Team Jamaica packed their bags with 25 medals as the curtain came down on the 2025 NACAC Senior Championships on Sunday in the Bahamas. The final tally included 10 gold, 8 silver, and 7 bronze, a haul that underscored the island’s track-and-field might across sprints, jumps, throws, and relays.
Nickisha Pryce, the country’s newest quarter-mile queen, delivered in style. The national record holder, ranked ninth in the world, lived up to her billing by storming to the women’s 400m crown in 49.95 seconds. She was a runaway winner ahead of Wendeline Venlough of Haiti (50.23) and America’s Lynn Irby Jackson (50.47).
Jamaica’s golden day continued with Olympic silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts, who hopped, skipped, and jumped her way to victory in the women’s triple jump. Though her 14.23m wasn’t her most explosive effort, it was more than enough to secure another top podium finish for the black, green, and gold.
The relay teams also kept the fireworks alive. After Saturday’s record-breaking mixed 4x400m victory in 3:11.10 — erasing the old U.S. mark from 2022 — the men’s 4x400m quartet of Bovel McPherson, Zandrion Barnes, Delano Kennedy, and Rusheen McDonald powered home in 3:02.86 for another gold. The men’s 4x100m squad (Ashanie Smith, Kadrian Goldson, Ryiem Forde, and Christopher Taylor) had to settle for silver after Canada snatched gold in a record-breaking 38.05, eclipsing Jamaica’s 2015 standard.
Individually, McDonald added a silver in the men’s 400m with 45.04, though he and Kennedy (fifth in 45.37) both missed the World Championships qualifying standard. Grenada’s legend Kirani James turned back the clock with a sparkling 44.48, rewriting the meet record books.
On the field, Elvis Graham secured a hard-earned bronze in the men’s javelin, hurling 76.09m. Meanwhile, Lloydricia Cameron (shot put) and Raymond Richards (high jump) both placed fifth in their events, narrowly missing the podium against tough North American competition.
In the end, Jamaica’s 25 medals painted a picture of depth and dominance. From Pryce’s quarter-mile brilliance to Ricketts’ seasoned poise and the relays’ electrifying baton exchanges, the Bahamian stage belonged to the islanders. With the World Championships fast approaching, the black, green, and gold machine looks primed for even bigger headlines.
