from behind to secure a point against Grenada in Second Round action across the region on Wednesday.

While the four winners pocketed three points to take pole positions in their respective groups, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada shared the spoils after a 2-2 stalemate, and so too did Antigua and Barbuda and Bermuda, who battled to a 1-1 scoreline.

Antigua and Barbuda vs Bermuda

Antigua and Barbuda and Bermuda locked horns in Group A at the ABFA Technical Centre in Piggotts.

Raheem Deterville sent the hosts in front with a 26th-minute strike from inside of the penalty arc. The assist came from a long pass over the top by D’Andre Bishop.

However, Bermuda rescued a point in the 90th through Sachiel Ming, who picked up a pass from Kane Crichlow and slotted home from close range.

Up next for Antigua and Barbuda is a trip to the Cayman Islands on Saturday, while Bermuda will host Honduras on Sunday at the Bermuda National Sports Centre.

Suriname vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Suriname registered a comfortable 4-1 victory over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to get their Group F campaign going at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium in Paramaribo.

Oalex Anderson gave St Vincent and Grenadines a dream start, when he pounced on a loose ball and converted in the 31st minute.

But Sheraldo Becker pulled Suriname level in the 39th from the penalty spot after Immanuel-Johannes Pherai was taken down inside the danger area.

Jeredy Hilterman then pushed Suriname ahead in the 45+3 minutes as he rose above defenders to head home from Pherai’s weighted cross.

From 2-1 at the break, Suriname wasted little time to press the ascendancy on the resumption, as Justin Lonwijk pushed them further ahead with a well-taken 46th-minute effort, to make it 3-1.

Jaden Montnor then capped the win in the 70th minute.

Suriname will visit Anguilla on Saturday, while Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will remain in Suriname to play host to El Salvador, at the same venue, on Sunday.

Trinidad and Tobago vs. Grenada

Trinidad and Tobago’s opener produced a less than desirable outcome, as they had to dig deep for the 2-2 stalemate with Grenada in Group B action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

The Soca Warriors found themselves on the backfoot when Myles Hippolyte converted a 24th-minute penalty to gift Grenada an early lead, after the ball was handled inside the red zone.

And before they could catch their breaths, Grenada doubled the lead four minutes later when Hippolyte rifled home off the volley, beating Trinidad and Tobago’s custodian Denzil Smith, all ends up in the 28th minute.

Needing to respond, Trinidad and Tobago did just that through Ryan Telfer, who got on the end of a through pass from Reon Moore and calmly slotted home in the 43rd to make it 2-1 at the break.

Moore later found the equalizer in the 74th from a well-worked counter attack to secure a share of the spoils.

Trinidad and Tobago will next be away to Bahamas on Saturday in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, with Grenada to host Costa Rica on Sunday in St. George's.

Curaçao vs. Barbados

Curaçao began their campaign with a tidy 4-1 victory over Barbados in Group C action at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad.

Rangelo Janga opened the scoring in the 25th with a close range effort.

Curacao had to wait until the 62nd to double their lead as Janga again found space inside the area to slot home. He completed his hat-trick in the 85th from the penalty spot.

Niall Reid-Stephen pulled one back for Barbados in the 90+2, also from the 12-yard spot. But Gervane Kastaneer found another for Curacao which served as icing on the cake.

Curaçao will visit Aruba in Oranjestad on Saturday, while Barbados will host Haiti in Bridgetown on Sunday.

Nicaragua vs. Montserrat

Nicaragua also completed a 4-1 win over Montserrat in Group D at the National Football Stadium in Managua.

It was a frantic start to the contest, as the host went ahead through Jaime Moreno, who expertly headed home in the fourth minute. But Brandon Barzey pulled Montserrat level in the 10th.

However, that was all the visitors would get as Junior Arteaga pushed Nicaragua back in front with a well-taken 23rd-minute freekick.

Jacob Montes fired home from the edge of the 18-yard box to extend the lead in the 70^th, before Harold Medina capped the win in the 90+3.

Nicaragua will visit Belize on Saturday in Belmopan. Montserrat will remain in Managua to face Panama on Sunday.

Guatemala vs. Dominica

Guatemala registered the widest victory margin on the day, as they hammered Dominica 6-0 in Group E at the Doroteo Guamuch Flores Stadium in Guatemala City.

Alejandro Galindo started the rout in the third minute, before Allen Yanes headed in an Oscar Santis cross to make it 2-0 in the 28th.

Galindo completed his brace in the 49th when he converted off a follow-up attempt after Glenson Prince’s shot from a distance was kept out.

Rubio Rubin added his name to the scoresheet from a 59th-minute header, before Jose Martinez made it 5-0 in the 79th from a setplay.

Jose Morales capped the win in the 84th with a strike from distance.

Guatemala will play the British Virgin Islands on Saturday, while Dominica hosts Jamaica on Sunday.

If ever rising Dominican sprint sensation Kerelle Etienne required an extra bit of motivation to keep pushing in her budding career, she would have received it during a recent sit down with Jamaica's World and Olympic medallist Shericka Jackson.

Jackson, one of the world's most prominent athletes, took the time to mentor Etienne, a 15-year-old talent hailing from Bagatele, who attends Edwin Allen High School, situated in central Jamaica.

Currently the fifth fastest woman of all time over 100 metres, and the fastest woman alive and second fastest woman in history over 200m, the decorated Jackson shared insight and encouragement with Etienne, as she motivated the young sensation to continue striving for greatness.

Etienne, who is supported by a scholarship from the school, as well as the Dominica Olympic Committee and Cheryl Rolle, boasts big dreams, and has already put her immense potential on display when she secured a fourth-place finish in a brisk11.85 seconds, as the recent 51st Carifta Games in Grenada.

Prior to that, Etienne contributed valuable points to Edwin Allen's tally which saw them reclaim the girls' title at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championship at Jamaica's National Stadium.

While pointing out that training in Jamaica is more difficult than it is in Dominica, Etienne has adapted well under the guidance of Michael Dyke.

"The training here in Jamaica is much harder than in my country, but I am coping well with it as I really want to make my friends and family proud back home," Etienne said in a recent interview.

"It feels so good competing on this (synthetic) type of track as all our competition back home is done on grass. Edwin Allen High has been my dream school in Jamaica. I kept in touch with their performances on YouTube and I am really happy to be a member of the team now," she added.

Barbados maintained their stranglehold of the Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Championships, as the island's Under-16 netballers secured a third-consecutive hold on the title after bettering Grenada in the finals at the Beausejour Indoor Facility in St Lucia, on Wednesday.

The young Gems, led by goalshooter and tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Keanna Harte, outclassed their opponents 27-19 to again end the tournament with an unbeaten record intact.

Harte netted 19 of her 21 attempts, as goal-attack Tyesha Trotman scored seven of her 10 attempts, while Tyra Griffith had a solitary goal from three attempts. Grenada's effort was led by Keisha Mathurine who scored 17 goals from 22 attempts and goal-attack Reshonna Francis, who had two goals from three attempts.

Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and hosts St Lucia were the other participating countries.

To stamp their dominance, the Baby Gems also took home the majority of awards on offer. They won prizes for best uniform, most disciplined team, best spirited team, best goal average and best defending team, and placed second in the shooting competition.

Harte along with Deeya Forde-Haynes, Chelsea Best, Trotman and Griffith were also named in the top 16 players of the tournament.

President of the Barbados Netball Association, Dr Carmeta Douglin was full of praise for the team. She said the impressive showing by the Cameron Greenidge-coached team was as a result of hard work and dedication by the juniors.

“A big congratulations to our Baby Bajan Gems who have done extremely well once again at the Jean Pierre Caribbean Netball tournament. They have dominated this tournament for the last three years winning every game that they played and this year in St Lucia they were victorious in every game in the preliminary round, in the knockout and now they are the champions once again, so congratulations to the entire team," she told Barbados TODAY

“They usually start very slow in the first and second quarters, but they built the momentum and by the third quarter they really outplayed everyone. They also captured a number of different awards, and we would like to congratulate every player,” Douglin added.

As the much-anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup draws closer, Cricket West Indies president Dr Kishore Shallow expressed satisfaction with the region’s state of readiness for global showpiece which is jointly hosted by in the Caribbean and United States.

Shallow’s remarks followed a recent visit Kensington Oval in Barbados where he was assured that all was on course for the June 1-29 tournament.

Barbados will host nine matches– five in the group stage, three in the Super Eight second stage, and the final on June 29, which will mark the third such ICC marquee game to be staged at the venue following on from the historic One-Day International World Cup in 2007 and the 2010 T20 World Cup.

Though West Indies will not feature in any group stage games at the Oval, a box office fixture between reigning T20 World champions England and Australia is on the cards for June 8.

Ambassador Noel Lynch, chairman of the National Organising Committee, in a recent media conference said that the major elements of the storied venue would be delivered to tournament authorities next week while the remaining elements would be completed by month end.

“On the eastern concourse where there’s the party stand and the temporary facility, and all of those facilities that are coming in, we are sure that we’ll hand over those on the 30th of April. But we’ll hand over the major parts that you know – the 3Ws, the Greenidge and Haynes, the Media Centre, the field of play, the scoreboards, all of the electronic boards – will be finished within a week and handed over,” Lynch said.

“I think that’s ahead of schedule. I think Barbados has done an exceptional job. It wasn’t my job … when I came back from the US, we were already very far advanced in terms of the progress – the infrastructural progress at Kensington Oval,” he added.

Shallow agreed, as he gave the thumbs up to Barbados and other host venues across the region, who are well advanced in preparation for the tournament.

“Well ahead of schedule. I’m happy with the progress we’ve made so far with the World Cup and it’s definitely going to be a spectacle of an event and something we should all look forward to,” Shallow said.

He later revealed that there was one territory that was lagging behind in their preparations, but was reluctant to name the island.

Along with Barbados, games will also be played in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Only one facility in the Caribbean, one country (is) probably a couple weeks behind schedule, but we have their commitment that they are going to accelerate. It might take some day and night application but no doubt, by June 1, every country in the Caribbean is going to be ready,” Shallow shared.

British Virgin Islands booked their spot in the second round of the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers, following a 4-2 penalty shootout win over US Virgin Islands in their play-off contest at the AO Shirley Recreation Ground in Road Town, BVI, on Tuesday.

After playing out a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg, both teams again failed to separate themselves in a goalless second-leg encounter and so it was down to the dreaded penalties to decide the outcome. In the end, it was British Virgin Islands that held their nerves best from the 12-yard spot to progress to the business round of qualification.

They will join Jamaica, Dominica, Dominican Republic and Guatemala in Group E for the second round of the qualifiers, which are scheduled to run between June 2024 and June 2025. A total of 30 countries will vie for spots in the final round. 

The final round which will be played between September and November 2025, will see teams battling for five spots to the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted jointly by Concacaf powerhouses Mexico, United States and Canada.

Of the five teams, three will earn direct qualification, while the other two spots will be decided via a play-offs.

In a historic moment at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, Thea LaFond from Dominica leaped into the record books, securing her place as the first Dominican to clinch a medal at a world indoor championships. Her triumphant victory in the triple jump with a lifetime best and world-leading 15.01m showcased not only her exceptional talent but also the power of inspiration drawn from fellow Caribbean athlete Julien Alfred of St. Lucia.

The connection between these two neighboring nations, Dominica and St. Lucia, goes beyond geographical proximity, as they share cultural similarities that run deep. The impact of Julien Alfred's gold medal win in the 60m dash the previous night reverberated strongly for LaFond, eliciting emotional tears of joy.

"So Julien is from St Lucia, she is a neighboring country, Dominica. We share a lot of similarities cultural-wise, and I would be lying to you if I said I didn't cry last night (Saturday) when I saw her gold," LaFond expressed, reflecting on the profound connection that binds these two island nations.

Fuelled by the desire to replicate the success of her compatriot, LaFond reached out to her husband, Aaron, expressing her yearning for victory. His reassuring words became the catalyst for her exceptional performance, as she recalled, "I messaged Aaron, and I told him that I so desperately want this, I don't want to disappoint, and his words back to me were like, 'It's OK, it's your turn.'"

As LaFond stepped onto the track after the introductions, a powerful motivation fueled her. She envisioned a "1-2 punch for the Lesser Antilles islands," with Julien Alfred being the first punch the night before. Determined and inspired, she declared, "Let's do it. Let's do it."

The resonance of Julien Alfred's achievement echoed in LaFond's heart, transforming the competition into a celebration of the prowess of small Caribbean nations. "But it was amazing inspiration last night and filled me with such pride. And once again, these small countries doing such amazing things. And I knew St. Lucia was going to be so proud, and I wanted that same feeling for Dominica," LaFond shared.

Expressing her gratitude and congratulations to Julien Alfred, LaFond celebrated the shared success of their neighboring islands. "So, a huge thank you and congratulations to Julien Alfred for the inspiration late last night and of course that gold medal. Twinsies!" she exclaimed, celebrating the unique bond and collective triumph of the Caribbean athletes on the global stage.