Jamaican triathlete Phillip McCatty won three of four events to dominate the Sweet and Simply Jamaican Virtual Run that concluded on Tuesday, June 16.
McCatty won the Male 5K Run, the Male Eight-Mile Run and the 15K Bike Ride.
Meanwhile, Tracy Ann Bourne (26:54) won the Female 5K Run ahead of Carol McKenzie of the Cayman Islands (26:59) and Jamaica’s Natasha Sessen (27:32).
Erica Simon won the Female Eight-Mile Run in 1:08.49. Natalie Debellis was second in 1:08:49 while Carolyn Harrison was third in 1:21.29.
The Canada-based McCatty said the eight-mile run was the most pleasing of his victories. He finished the course in 48:31 with Morrel Beckford finishing second in 1:02.01. Christopher Derrell was third in 1:03.14.
“That one was most pleasing. I chose a flat-out-and-back course by the waterfront. There were a few leisure cyclists, people rollerblading. I was able to run with most of them and it was fun to get a few surprised looks,” he said.
“I did all four events over the course of six days and the legs were a little tired so my expectations weren't very high, but overall I was happy with it.”
McCatty did not engage in any special training for the event as he was already in training before the competition began while finding creative ways to circumvent the lockdown restrictions and the personal frustrations caused for the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
“We just rested for two days leading into the blocks. I'm still running and cycling a lot, but with pools being closed the swimming is limited to whenever I can get to open water,” he said.
“In the first few weeks of the pandemic, it was tough to stay motivated because the realization had finally set in that I may not be able to do any traditional races this year. It's one thing to be in the hurt locker with a target event four weeks out, but when there is no end in sight it's really deflating.
“I realize the importance of staying in shape and so my coach gave me some performance targets to hit this summer. I've also attached rewards to them. This way of thinking, combined with the virtual events where I can still throw down against my peers, has really been helpful.”
Coming in, his strategy was simple; ‘go as hard as possible’ but he expressed disappointment at not doing well enough in a couple of the events.
“I was disappointed with my 5k because I know I'm much faster than that. However, with a full 12 months of focusing on the longer distances such as the Marathon & Ironman Triathlon - 3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run - it is understandable that the top-end speed can use some work,” he said.
“So we will address that this summer. I was a bit disappointed about coming second in the 30km bike but that's the way it goes sometimes. Hans (Heusinkveld) is a good cyclist so we'll have to settle it head-to-head at nationals next year!”
In other results, Athreeca Grant won the Female 5K Walk in 40:14. Carla Myrie finished second in 45:16 whole Marcia Chin (50:00) was third.
The Male 5K Walk was won by Duwell Allen in 25:02. Rick Case was second in 43:45 while David Swaby was third in 1:09:00.
Heather Facey took the top spot in the Female 15K Bike in 32:18 more than 15 minutes clear of second-placed Noelle Brown (47:48). Sacha Chung was third.
Leslie Prendergast won the 30K Bike Female in 1:25:00 over Lavinia McClure (1:49.31)
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Unified welterweight world champion Spence Jr. would love to fight in ancestral home Jamaica
Undefeated WBC and IBF champion Errol Spence Jr. has expressed the hope of one day fighting in Jamaica, a place to which he still has strong connections.
Although the 30-year-old pugilist was born in the United States, his father Errol Spence is a Jamaican who still has roots in the town of Axe and Adze in the parish of Hanover.
Last month, the boxer scored a unanimous victory over number one contender Danny Garcia, in his first fight since a serious motor vehicle accident in 2019.
While the boxer will be content to relax and enjoy the fruits of his labour, for now, he admits staging a fight in his ancestral home sometime in the future would be a dream come true.
“I want to fight in Jamaica. Hope I can make that happen, hopefully, it will be a big event where I still have all of my titles. It’s something that I really wanted, it something that my dad wanted me to do as well. It’s something we talked about even when I was an amateur so hopefully, we can make that happen,” Spence Jr. told Talking Sports.
“I think I will be able to fight there. I want to be among those great names. Guys like Mike McCallum, guys that could really fight. His name was the body snatcher and I’ve watched him sometimes, how he went to the body well, how tough he was.”
The last major fight in Jamaica came in 2012 when Jamaica's Nicholas 'The Axeman' Walters, defeated Daulis Prescott at Jamaica's National Indoor Sports Centre.
Christian Sasso, Wendy McMaster to renew fierce rivalries at David East Memorial at Murphy Hill
Three-time national shotgun champion Christian Sasso and four-time national female champion Wendy McMaster are eager to take to the course their respective rivals today at the David East Memorial Shoot at the picturesque Murphy Hill Estate which overlooks the town of Ocho Rios in St Ann.
Sasso, however confident, will have to look out for his rivals, who include six-time national champion Shaun Barnes as well as Ray McMaster, Craig Simpson and Robert Yap Foo.
The Ladies section also promises to be competitive with McMaster expecting to be challenged by her daughter Aliana, Marguerite Harris and Renee Rickhi.
Mention must be made of the Juniors who have been posting wins against some of the island’s top shooters. Juniors such as Danzell Knight, Mark Desnoes, JJ Ralston and David Wong are expected to be engaged in heated battle throughout the day.
The shooters will compete in various classes including A-E, Junior A-D, Sub-Junior, Ladies and Hunters or beginners.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, there will be a number of changes to the 2021 staging of the tournament. The usual two-day event will now be held in one day in order to reduce the contact time among the shooters.
There will be no hospitality on the course and no after-shoot prize-giving lyme. The wearing of masks will be mandatory and shooters will be subjected to temperature checks on entering the venue.
There will also be no shooters briefings and fewer shooters will be allowed on the course at any one time. This means that there will be two start times (9:30 am and 1:30 pm), which will lead to a longer day overall but makes for easier social distancing with fewer shooters on the course.
'He played with heart and soul' - JFF pays tribute to 'dependable' Shelton
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has hailed former national striker for being a man that played the sport played the sport with his heart and soul and one that has gone too soon.
Shelton, who was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2018, died on Friday after being found unresponsive at his home. He was 35-year-old.
Shelton, who was a prolific goal scorer for the country’s national team, holds the record for the most goals after registering 35 goals in 75 appearances. 32 of his goals came in matches that the team won. The deceased player began his career for the national team against Saint-Martin in 2005 and created history by being the first man to score four goals on debut. His final goal for Jamaica came against Guatemala in 2012.
“Shelton was a goalscorer of repute on who Jamaica depended on for many victories,” the release read.
“The Jamaica Football Federation like the rest of the country was saddened when he was diagnosed with ALS and many hoped and prayed for a miraculous recovery. He played with his heart and soul for Jamaica as well as for his school and clubs and he will always be remembered for that.
The JFF extends heartfelt condolences to his family and to the KSAFA family in this difficult time.”
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