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• Jamaica, USVI to represent Caribbean at Men’s World Lacrosse Box Champs in New York

  Jamaica and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) are set to represent the Caribbean at the sixth edition Men’s World Lacrosse Box Championship in Utica, New York.

  The tournament scheduled for September 20-29 is a fast-paced and exciting indoor version of lacrosse, which will see more than 600 athletes across 28 teams showcasing their skills in the battle for supremacy.

  With the team’s split across seven pools, Jamaica’s men will contest Pool D alongside seventh-ranked Czech Republic, Scotland, and newcomers Chinese Taipei.

  Jamaica’s men’s field program has rapidly improved into the top ten of the world rankings and will be looking to bring its experienced field lacrosse core of players into the box lacrosse arena and adapt quickly in its first ever appearance in the championship.

  The Jamaicans will be coached by Darryl Gibson, who is an assistant coach in the NLL for the Albany Firewolves.

  Eight players from the team that advanced to the quarterfinals at the men’s championship in San Diego will play in Utica, with four players having competed in 2018 in Israel. Four players also played for Jamaica in Limerick in 2022 in the junior men’s championship.

  Overall, the roster is full of collegiate experience at every position. Goran Murray, Antoine Campbell, Tony Diallo, and Shane Lumsden helped anchor Jamaica’s strong defense in San Diego.

  Isaac Newland should be a dynamic forward, along with Andrew Knox and Bryan Depass. In goal, Jamaica will count on Jacob Thompson as well as Kiereek McLeod.

  Marcus Minichello will be one of the stars to watch in transition with previous NLL experience with the Philadelphia Wings and the Buffalo Bandits.

  Meanwhile, the US Virgin Islands, making their debut on the world stage in any lacrosse discipline, will contest Pool against eighth-ranked Netherlands, Austria, and Italy in what will be a baptism of fire for the Caribbean representative.

  USVI became a member of World Lacrosse in 2020 and has quickly developed a lacrosse program to compete in international events.

  The team competed in field lacrosse qualification against other PALA teams ahead of the 2023 men’s championship in Medellin, Colombia, and at the PALA Sixes Cup in Jamaica in December of 2023, and also had a team compete in box lacrosse at the 2023 LAXNAI event in the fall.

  They have retained 10 players from the squad at the PALA Sixes Cup that will suit up in Utica.

  Gavin Jones should be a key goalscorer, and Ryan Cochran will be a key playmaker. Kev Reder and Patrick Crosby will be in net.

  Nick McEvoy played field lacrosse at Penn State from 2017 to 2020 and will be an important forward. Tyler Peworchik and Blake Runkle will be experienced defenders.

• Olympic 800m finalist Shafiqua Maloney awarded USD$10,000 at homecoming ceremony in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

  Paris Olympics 800m finalist Shafiqua Maloney was celebrated during a welcome home ceremony at the Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, where it was announced that she would receive USD $10,000 in recognition of her outstanding performance at the Games.

  Maloney delivered a remarkable performance in the 800m final at the Paris Olympics, finishing fourth with a time of 1:57.66. In a fiercely contested race, Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson clinched gold in 1:56.72, followed by Ethiopia's Tisge Duguma, who secured silver in a lifetime best of 1:57.15, and Kenya's Mary Moraa, who claimed bronze in 1:57.42. Maloney's near-podium finish was a significant achievement, especially considering the financial challenges she faced during her preparation for the Olympics.

  The St Vincent Times reported that during the ceremony, Maloney reflected on her journey, expressing gratitude to those who supported her along the way. "This journey was not an easy one, but the support I received made all the difference," she said. With her sights set on further success, Maloney spoke about the road ahead and her aspirations for medals at the 2028 Olympics.

  Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves praised Maloney for her perseverance and announced that the government would present her with USD $10,000 in recognition of her accomplishments and the pride she has brought to the nation.

  Maloney's achievements have also earned her a place in the SVG delegation at the upcoming United Nations meeting, where she will accompany Prime Minister Gonsalves as he delivers his speech. This opportunity marks another milestone in her growing profile as a prominent athlete and representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

  A grand celebration has been planned for Maloney on October 9th, where the nation will come together to honor her accomplishments and contributions to Vincentian sports. Her performance at the Paris Olympics, coupled with her resilience and ambition, has cemented her status as a national hero and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes.

• Trinidad and Tobago U16 and U18 netball teams arrive in Jamaica for Inaugural Island Vibes tournament

  The Trinidad and Tobago U16 and U18 netball teams have arrived in Jamaica for the inaugural Island Vibes Tournament, set to take place from September 20-22. This new event will see Jamaica's National U16 team face off against Trinidad and Tobago's U16 team in a two-match series, while the Trinidad and Tobago U18 team will compete against Denbigh High School, the winners of the recent Youth Summer Invitational and the first holders of the Marva Bernard Trophy.

  Jamaica’s U16 squad, composed of talented schoolgirl representatives from both urban and rural schools, has been preparing for this series over the past six months under the leadership of co-coaches Nardia Hanson and Kerry-Ann Brown. The team, which was the runner-up to Denbigh High's U18 team in the recent Youth Summer Invitational, comprises a well-rounded mix of defenders, center court players, and shooters. The squad includes defenders Henicka Henry, Kyara Johnson, Denesia Laing, Ashley Kentish, and Sashane Smith. The center court is represented by Shamwua Hall, Jody-Ann Flemmings, Brianya Allen, Natasha Pringle, Reniecia Jones, and Jada Campbell, while the shooting duties will be handled by Kaelyn-Keandra Smith, Kheresha Peccoo, Syranna Brown, and Kalee Martin.

  Vice President of Netball Jamaica, Simone Forbes, expressed excitement about the opportunity for the Jamaican girls to play in an international series. "The Coaches and the girls are excited about this opportunity to play an International Series," said Forbes. "Our sponsors Carimed, Wisynco, NHT, Budget Car Rentals, and INSPORT have pledged their support, and so this will be an interesting series which we anticipate will help us to promote Youth Development in the Region. We are very happy that the teams from Trinidad and Tobago were able to come to compete. We encourage all school coaches and members of school teams as well as the public to come out and support all our girls."

  Trinidad and Tobago's President, Sherry-Ann Blackburn, also expressed her enthusiasm for the competition. "We are all excited and gearing up for intense competition in Jamaica this weekend. Our national Under 16 and Under 18 teams have gone through rigorous training supervised by our dedicated technical staff. We are happy to be a part of this new and innovative series and hope it will help to make a real difference as the Region continues to put structures in place to build high-performance teams."

  The Island Vibes Tournament promises an exciting lineup of matches at the Leila Robinson Courts, Independence Park Limited. The action kicks off on Friday, September 20, with Denbigh High taking on Trinidad and Tobago's U18 team at 6:00 PM. Following that, Jamaica's U16 team will clash with Trinidad and Tobago's U16 team at 7:15 PM. The series concludes on Sunday, September 22, starting at 4:30 PM when Denbigh High faces the Trinidad and Tobago U18s once again. The final match, scheduled for 5:45 PM, will feature the Jamaica U16s against the Trinidad and Tobago U16s. The tournament will culminate with a closing ceremony and medal presentation at 7:00 PM.

  The event is also supported by several sponsors, including Confidence, Kendel, Wata, Powerade, NHT, Budget, Stewart’s Automotive, ILE, and JACE Management. It is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, further showcasing the region's commitment to youth development in sports. Arleene Findlay serves as the Competition Manager for the tournament.