On what was an action-packed opening day at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships on Saturday, most of the medal favourites safely progressed to the next round, setting up even more mouth-watering prospects for sports enthusiast, heading into Sunday’s second day of action in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

In boys’ Under-17 action, Jamaica’s Thomas Overton defeated Barbadian Armaan Suleman in straight sets, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8; Shiloh Asregado of Guyana bettered Trinidad and Tobago's Yohann Marchock 3-0, after posting 11-1, 11-6 and 11-7 scores in the three games.

Luke Wilson of Barbados also came out tops 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 in his contest against Trinidad and Tobago’s Sanjiv Mungal, while Guyana’s Demetri Lowe got the better of Trinidad and Tobago’s Marcus Camps-Campins 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8 in a hard-fought contest.

 However, when it came down to second round action, it was Guyana’s Louis da Silva, who earlier had a bye, Daniel Henderson, Luke Wilson, Vincentian Jaydon Williams, Andrew Cox, Elias Carpol, Jamaica’s Lucas Thomson and Mohryan Baksh, also of Guyana, that will contest the third round.

 Da Silva will square off against Henderson, Wilson against Williams, Cox against Carpol, while Thomson and Baksh, will lock horns.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Christophe Bovell is among those that secured their spots in the next round in the boys’ Under-15 category, following a 11-13, 11-6, 11-12 and 14-12 win over Bermuda’s William Frith.

Guyana’s Richard Rodrigues also progressed after bettering Vincentian Dru Sanuel 12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 11-1 in a match that lasted 24 minutes, while Bermuda’s Charlie Makin scored an 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 win over Avian Wade of Guyana in a 16-minute contest.

Blake Edwards ensured will have another representative in the next round, as he easily brushed aside De’ron Lewis 11-6, 11-2, 11-3.

Jayden George of St Vincent and the Grenadines was given a bye, along with Barbadian Daniel Sealy, Bermuda’s Owen Rosorea and Zevieh Abraham of British Virgin Island.

Meanwhile, byes were the order of the day in the opening round of the boys’ Under-19 category, but when they got to the second round is where the true quality came to light.

Nicholas Verwey of Guyana outclassed Barbadian Aidan Parris 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 in a four-set match that lasted a half-hour. Verwey will next tackle Jamaica’s Alex Chin, who defeated British Virgin Islands Louis Day in straight sets, 11-6, 11-6, 11-1.

Barbadian Alex Stewart and Jamaica’s Tobias Levy are also set to lock horns after both registered comfortable three-set wins over Russell Forrester and Neil McComb respectively, while another Jamaican Arjan Trehan and Guyana’s Michael Alphonso, will meet in the other contest.

On the girls’ side of action, Jamaica’s Katherine Risden defeated Darci Reich of US Virgin Island 11-3,11-3, 11-2 in a 14-minute match, to book her spot in the next round of the Under-19 category. She is set to face Sumairaa Suleman of Barbados, who was given a bye.

Another Jamaican Savannah Thomson bettered Vincentian Nadira Morgan 11-5, 11-9 and 11-1 in a 17-minute match. She awaits her opponent which will either be Trinidad and Tobago’s Sigourney Williams or Guyana’s Kirsten Gomes.

In Under-17 category, the Barbados pair of Eboni Atherley and Sarrayah Yearwood and Jamaica’s trio of Elle Wilson, Mehar Trehan and Sanjana Nallapati, are those who were safely through to the next round at the time of writing.

 Karen Anderson, president of Jamaica Squash Association is anticipating some quality performances from the country’s rising sensations when the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships gets under way in St. Vincent & the Grenadines later today.

Whether or not their performances will translate into medals, is left to be seen, but Anderson is confident that the 15-member team is well prepared to give a good account of themselves at the one-week championships.

Defending champions Guyana are favoured to retain their title, with last year’s runners-up Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, also expected to lay down tough challenges.

The championship comprises individual events for boys and girls competing in the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19, with a new doubles feature being introduced for the first time this year. There will also be a team event for boys and girls across the respective age groups.

Jamaica’s team comprises the likes of Under-15 Caribbean champion Mehar Trehan and Under-17 champion Katherine Risden, who has now moved up to the Under 19 age group, as well as Sanjanna Nallapati and Savannah Thomson, who are both ranked third in the Under-17 age group.

“We have some pretty good players on the girls’ side which means our chances of finishing top four is good. Most of our girls are seeded, so we are looking for some good placements and then Mehar Trehan is also seeded third in the girls' Under-17, so we are definitely looking for some good results from them,” Anderson said.

Though much is also expected to come from the boys on the team, which is coached by national players Tahjia Lumley and reigning national champion Julian Morrison, with Nathlee Boreland serving as manager, Anderson is well aware that it will require an efficient showing to hit the podium.

“We have four boys in the Under-19 category and most of them are seeded in the five to eight region and so they are really looking good to try and move up in their rankings. We have two boys in Under-17 and the are both in the nine to 16 seeding, while Thomas Overton will be playing in his first junior CASA and then we have Lucas Thomson who has been playing for quite a while but will be contesting the Under-17 category for the first time and he is really looking to make a splash there,” Anderson shared.

“The doubles teams have been really playing well and have been practicing for a while. It’s the first time that doubles will actually be playing at junior CASA and so it should be interesting to see how they manage that division. It is going to be a little bit tricky, but we are hoping to at least finish in the top three and hopefully battle for the overall title,” she added.

The first junior Caribbean Area Squash Association Championship was held in 1981 in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. It is therefore fitting though coincidental, that the championship is going home in the year of the death of Sir Arthur Cecil Cyrus, the conceptualizer of the championship.

Jamaica’s team: Marley Price, Priya Stoddart, Sanjana Nallapati, Mehar Trehan, Elle Wilson, Savannah Thomson, Katherine Risden, Cole Brown, Thomas Overton, Lucas Thomson, Tobias Levy, Alex Chen, Rhys Greenland, Arjan Trehan, Brady Holmes

 Jamaica's promising teen shooter Aliana McMaster was a standout for her country at the recent World English Sporting Clays Championship in England where she was the only shooter on the team to take home silverware.

The championship was held at the E J Churchill Shooting Ground in England from Wednesday July 5 to Saturday, July 8.

The 16-year-old McMasters, who won third place in the main event after scoring 144 out of a possible 200 in the Lady Sub Junior sporting clays also took second and third-place finishes in the Five-Stand or Sport Trap competition.

It marked the first time that any Jamaican and the first female to win a medal in any category on the European circuit. Buoyed by her performance she now looks forward to this weekend's National Shotgun Championship at the Tru-Juice property in St. Catherine.

Jamaica had its best results in 2022 after the female team ended in third position and the male team came fourth. It marked the first time that a local team was getting a podium finish.

The Jamaican team was comprised of Craig Simpson (captain), Ryan Chen (vice-captain), Ray McMaster, Robert Yap-Foo, Gordon Bucknor and Lennin Thompson. Simpson said that the team gained valuable experience at the championship and commended young McMaster for her outstanding performance.

Eleven countries including the USA, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Mexico, Italy, Sweden and Jamaica participated in the championships. The Jamaican team was supported by Proven, Hawkeye, Coldwell Bankers, National Bakery, Ammar's and BarePelt.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz are left to pick up the pieces of another failed Concacaf Gold Cup campaign, as they again fell by the wayside at the semi-final stage, losing 0-3 to Mexico in an entertaining encounter at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, on Wednesday.

Henry Martin opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, before Luis Chavez (30th) inflicted more pain, leaving substitute Roberto Alvarado (90+3) to throw salt in the Jamaicans wounds and send eight-time champions Mexico into their third-consecutive Gold Cup final.

They will meet 2005 and 2013 finalists Panama in Sunday’s final, after the Central Americans defeated United States 5-4 on sudden-death penalty after playing out a 1-1 stalemate in full and extra time at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.

With a large turnout of Jamaican spectators inside the 61,000-capacity stadium, the Reggae Boyz, who were finalists in the 2015 and 2017 tournaments, and also 2019 semi-finalist, started with a burst of purpose but it evaporated as briskly as it started.

This, as Mexico won possession from the failed Jamaican attack, in the middle of the park and broke down the right channel.  A long pass switching the point of attack was picked up by Jesus Gallardo, whose pass across the 18-yard box found an unmarked Martin, who applied an easy finish beyond Andre Blake.

The Mexicans went close to doubling the lead eight minutes later, but Blake diving full stretch to his left, denied Erick Sanchez’s left-footed effort from the top of the 18-yard box.

Though the Jamaicans orchestrated a few quick breaks, using their speed an athleticism down the channels, they were unable to make it count in the final third, where the lacked composure.

In fact, it wasn’t until the 24th minute that they got a shot off at Guillermo Ochoa’s goal when Demarai Gray found space for a right-footer from outside the 18-yard box that was easily collected by the Mexican shot stopper.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, they soon found themselves two goals down at the half-hour mark when Chavez’s delightfully taken left-footed free kick from about 25 yards out, rendered a five-man wall useless, beating Blake’s full stretch dive to his right.

While the action remained lively for the most parts, neither team was able to create any more meaningful chances in the latter stages of the half, as they went to the break with the score unchanged.

Heimir Hallgrimsson made a tactical change at the top of the second half, bringing on striker Shamar Nicholson for holding midfielder Kevon Lambert and the move worked to some extent, as the Reggae Boyz started seeing more possession of the ball in the attacking third.

They went close to pulling on back in the 54th minute, after Leon Bailey orchestrated a decent buildup in which he switched the attack to Michail Antonio, who whipped a one-time pass across the face of goal, but Nicholson was late in arriving at the far post.

As the Jamaicans continued to enjoy a good passage of play with Mexico at a lull, Antonio had the opportunity to hit the target from a solo run in the 75^th minute. However, the West Ham United man was hesitant in pulling the trigger and the belated effort was charged down.

Both teams continued the probe for goals, the Jamaicans moreso, but while they came up empty in their hunt, Jaime Lozano’s side helped themselves to another. Poor defending by Damion Lowe allowed Gallardo a free run in the box to play a pass across the face of goal for Alvarado to tap in from close range in time added.

Teams: Jamaica- Andre Blake, Damion Lowe, Javain Brown (Dexter Lembikisa 51st), Kevon Lambert (Shamar Nicholson 46th), Bobby Reid, Amari'i Bell, Dishon Bernard, Joel Latibeaudiere (Daniel Johnson 85^th), Leon Bailey, Demarai Gray, Michail Antonio (Dujuan Richards 85^th)

Subs not used: Jahmali Waite, Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Adrian Mariappa, Kemar Lawrence, Jonathan Russell, Kaheem Parris, Corey Burke,

Booked: Brown (29^th), Lambert (39^th), Bernard (55^th)

Mexico –Guillermo Ochoa, Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Jesus Gallardo, Erick Sanchez (Carlos Rodriguez 62^nd), Luis Romo, Luis Chavez (Edson Alvarez 72nd), Uriel Antuna (Roberto Alvarado 72^nd), Henry Martin (Santiago Gimenez 63^rd), Orbelin Pineda (Diego Lainez 87^th)

Subs not used: Antonio Rodriguez, Angel Malagon, Julian Araujo, Gerardo Arteaga, Ozziel Herrera, Israel Reyes, Victor Guzman

Booked: Antuna (61^st), Alvarez (90^th)

Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)

Assistant referee: Luis Ventura (Guatemala); Humberto Panjoj (Guatemala)

Fourth Official: Bryan Lopez (Guatemala)

Ackera Nugent, the NCAA 100m hurdles champion, has made a significant decision in her athletic career. Despite still pursuing her degree, Nugent has chosen to go professional and embark on a new chapter in her journey as a track and field athlete.

Balancing her athletic aspirations with her commitment to education, Nugent remains determined to excel both on the track and in the classroom.

"I'm staying in school because I feel like getting my degree is very important. But I felt like me going back to college was not needed anymore because I've accomplished everything that I wanted to accomplish," Nugent said after confirming her four-year deal with the German sports apparel manufacturer.

"So the decision between me and my coaches was to take the next step to fulfill my purpose in sports. So we made the decision of going professional."

While completing her degree in Advanced Communication, Nugent will also dedicate herself to professional athletics. She recognizes the significance of continuing her education while pursuing her dreams on the track.

Nugent's decision to go professional signifies a new and exciting phase in her career. Guided by her trusted coach, Chris Johnson, Nugent has honed her skills and experienced remarkable growth as an athlete. Johnson's expertise and support have been instrumental in Nugent's development, allowing her to reach new heights in her discipline.

"I have had a huge growth, not only as an athlete but also as a person, and I think that played a major factor in making the transition from Baylor University to Arkansas, where Coach (Chris) Johnson has a lot of experience in getting athletes to where they need to go and knowing how to fix the little things," Nugent shared.

Her journey under Coach Johnson's guidance has been fulfilling, despite the challenges that come with pushing one's limits.

Following the collegiate indoor season, Coach Johnson revealed that Nugent also possesses great potential as a 100m sprinter but as she embraces the professional realm, she maintains a clear focus on the 100m hurdles.

While her versatility allows her to excel in other events, Nugent and Coach Johnson agree that channeling her energy into the hurdles will yield the best results.

“Coach Johnson wants me to trust my speed between the hurdles and I haven’t really reached my maximum potential with that yet,” explaining that running the flat race helps her with her speed.

“He’s trying to make me get comfortable with my flat speed and stuff like that. And, he’s like when you finally hit 10 (seconds) you’ll understand what it feels like to be faster between the hurdles, but it’s a learning experience. I am going into the professional world and I am a rookie.”

The 21-year-old made her first Jamaican senior team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August after finishing second in a time of 12.67 behind Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper, who crossed the finish line in 12.64.

Danielle Williams, the 2015 World Champion qualified for her sixth World Championships appearance when she finished third in 12.82.

In a jaw-dropping turn of events last Friday night at the National Senior and Junior Championships held at Jamaica's National Stadium, Rohan Watson, a rising star from MVP Track Club, emerged as the surprise victor in the highly anticipated men's 100m race.

Watson, a relative unknown in the sprinting world, delivered an exceptional performance, crossing the finish line with a new personal best time of 9.91 seconds.

The shocking upset saw Watson triumph over Ryiem Forde, who secured second place with a personal best time of 9.96 seconds, and the renowned Oblique Seville, a fourth-place finisher at last year's World Athletics Championships, who finished in third place with a time of 10.00 seconds.

The unexpected triumph of Watson sent shockwaves through the athletics community, capturing the attention of fans and experts alike. However, the discovery of this "diamond in the rough" was no accident. Coach Stephen Francis, renowned for his ability to identify and nurture talent, was instrumental in Watson's development and guided him to this remarkable victory.

While speaking exclusively to Sportsmax.TV about Watson's journey, Francis revealed the challenges they faced in finding promising sprinters who were willing to join MVP Track Club.

"None of the so-called brand name sprinters in high school wanted to come to us," Francis explained candidly.

“They said the training is too hard, if your girl up there we can’t do what we want, we can’t buy big cars, we can’t go out at night. They shy away from us.”

Faced with those challenges, Francis said he instructed his team to find him a sprinter who could run 10.5 or 10.4.

“We’ll work with them because a lot of people who have done well with us that’s what times they run. We don’t get people who run 10.1, 10.2 or 10.3.”

It was during a race at Jamaica College (JC) last year that Francis first spotted Watson, who demonstrated promising speed and determination.

Watson, who had completed his high school education at York Castle, displayed enthusiasm when approached by Francis and eagerly joined the MVP Track Club. Despite initially appearing smaller in stature than his counterparts, Watson's dedication and positive attitude set him apart.

“He was very interested and he came but even when I saw him in September for the first time on the training field I thought he was very small. We have had very good success with small sprinters but he looked small.”

However, Francis emphasized the importance of attitude and commitment over raw talent. "It is all about what you do, how you learn, and your willingness to sacrifice," he explained.

Watson exemplified these qualities, showcasing steady progress throughout the year. Observing his discipline and dedication, Francis became increasingly confident in Watson's abilities, foreseeing the potential for a sub-10-second performance.

Watson's victory at the national championships affirmed Francis' belief in his athlete's capabilities. As they approach the World Championships in Budapest, scheduled for August, Francis envisions Watson as a genuine medal contender.

The coach noted that the track conditions during the national championships were not particularly fast, indicating that Watson's time could improve further in more favorable circumstances.

Assessing the global sprinting landscape, Francis acknowledged that the field is wide open, with a few key contenders such as British champion, Zharnel Hughes and potentially Fred Kerley, the reigning world champion. However, he expressed confidence in Watson's prospects, given his impressive performance in a championship setting and his ability to maintain his form over multiple rounds.

“I don’t know what Fred Kerley is looking like and Zharnel is looking looks very, very good but apart (from those two), I think he has as good a shot as everybody else.”

Nickisha Price and Sean Bailey were crowned as Jamaica’s national 400m champions on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

Price, an NCAA Champion this year in the 4x400m for the University of Arkansas, produced a personal best 50.21 to claim her maiden national title.

400m hurdles champion, Janieve Russell, continued her excellent form at the championships with a personal best 50.76 for second while Candice McLeod, the defending champion, was third in 51.01.

On the men’s side, Bailey, who entered the championships as Jamaica’s season leader in the event with 44.43, ran slightly slower than that with 44.48 to claim his second national title.

Bailey fought off a very game Antonio Watson, who ran a personal best 44.54 for second while Jevaughn Powell, the defending champion, was third in 45.19.

Jamaica’s netballers created history at the 2023 CAC Games on Friday when they defeated Trinidad and Tobago 50-36 to win the first ever gold medal in the sport at the games.

The squad comprised of mainly next-generation players outscored their Trinidadian opponents 12-10, 11-6, 15-11 and 12-9 in what was perhaps the Jamaicans’ most competitive match of the competition.

Simone Gordon scored 41 goals from 43 attempts for the gold medallists with Rebekah Robinson scoring 11 goals from her 13 attempts.

Afeisha Noel sank 24 of her 26 attempts. She was supported by the sterling efforts of Joelisa Cooper, who was perfect from the circle with her 12 goals.

The Jamaicans were dominant throughout the tournament defeating Barbados 62-34 and then demolishing the Cayman Islands 116-10. They scored more than 100 points against the Dominican Republic who were swamped 110-7 before trouncing St Vincent and the Grenadines in their penultimate match of the series.

Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, defeated the Dominican Republic 108-10, Barbados 50-47, and the Cayman Islands 90-12 before suffering their first loss against the Jamaicans.

In the play-off for the bronze medal St Vincent and the Grenadines edged Barbados 51-50.

Mary-Ann Frederick topped the scoring for the bronze medallists with 40 goals with Shellisa Davis adding the other 11.

Jada Smith led the scoring for Barbados with 26 goals while Latonia Blackman adding 24 in the valiant effort.

The Cayman Islands defeated the Dominican Republic 51-33 in the playoff for fifth and sixth.

Janieve Russell can now call herself a five-time Jamaican champion after she won a thrilling 400m hurdles final on day two of the JAAA/Puma national Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Friday.

Russell, the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist, produced a season’s best 53.75 to hold off the fast finishing Andrenette Knight (53.78) and Rushell Clayton (53.81) who finished second and third.

For Knight, this serves as redemption. Last year, she missed out on a national title after falling with 100m to go in the final after leading the whole race.

On the men’s side, Roshawn Clarke produced one of the performances of the Championships to win his maiden national senior crown.

Clarke, still only 19, brought the National Stadium crowd into a frenzy with a brilliant, world junior record-equaling 47.85. Clarke’s time also puts him second on Jamaica’s all-time list for the event behind Winthrop Graham’s 47.60 done in 1993.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist and three-time national champion, Jaheel Hyde, was second in a season’s best 48.45 while Assinie Wilson ran a massive personal best 48.50 for third.

While the Caribbean islands continue to experience mix fortunes at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, Trinidad and Tobago seems poised to add a fifth gold medal to their tally when they square off against Mexico in the men’s hockey final on Thursday in El Salvador.

The twin island republic, which currently sits 10th on the standings with 11 medals –four gold, three silver and four bronze –saw its men’s hockey better Barbados 8-2 in semi-final action on Wednesday to book their spot in the coveted gold medal encounter.

Teague Marcano led Trinidad and Tobago’s charge with a hat-trick, while Tariq Marcano and Anthony Vieira both had a brace and Joel Daniel had the other. James Gooden and Ayube Che Warner, got the consolation goals for Barbados.

By virtue of that defeat, Barbados will face Cuba for the bronze medal, with Jamaica and Dominican Republic set to do battle in the fifth-place playoff, while Guyana will lock horns with El Salvador in the seventh-place game.

Earlier, Barbados moved up to 13th on the medal table, after adding another bronze to its tally, courtesy of the women’s hockey team’s 4-2 penalty win over Dominican Republic, after they initially played out a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time.

Ayana Wilson and D’Jamilia Edwards were the scorers for Barbados, as Ana Williams and Cecilia Oflaherti got on the score sheet for Dominican Republic.

Barbados’s seven medals so far include one gold, one silver and five bronze, with Dominican Republic in seventh position, has 12 gold, 26 silver and 41 bronze in their 79-medal tally.

The women’s gold medal game between Cuba and Mexico was also decided on penalty with the Mexicans snaring the top medal with a 3-2 scoreline, after they played to a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.

Mexico who are currently atop the medal table with 273 medals, 116 gold, 84 silver and 73 bronze, got their goal from Sofia Perez, while Cuba, who sit third with 138 medals -54 gold, 38 silver and 46 bronze –got their goal courtesy of Sunaylis Nikle.

Jamaica’s women also edged Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 on penalty in the fifth-place game, which initially ended 1-1. Kaitlyn Olton gave Trinidad and Tobago the lead before Shana-kay Tullonge placed the Jamaicans back on level terms.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico bettered Bermuda 4-2 in the seventh-place game.

Colombia (182), Venezuela (116) and Puerto Rico (73) are positioned behind Mexico and Cuba as the top five nations on the medal standings. Bahamas (four), St Lucia (two) and Guyana (one) currently sit 15th, 16th and 17th respectively, while Jamaica with five silver and four bronze, occupy 19th position.

In badminton action also on Wednesday, Jamaica’s Samuel Ricketts booked a semi-final spot following a two-set 21-7, 21-10 win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Will Lee.

He will be joined in the last four by Mexico’s Luis Gerrido, who bettered El Salvador’s Uriel Canjura 2-1; Yeison Del Cid of Centro Caribe Sports, who defeated Cuba’s Roberto Herrera 2-0 and another Mexican Armando Gaitan who also registered a 2-0 straight set win over Colombia’s Miguel Quirama.

On the women’s side of action, Jamaica’s Tahlia Richardson beat Centro Caribe Sports Eneida Santizo 2-0 in straight sets, CCS’s Nikte Sotomayor, who bettered Dominican Republic’s Alissa Acosta.

Mexico’s Haramara Gaitan defeated Dom Republic’s Nairoby Jimenez 2-0, while Cuba’s Taymara Oropesa, also booked a spot in the semi-final with a 2-1 win over Mexico’s Sabrina Solis in a three-set contest.

Tahlia Richardson later joined forces with Katherine Wynter to secure Jamaica a spot in the Women’s Doubles semi-final, after they defeated El Salvador’s pair of Margareth Revelo and Gabriela Barrios 2-0 in straight sets.

The last member of Jamaica’s nine-member team departed the island on Monday for the World English Sporting Clay Championship set to commence at the E.J. Churchill Shooting Ground in England on Wednesday, July 5 and end on Saturday, July 8.

Jamaica had its best results in 2022 when the women’s team finished third and the men’s came fourth, marking the first time that a team from the island took a spot on the podium.

The women’s team is comprised of national shotgun champion Wendy McMaster, Aliana McMaster and Abigail McMaster, who are hoping to at least equal their third-place finish.

Craig Simpson (captain), Ryan Chen (vice-captain), Ray McMaster, Robert Yap-Foo, Gordon Bucknor and Lennin Thompson, make up the men’s team.

The team is a mixture of experience and new members with Simpson, who has been competing in the championship since the early 2000s, being the most experienced.

“We are enthusiastic to be attending this prestigious event. My job as captain is to motivate my teammates while keeping them composed,” Simpson said.

“This trip is about gaining international exposure and knowledge of where the sport is at on the European continent and how we can get Jamaica to a higher level of competitiveness. The fraternity is excited to have us in attendance and our participation alone is a win for Jamaica."

Sponsors Proven, Hawkeye, Coldwell Bankers, National Bakery, Ammar's and BarePelt are backing the Jamaicans, who will be going up against teams from the USA, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Mexico, Italy and Sweden.

Jamaica completed an unbeaten campaign in Group A of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup with a commanding 5-0 victory versus St Kitts and Nevis on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

With the result, the Reggae Boyz finish second in the group with a 2W-1D-0L record, clinching a berth in the quarterfinals, and will face the first-place team from Group D next Sunday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The first half hour was full of chances for Jamaica, mostly coming from a series of deep crosses but with no end product, as the Sugar Boyz defence did well to stay compact and maintain their lines.

The Reggae Boyz broke the deadlock right before the 30-minute mark, as a deep cross from Leon Bailey reached Kaheem Parris, who tried to play back across goal only for Saint Kitts and Nevis goalkeeper Julani Archibald to deflect the ball over the line for a 1-0 Jamaica lead.

Jamaica then added a second right before the break to double their advantage, as Bailey played a slick back-heel to Jonathan Russell’s whose right-footed finish beat Archibald for a 2-0 lead.

The momentum stayed with Jamaica and soon it was 3-0 on a tidy finish from DiShon Bernard after a pass from Shamar Nicholson in the 49’.

St Kitts and Nevis did get a pair of good looks at goal during the contest from Romaine Sawyers, one in each half, but the Sugar Boyz attacking player was unable to convert.

Jamaica kept their foot on the gas and quickly tacked on another two goals to make it a 5-0 lead. Daniel Johnson fired in one in the 72’ after an initial block by substitute goalkeeper Jamal Jeffers, followed by a good finish from Cory Burke in the 74’.

From there, the Jamaican defence saw things out the rest of the way to nail down the clean sheet victory and a place in the next round.

At 17 years old, Reggae Girl Solai Washington will be one of the youngest players at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand later this month, a feat well worth celebrating.

But in the midst of her excitement is a hint of disappointment, as Washington's older and more experienced sister Giselle, did not make the cut in Lorne Donaldson's final 23-player squad.

Such is the bond between the American-born siblings, who earn their Jamaican stripes through their mother, that young Washington readily admits it is the continued guidance and encouragement from her sister, that has propelled her to smile in the face of adversities and push past mental blocks that may deter her from playing the game she fell in love with at the tender age of three.

The elder Washington, who was instrumental in Jamaica's historic qualification to the global showpiece in France in 2019, also missed that tournament due to injury.

"My sister is disappointed because she loves Jamaica and the Reggae Girlz, but she is also extremely excited for me and has been one of my biggest supporters throughout my soccer journey. She is very proud of me and will be cheering me on while I am in Australia. I could not have done it without her and even though she won’t be on the field with me her presence is always there,” Washington told SportsMax.tv from her base in the United States.

"I started playing soccer [football] mainly because I was inspired from watching and playing soccer with Giselle. I cannot say enough about how awesome it has been to follow the example that she has provided, not just in soccer but also life. She is such an amazing player and person, the perfect role model.

"I've learnt so many lessons from her that they are too many to list, but from a young age she helped me improve technically on the ball and to understand the strategic concepts of the game. But I would have to say the biggest lesson she taught me is to work hard and never quit," she continued.

Washington earned her senior Reggae Girlz debut at the Cup of Nations tournament in Australia earlier this year, not merely for the sake of a trial but because she possesses great ability and gives high-quality effort — both on and off the ball — that bely her age and inexperience.

It is that demonstration that she was ready for a step up from youth football that impressed Donaldson and his assistants Xavier Gilbert, Ak Lakhani and Laura Thomas, and they duly obliged.

Since the Cup of Nations outing in Australia, where she rubbed shoulders with some of the women's game top players from the host nation, as well as Spain and the Czech Republic, Washington confidence and stock increased rapidly to the point where she is now motivated to become a potent performer in the Reggae Girlz setup, as her appetite for success is clear for all to see.

"To be honest the feeling is still indescribable. I am both proud of myself and remain hungry and eager to continue to get better and show the world what I know I can do on its biggest stage," she declared.

"Initially it was intimidating coming into such a close knit and professional team and this has all been a very new experience to me so it was a bit difficult at times, but it also inspired me to work even harder to become the best footballer I can be. But since I've settled in, it has been nothing but a joy and an honour to share the field with such talented players," Washington noted.

Aside from mouth-watering talent, Washington still in high school at Chamblee, has an unflinching desire to make her mark at the July 20 to August 20 World Cup, where the Reggae Girlz will contest Group F alongside France, Brazil and Panama. 

Given her speed, fearlessness and dribbling which makes her a dangerous impact player and a thrilling prospect for the Reggae Girlz, the World Cup represents Washington's moment and time to shine, and if she gets the opportunity to do so, many will remember her name.

"This is huge for me and my career, this is what you dream of when you get involved in the game, playing with and against some of the best players in the biggest games on the biggest stage, so I'm really happy," the bubbly attacker shared.

"I will be heading into my senior year of high school after this summer, so I am still very young and basically just getting started. So, I am excited for my future and what is to come because there is some way to go before I hit the tip of the iceberg where accomplishments are concerned so I am always staying hungry and, more importantly, humble," she said.

Having already assisted Chamblee High School to a State Championship, becoming the first DeKalb County School District girls football team to achieve the feat, Washington was also named Georgia High School Soccer Player of the Year for her 42 goals complemented by nine assists.

She was also instrumental in guiding her Concorde Fire team to the ECNL Under-19 National Championship last year, a title which she is currently hoping they will retain.

This tournament, the tall but nippy player believes will assist in maintaining her match fitness and, by extension, improve her craft before the big dance.

"I have had to make a quick turn around since the Jamaica camp and am now in San Diego for ECNL Nationals. I am playing games with my club team and competing for another National Championship, hoping to get it back-to-back. For sure, this will help with both my physical and mental preparation leading up to the World Cup," Washington ended.

Though the mindset is to always give of their best to go as deep as possible in a tournament, Jamaica's Head coach Xavier Gilbert reiterated that the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) is more focused on aiding the development of some of the country's young football prospects, as they prepare to transition to the senior level.

In fact, Gilbert pointed out that their opening 2-5 loss to host nation El Salvador was evident as to why their exposure to high level football is significant, as he believes the below par performance was a result of stage fright.

The Reggae Girlz outfit at the tournament comprises mostly Under-20 players with only a handful –Chris-Ann Chambers, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Mireya Grey and twins Mikayla and Malikae Dayes –boasting senior team experience.

This is due to the fact that Jamaica's more experienced players are currently preparing to grace the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand later this month. 

While Shanhaine Nelson (13th) and Natoya Atkinson (79th), got goals for Jamaica, the combination of Danya Guitierrez (5th), Victoria Sanchez (7th and 54th), Brenda Ceren (27th) and Jackeline Velasquez (50th), did the damage for El Salvador.

"It was a tough loss. We just didn't settle, and the opponents got two early goals on us and that kind of set us back. We managed to pull one back but the crowd and energy that El Salvadorans played with, we couldn't match that and we just we just didn't find our footing even though we were much better in the second half," Gilbert told SportsMax.tv. 

"So, for I have to give the players credit for the second half display, we made the necessary adjustments, and they performed well then. But there were a lot of nerves in the first half and at this level, with the fanfare, the excitement and just the overall the atmosphere, playing in hostile territory was difficult for them. 

"So, I boil it down to nerves but they're young they're still learning, and this is why these kinds of games, and this exposure is important for them and for their development moving forward. So that for me is the most positive thing than anything else, even than the result and they'll only get better from there," he added.

For Gilbert, this evening's contest against Puerto Rico will be an opportunity for the Girlz to bounce back, but more importantly, it will be another test of their mettle, both physically and mentally.

Game time is at 5:00pm

"This is what international football is all about bouncing back after a loss, bringing that fighting spirit and never-say-die mentality to the fore which is why we are more focused on mental preparation and recovery right now heading into our next game against Puerto Rico," Gilbert shared.

"We don't anticipate that it is going to be anything different. They didn't too bad against the Mexicans, they had their moments, and we know that the tournament was going to be tough. So, it's just to see how best we can recover and fix some of the errors from the first game and that's why we are focused on more mental preparedness than anything else," he noted.

Gilbert's side as well as the Puerto Ricans are both hunting their first points, as El Salvador and Mexico occupy the first two spots and are on course to progressing to the medal round.

If the Reggae Girlz are to stand a chance of medalling, they will have to better Puerto Rico and take a point off Mexico in their last game, provided that the Mexicans and the Puerto Ricans better El Salvador when they meet.

“We just have to bounce back against Puerto Rico, we have to go out there and get it right. We are still in the tournament, and we are still trying to see if we can get to the next round, so will do our best to keep the ladies motivated to give it their best,” Gilbert said.

Following an underwhelming performance at the PanAm Gymnastics Championships in Colombia, Tyesha Mattis promised to bounce back better and stronger. 

Thought that strong comeback didn't translate into a Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games All-Around medal as she would have hoped, the English-born artistic gymnast took home the next best thing from El Salvador –an historic bronze medal in the uneven bars competition.

For Mattis claiming Jamaica's first-ever medal in the event at the Games with a score of 12.750, was an emotional experience given the many setbacks she faced each time she enters a major competition with high expectations.

Mexico's Paulino Campos (13.400) and Panama's Andrea Navas (13.050) were the top two in the uneven bars, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Annalise Newman-Achee (12.200) was fourth.

Along with that bronze medal, Mattis also contested the balance beam All-Around finals, where she finished seventh and eighth with scores of 10.350 and 47.850 respectively. Mattis’s sister, China also contested the All-Around final but didn’t see it through to the end, while Newman-Achee placed sixth with a score of 48.750.

Campos (12.650) and Navas (12.000), again took the top two spots in the balance beam, with another Mexican Alexa Moreno (11.550) in third. However, Navas topped the All-Around battle with 50.500, ahead of Moreno (49.650) and another Panamanian Alexandra Heron (49.450).

“Overall, I feel like I had an amazing competition, and I was so impressed with how I did, making history being the first Jamaican gymnast to medal at CAC Games. I am also very happy that I had my mum and my sister out there with me supporting me and I’m so impressed with my sister making AA finals as well with me. I just can’t wait for another competition to get out there and represent Jamaica again and do a bit better than I did this time,” Mattis told Sportsmax.tv.

Jamilia Duffus and lone male gymnast Canada-born Elel Wahrmann Baker were also among Jamaica’s representatives at the Games.

The 24-year-old Mattis, has always been a prominent figure among Jamaica’s standout performers since switching allegiance last year, and after months without making a podium at numerous events, she pointed to an overwhelming sense of redemption, which resulted in her tearful wave to the crowd after competition.

“It has been a very emotional rollercoaster because I’ve worked so hard over the years, coming back from injury before joining team Jamaica and then not always executing in competition, like I do in training. So after having such a bad performance in Colombia a few weeks ago, I was just excited to make a comeback at this competition and perform great routines,” she shared.

“I know I am more than capable of doing great things, and I just need to trust that my body can do the work and again, not putting too much pressure on myself. It can be a bummer when you work so hard in the gym and when you really want to put out your best, you make mistakes, so I am pretty excited about this accomplishment, I’ve learned from those mistakes and this is now a step in the right direction,” Mattis added.

That direction is towards the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in September where Mattis hopes to prove that this medal stemmed from her immense potential and unflinching desire to make it big for Jamaica, as oppose to a hefty dose of good fortune.

To achieve that, and by extension, possibly qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in France, she knows it will require more solid performances.

“I am really looking forward to a better performance next time out at the World Cup in September. Looking forward to trying some different routines there and putting out more of my skills as I know I have so much more up my sleeve and I have always said that the more I compete internationally, the more confident I feel,” Mattis noted.

“So, I can’t wait to compete at that World Cup. I’m feeling very motivated and excited about the future,” she ended.