Alphanso Cunningham hit world record form last Friday, July 26 to capture Jamaica s first gold medal at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France. The 32-year-old Cunningham won the F52-54 Javelin final with a throw of 24.30 metres to claim the country s second medal to date.
"The team that Jamaica currently has, I am confident will make us all very proud," [Horace I Burrell]- said, while speaking at a sponsorship announcement cere^ mony for the local coaching school held at the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) head office, Wednesday, April 4. "I was speaking with the President of the United States Football' Federation and he tells me that the US are now trembling because they know that Jamaica has a strong front line and of all the teams in CONCACAF, they are afraid of two teams. Jamaica and Mexico." Burrell said.
'It's a phenomenal season, starting from the first track meet indoors when I ran two personal best times in the 60m and 60m hurdles and it just transferred to the outdoor season. I'm very happy about how things have gone this year," said Williams, a student at the Graham-coached Johnson C. Smith University. 'It really didn't cross my mind at all, to be honest. During the season my coach and I spoke and he asked me if I wanted to go to Jamaica and to the trials and naturally my answer was 'yes', because I always look forward to competing in Jamaica. But making the team and winning at trials was never in my head," Williams admitted.
News broke on July 14 that five Jamaican athletes had failed drug tests at the national championships in June, setting off one of the biggest drug scandals ever faced by Jamaican athletes and authorities. In addition to [Smikle], global stars, former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic 100-metre silver medalist She rone Simpson, as well as Allison Randall and 19-year-old Damar Robinson also failed drug tests. The news broke one month after it was announced that Veronica Campbell Brown, another global star and two-time Olympic 200-metre champion, had failed a drug test after competing at the Jamaica International Invitational in May.
"It is with pride and humility that I accept the Prime Minister's Award for Service to Jamaican Nationals abroad. I am very proud of my Jamaican heritage and over the past thirty years I have worked to maintain ties at home and abroad. My goal was always to support and help to foster cultural, educational and economic stability for Jamaican Nationals within the Greater Hartford area. I have a great sense of pride and fulfillment as I see first, second and third generations of Jamaicans excel educationally and economically. As one of the founding members of NAJASO, the National Organization of Jamaicans and Supportive Organizations, I have reached out on the national level to bring Jamaicans together to support Jamaica and to maintain their Jamaican pride and heritage."
Former Herbert Morrison Technical star also sprinted his way into the history books, becoming the first athlete to win back-to-back 100m titles at the Championships.
"While the work of the Jamaican Diaspora is being praised for its success in keeping the linkage with Jamaica very strong, I submit that a look at the experience of other Diasporas will provide us with valuable lessons of how we can even more effectively utilise the resources available to us to enhance both the Diaspora as well as our homeland."
Consul General of Jamaica to New York, Hon. Herman G. LaMont, has called on Jamaicans in the Diaspora to remember the land of their birth at this time. Addressing members of the Clergy Coalition at a recent meeting at the offices of the Consulate General of Jamaica in Manhattan, CG LaMont said that he was looking forward to this year's Jamaica Diaspora Day of Prayer & Fasting, on Thursday, August 1. 'We firmly and unabashedly believe that prayer changes things and avails much. Please join us in prayer for Jamaica, Land we love. This call and challenge goes out to every denomination, Jamaicans in every walk of life, and all who hold the affairs of Jamaica near and dear to their hearts," noted Rev. Neilson, New Life Christian Church of Philadelphia, PA.
Rupert Green and Judith Dinnal on Sunday, January 5 won the respective male and female Run sections of inaugural LIME Foundation 6K Walk/Run held in Waterford in Portmore, St Catherine. Green, who ran unattached, won in 19:00.82 minutes over Kemar Leslie, 19:25.09, and Robin Rowe, 20:09.42, both of Mavis Bank Track Club. Among the women, Dinnal was a comfortable winner in 25:37.43, over Jilliane Lewis, 28:38.89, of We Got The Runs, and Floret Kelly of Double Marchers, who was third in 30:49.38.
The service for Donna Andrea Messado, sociologist of New York and resident of Hope Pastures, St. Andrew, was held on Saturday, October 15 at St. Stephen's United Church in Cross Roads, St. Andrew, Jamaica. The funeral for the late 'One Order' gang strongman Omar 'Tickerus' Campbell was held on Sunday, November 6, at the Lighthouse Assembly in Ellerslie Pen, St. Catherine.
