Lacrosse team targets PALA Sixes Cup

Following Jamaica’s fourth-place finish at the Pan American Men’s Lacrosse Championship yesterday, the Jamaica Lacrosse Association (JLA) will now turn its attention to the PALA Sixes Cup, the first step in Olympic qualification.

Jamaica finished fourth at the Pan Am Lacrosse Championships after a close 16-9 defeat at the hands of Haudenosaunee yesterday.

Haudenosaunee had taken a slender 6-5 advantage by the end of the first quarter, and held the lead at the half, going into the break 8-7.

They continued to press their advantage over the last two quarters, outscoring Jamaica 4-2 and 4-0 to clinch the bronze medal.

Hayden Hiltz led Jamaica’s effort in the bronze medal match, scoring four goals, with Stone Evans and Elias McLaughlin scoring two each.

Despite missing out on the bronze medal, Jamaica’s campaign was a success as they secured their spot at the 2027 World Lacrosse Championship.

The gold medal went to Canada, who pulled off a late comeback to clip the United States 8-9 in the final.

OLYMPIC VISION

Jamaica’s head coach, Mark Wilson, said their performance at the Pan Am Lacrosse Championship, as well as qualification to the World Championship, is a major boost towards their ambitions to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The LA Games will see lacrosse return to the Olympic schedule for the first time in 120 years.

Wilson is confident Jamaica can qualify for the LA Games, having proven their might at the Pan Am Lacrosse Championship.

“I think this is a great platform for that, and I think it shows that we deserve to be in Olympic consideration,” Wilson said.

“We’re out here competing with literally the best teams in the world because this region is the toughest region in lacrosse, considering we have six of the top 15 teams in the world.”

The PALA Sixes Cup, set for Canada next month, will be the first step towards Olympic qualification as it will qualify the five Pan American teams who will compete at the World Lacrosse Sixes Championship.

The World Lacrosse Sixes Championship will then determine the six men’s and women’s teams that will compete at the Olympics, with the US automatically qualifying as hosts.

JLA President Calbert Hutchinson said the association is pressing full steam ahead to ensure they can make an historic lacrosse debut.

He is confident Jamaica can qualify for the Olympics using their meteoric rise in the global rankings as proof.

“The stats speak for itself. Every single time we compete in the World Championship, we rise up the rankings, we attract new talent, and our grassroots programme improves significantly. We’re looking to lift our ranking in this next World Championship, and we’re also looking to position ourselves for the 2028 Olympic as well,” Hutchinson said.

“As you already know, next month, at the end of September, early October, we’re going to Ontario for the Sixes Qualifier that is being hosted by Canada Lacrosse and we’re looking to make it in the top five of those qualifying teams.”

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com