Jamaicans can rack up medals at US Open

JAMAICA ended yesterday’s afternoon session of the International Sports Karate Association United States Open with a total 53 medals – 18 gold, 15 silver and 20 bronze – with Ackeem Lawrence left to face Argentina’s Axel Vargas in the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championship bout.

The Jamaicans first racked 12 medals on Thursday in the new ITF division – five gold, five silver and two bronze – with combined martial arts team members squaring off against each other in heated match-ups won by veterans Nicholas Dusard and Kenneth Edwards, taking the middle and heavyweight divisions.

Friday’s forms-only day yielded 13 medals – four gold, four silver, and five bronze. The Henry brothers, Khain and Lee-Michael, of First Generation Rising Sun Karate were prolific. Khain won gold and silver in 8-9 advanced traditional weapons and forms, respectively.

Lee-Michael took home gold, silver and bronze in 10-11 black belt creative forms, weapons and traditional weapons, respectively.

Ningen Karate’s Jordan Scott and Christian Pearce also struck gold on forms day. Scott, 10-11 black belt, won gold, silver, and bronze in creative weapons, musical weapons, and creative forms, respectively. Pearce’s haul was gold in creative weapons in addition to silver in musical weapons and a bronze in creative forms.

Ningen’s Ishomar Chong picked up two bronze in seven and under intermediate – traditional and creative weapons.

BIGGEST BOUNTY

Yesterday’s action-packed sparring-only day was the Jamaican’s biggest bounty – nine gold, six silver, and 13 bronze – highlighted by victories in almost every division contested, starting with Tyrique Tai-Loy, who battled a vomiting spell to win 16-17 blackbelt continuous sparring in which Ryan Robinson placed third.

The ultra-competitive 18-34 black belt continuous sparring, -169lb, handed Dusard his second gold of the tournament, a 2-1 victory over Andres Garcia. Adrian Moore bagged gold in 18 and over continuous sparring, -184lb, and Richard Stone took home the -200lb division.

Akino Lindsay, who had lost his grudge match against Jamaica teammate Edwards in the ITF division, scored a shock win against the Olympian in the +200lb bout despite appearing to be behind in points.

First Generation Rising Sun Karate’s Karyll Bennett-Robinson won on her comeback, grabbing gold in the 30 and over black belt points sparring.

– A.W.