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• Jamaican-born Olympian Linford Christie honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award by Sporting Equals

  Legendary sprinter Linford Christie OBE was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by Sporting Equals on Saturday, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the world of sport and society. Christie, one of Britain's most decorated athletes, has left an indelible mark on athletics, and his legacy continues to inspire future generations.

  The award, presented by Sporting Equals—a charity dedicated to promoting equality in sports for ethnically diverse communities—celebrates an individual who has made a significant impact on sport and society. Christie’s accomplishments on the track, coupled with his dedication to coaching and supporting athletes, made him a fitting recipient of the honour.

  Born on April 2, 1960, in Saint Andrew, Jamaica, Christie’s journey to athletic greatness began when he moved to Acton, London, at the age of seven to join his parents, who had emigrated to the United Kingdom five years earlier. Although he excelled in physical education at Henry Compton Secondary School in Fulham, it wasn’t until he was 18 that he took up athletics seriously.

  Christie's rise to prominence culminated in his gold medal triumph in the 100m at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, following his silver medal performance in the same event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His illustrious career also saw him win World, European, and Commonwealth titles, making him the first man in history to hold all four titles in the 100m simultaneously in 1993. Christie's longstanding British 100m record of 9.87 seconds stood for nearly 30 years before being broken in 2023, cementing his place as one of the fastest men in the world.

  After hanging up his spikes, Christie transitioned into coaching, where he has continued to make significant contributions to the sport. As a speed coach, he has mentored a new generation of British sprinters, including Bianca Williams, Ama Pipi, and recent England champion Darcey Kuypers. His expertise and guidance have helped shape the future of British athletics, ensuring that his impact on the sport extends far beyond his competitive years.

  Sporting Equals, which was established in 1998 in partnership with the Commission for Racial Equality and Sport England, plays a vital role in promoting race equality in sport and fostering community cohesion. The organization became fully independent in 2005 and has been at the forefront of efforts to eradicate racism in sport. Co-founded by Lorraine Deschamps MBE, Angela Francis, and Beverley Mason FRSA, Sporting Equals achieved charitable status in 2007 and continues to honor individuals like Christie who have made significant contributions to both sport and society.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Veteran track & field coaches Maurice Wilson, Kerrylee Ricketts, and Corey Bennett among honourees at National Coaches Day Awards; USA’s Ryan Crouser to receive special award

  The Jamaica Track & Field Coaches Association has announced that esteemed track and field coaches Maurice Wilson, Kerrylee Ricketts, and Corey Bennett are among several coaches who will be honoured on November 15, 2024, as part of the annual National Coaches Day celebrations. The awards recognize long-standing service and contributions to the development of Jamaican athletics, with categories acknowledging coaches' years of dedication and impact on the sport.

  The awards, presented across five categories, celebrate the longevity and influence of track and field coaches in Jamaica. The categories include the Silver Award (20-25 years of service), Gold Award (26-30 years), Platinum Award (30-40 years), Lifetime Achievement Award (over 40 years), and the prestigious Master Coach Award. The recipients of these awards were selected by a committee from nominations submitted by members of the Association.

  Wilson, a veteran coach with decades of experience guiding athletes to the highest levels of international success, will be presented with the Platinum Award. Joining him in this category are notable figures such as Bertland Cameron, John Mair, Locksley Anderson, Richard Derby, Patrick Johnson, and Clarence Greenfield. Wilson has been a pivotal figure in the development of numerous Olympic and World Championship athletes, and his continued excellence in the field is well-regarded across the sporting world.

  Bennett, known for his exceptional work with youth athletes and his contributions to the success of Jamaica’s junior programs, will be awarded the Gold Award. Bennett's influence has extended across multiple levels of the sport, from high school to the international stage, helping to cultivate the next generation of Jamaican track and field talent. Alongside Bennett in the Gold Award category are Lloyd Clarke and Hamlin Pagon.

  

  Ricketts, another influential coach known for developing world-class jumpers, will be honoured with the Silver Award for his contribution to the sport. Ricketts has been instrumental in shaping athletes who have represented Jamaica with distinction in regional and global competitions. Joining him in receiving the Silver Award are Joyclyn Gibson, Marlo Kinghorn, Milton Seargeant, Megan Wilson-Copeland, Marsha Simpson-Montaque, and Gavin James.

  The awards ceremony, which will take place under the theme "The Coach: Developing, Empowering and Enriching Athletes," will also honour four coaches with Lifetime Achievement Awards, including Mike Ollivierre, Victor “Poppie” Thomas, Leacroft Bolt, and Raymond “KC” Graham. These veteran coaches have each contributed more than 40 years of service to Jamaican athletics, playing pivotal roles in nurturing talent and elevating the nation's track and field reputation on the world stage.

  Additionally, American coach Ryan Crouser will receive the Hector-Smith Master Coach Award for his guidance of Jamaican athlete Roje Stona to a historic gold medal in the men’s discus at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This award is named in honor of the late Jamaican coaching legends Edward Hector and Eldemire Smith.

   The Jamaica Track & Field Coaches Association, recognized internationally and endorsed by both the JAAA and World Athletics, has held this annual event since 2022 to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of coaches across all levels of track and field. National Coaches Day, declared by the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Linton Allen, on September 27, 2022, serves as a day of recognition for coaches' involvement in athlete development and their significant role in shaping Jamaica’s national psyche.

   

   

   

   

   

• Calabar edge STATHS 1-0 to assume pole position in Zone D of Manning Cup; reigning champions Clarendon College among winners in dCup

  Calabar High School regained pole position in Zone D of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup following a 1-0 win over St Andrew Technical (STATHS) in a top-of-the-table clash at their Red Hills Road base on Saturday.

  Jaheim Rankine got the all-important strike in the 34th minute to extend their unbeaten run across five matches and push Calabar up to 16 points, same as STATHS, who were relegated to second with a slightly inferior goal difference. Haile Selassie (nine points), Camperdown (seven points), Vauxhall (six points) and Kingston Technical (zero point) complete the standings.

  Winning coach Andrew Price welcomed the character shown by his team on this occasion to overturn their first leg loss, as players occupied unfamiliar position.

  “The players are resilient; we played today without two of frontline central defenders so we had to patch up the team today and people played in positions that they don’t normally play in. But we have a system that we have been playing for the entire season and once people fit into the system, then the team will play well and they showed some depth and character today to get the three points against a very good STATHS team,” Price said.

  “I think we needed to be a bit more clinical in front of goal, but our strength is our defensive structure; we have only conceded two goals so far in the entire Manning Cup, which shows that we are very sound defensively, and we want to keep it that way. We are developing a football culture here at the school and we are going to continue to work diligently to ensure that we get some success along the line,” he added.

  STATHS started more purposefully and created a few half chances in the early exchanges as the teams battled heavy underfoot conditions due to afternoon showers.

  The Bumper Hall-based team should have broken the deadlock approaching the 20th minute mark but Ajetai Marshall muffed his effort from close range.

  Calabar got into their rhythm and went close to finding the lead at the half-hour mark, but Rankin’s left-footed shot from a distance was parried by Jaheem Williams in goal for STATHS.

  It is often said if you fail to succeed try again, and Rankine did just that to put Calabar in front as he released an even more delightful strike from about 30 yards out that had Williams beaten all ends up.

  Calabar went close to doubling their advantage in 41st, but Williams got down well to his right on this occasion to steer Jayden Perry’s left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box wide.

  With the score unchanged at the break, STATHS made a push for the equaliser but failed to create any meaningful chances, and frustration inevitably set in, resulting in Alexavier Gooden being sent off for a second yellow in the 54th.

  The numerical advantage created a few openings for Calabar, the best of which came in the 61st Rankine, who rounded the goalkeeper but selfishly went for shot from a tight angle instead of floating a cross in for Perry.

  As the game approached its end, substitute Christiano Brown thought he stole a point for STATHS when she slid one through the goalkeeper’s legs, but the goal was belatedly flagged for an offside.

  That left Head coach Phillip Williams disgusted as he called out the officiating as the worst part of the encounter.

  “It is unfortunate that ISSA has invested so much and the schools have invested so much and the poor officiating just takes away from the game. I think that was the worst thing today; both teams played some decent football but the officiating needs to be better.

  “I think what we didn’t do today was score, we have a style of football that we play and we played that today even when we went down a man but referees need to be better in Jamaica, they are very poor,” a disappointed Williams said.

  Saturday’s Manning Cup Results

  Calabar 1, STATHS 0

  Dunoon Park 0, Eltham 0

  Ardenne High 0, Hydel High 8

  Ascot High 0, Jamaica College 5

  Excelsior High 15, Pembroke Hall 0

  Holy Trinity 0, St George’s College 5

  Camperdown 0, Vauxhall 0

  Saturday’s daCosta Cup Results

  Munro 0, Maggotty 0

  Manchester 1, Belair 0

  Glenmuir 4, Old Harbour 0

  Ocho Rios 8, Ferncourt 1

  Anchovy 1, Green Island 2

  McGrath 0, Dinthill 0

  Maldon High 4, St James 1

  Irwin High 1, Cornwall College 4

  Green Pond 5, Herbert Morrison 2

  Grange Hill 0, Godfrey Stewart 1

  Mannings 6, Little London 0

  Muschett 0, Cedric Titus 13

  Spot Valley 0, William Knibb 0

  Happy Grove 2, Morant Bay 0

  Tacius Golding 0, Charlemont 3

  Cross Keys 1, DeCarteret College 5

  Newell 0, Lacovia 1

  B.B Coke 1, STETHS 3

  Claude McKay 0, Clarendon College 7

  Central 2, Edwin Allen 1

  Knockalva 0, Frome Tech 8

  Cambridge 1, Rusea’s High 3