Jamaica earn 22 medals at NAPF championship

Jamaica’s National powerlifting team carried home 22 medals from the North American Regional Powerlifting (NAPF) Championships, held in Canada from August 2-8.
Head coach and head referee, Clifton Lee, said this exceeded their expectations, and they are very grateful.
“The championships were extremely competitive, with some of the strongest athletes from across the North American region represented. For Jamaica to take an eight-member team and return with 22 medals - one gold, 14 silver, and seven bronze, while having six of our eight athletes finish on the overall podium, speaks volumes about the continued growth of our programme. It was a strong championship for Jamaica and one we can build on,” he said.
Ayana Duhaney, who competed in the women’s Open 84kg, earned silver overall and secured gold in deadlift, silver in squat, and bronze in bench.
Shrona Scott, who competed in the women’s Open 69kg,  earned bronze in squat, bronze in bench, silver in deadlift, and bronze overall. She finished the championship with four medals.
Rosalee Atkinson-Reece, who competed in the women’s Masters II 84kg, captured silver overall, earned bronze in squat, silver in bench, and silver in deadlift.
Bruce Higgins, in the men’s Open 120+kg, secured bronze overall and earned bronze medals in bench, squat, and deadlift.
Matthew Hall, in the men’s Masters I 105kg, secured silver overall, while also collecting silver medals in squat, bench, and deadlift.
Martin Watson, in the men’s Masters I 120kg, earned silver overall, along with silver medals in squat, bench, and deadlift.
Roxroy Campbell, who competed in the men’s Open 93kg, and Mikhail Russell, who competed in the men’s Open 74kg, narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
EXCEEDED MEDALS
This exceeded the medals won by Jamaica at their last NAPF Championships in 2025, where they won 15 medals.
“Beyond the medals, I was particularly pleased with how the athletes competed and executed under pressure. There are areas we can improve, and that is actually encouraging because it means there is still another level for this team to reach,” Lee said.
Lee noted that the team representing Jamaica during its ‘Emancipendence’ celebrations made the moment even more special.
INSPIRE
“Representing Jamaica during this period makes every lift even more meaningful. We hope to inspire Jamaicans with performances that reflect resilience and excellence,” he said.
He said a partnership with A7 International for IPF-approved national kits also helped to make a difference in their performances.
“It has boosted athlete confidence, professionalism, and international visibility, while allowing us to compete in top quality equipment,” Lee said.
Despite these pluses for the team, he said they still face a number of challenges, and still needs assistance.
“Funding, access to quality equipment and facilities, and continued athlete, coach, and official development remain our biggest challenges,” he said.
“(More help is needed) through sponsorships, grants, and partnerships that support athlete development, international competition, and grassroots programmes.”
In the meantime, they continue to build with what they have.
“We’ll continue developing athletes, strengthening coaching and officiating, expanding partnerships, and building Jamaica into a leading powerlifting nation in the region,” Lee said.

Despite these pluses for the team, e said they still face a number of hallenges, and still needs assistance. "Funding, access to quality equipment and facilities, and continued thlete, coach, and official development emain our biggest challenges," he said. "(More help is needed) through ponsorships, grants, and partnerships hat support athlete development, nternational competition, and grassroots programmes.
In the meantime, they continue to uild with what they have.