Jamaica closed out the 2025 NACAC Senior Championships in Freeport, Bahamas, on Sunday, with a series of golden performances that cemented its reputation as one of the region’s most formidable track-and-field forces.
By the end of the three-day meet, Jamaica had once again demonstrated its depth and consistency, battling fiercely with North American and Caribbean rivals to secure a strong medal tally.
Canada, the United States, and host nation The Bahamas were all in the mix at the top of the medal table, but Jamaica’s clutch performances on the final day — three gold medals in marquee events — ensured the black, green, and gold shone brightly on the closing evening of competition.
Pryce storms to 400m gold
Nickisha Pryce, ranked ninth in the world in the women’s 400m, delivered a masterclass befitting her billing as the overwhelming favorite. Composed and dominant, she surged ahead of the field to claim gold in 49.95 seconds. Wendeline Venlough of Haiti took silver in 50.23, while the United States’ Lynn Irby Jackson finished third in 50.47.
Pryce’s victory was not just decisive — it was a statement of Jamaica’s enduring strength in the one-lap event.
Ricketts rules the triple jump
Veteran campaigner Shanieka Ricketts added to Jamaica’s golden tally with a confident win in the women’s triple jump. Though her leap of 14.23m was modest by her lofty standards, it was more than enough to secure the top spot. The United States duo of Agur Dwol (13.30m) and Euphenie Andre (13.26m) completed the podium.
The victory reaffirmed Ricketts’ status as one of the Caribbean’s premier jumpers and gave Jamaica its second individual title of the evening.
Relay power: Men’s 4x400m strikes gold
Jamaica’s tradition of relay excellence continued as the men’s 4x400m team of Bovel McPherson, Zandrion Barnes, Delano Kennedy, and Rusheen McDonald delivered a resounding victory. Clocking 3:02.86 minutes, the quartet comfortably held off Mexico (3:05.40) and Canada (3:07.94) to secure the nation’s third gold medal of the final day.
In the men’s 4x100m relay, Jamaica settled for silver after being edged by Canada, who set a new championship record of 38.05 seconds, erasing Jamaica’s own 2015 mark of 38.07 seconds. The Jamaican quartet of Ashanie Smith, Kadrian Goldson, Ryiem Forde, and Christopher Taylor crossed in 38.53 seconds, while The Bahamas claimed bronze in 38.57 seconds.
McDonald and Kennedy fight in 400m, Kirani James breaks record
Rusheen McDonald and Delano Kennedy lined up in a highly anticipated men’s 400m final, but Grenada’s Olympic champion Kirani James stole the show. Producing a season’s best 44.48 seconds, James stormed to gold, breaking Christopher Taylor’s 2022 championship record of 45.04 seconds.
McDonald clocked 45.04 seconds for silver, while Kennedy finished fifth in 45.37 seconds. Both missed the World Championships’ qualifying standard, with the August 24 entry deadline looming. The Bahamas’ Wendell Miller rounded out the podium in 45.12 seconds.
Graham takes javelin bronze
Jamaica’s first medal of the final day came in the men’s javelin throw, where Elvis Graham secured bronze with a distance of 76.09m. The United States’ Curtis Thompson won in spectacular fashion, launching a new championship record of 87.24m, while compatriot Dash Sirmon took silver with 77.04m.
There were near misses for Jamaica in the field. Lloydricia Cameron finished fifth in the women’s shot put, recording 17.77m in a competition won by Canada’s Sarah Mitton with 20.02m. The American duo of Jessica Ramsay (18.27m) and Jessica Woodward (18.05m) claimed silver and bronze.
In the men’s high jump, Raymond Richards cleared 2.18m to place fifth. The United States’ Tyrus Wilson took gold with 2.24m.
Though the NACAC crown ultimately eluded them, Jamaica’s closing-day heroics — highlighted by Pryce’s commanding 400m win, Ricketts’ triple jump triumph, and the men’s 4x400m relay gold — underscored the team’s stature as perennial contenders on the regional stage. The medals not only elevated Jamaica’s final tally but also offered promise as the nation’s athletes sharpen their focus toward the World Championships.
