Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's junior taekwondo team members (left to right), Tashana Grannum, Donald Delano Francis, Maya McKay, Nicholas Dussard and Asheika Dyer (at rear), strike a winning pose after last Saturday's close win over their Jacksonville counterparts in Miami. - CONTRIBUTED
JAMAICA'S JUNIOR tae-kwondo squad was stretched to the limit on Saturday in a narrow 5-3 win over Jacksonville in Florida.
Fielding four junior world medallists in addition to nine-year-old newcomer, Donald Delano Franics, Jamaica were surprised by Jacksonville in the City versus City showdown staged by the Sunbelt Martial Academy.
Both teams had outstanding performances at the World Cup in Orlando last year. However, the hosts made sure Jamaica had to battle to the final bout to secure victory after cruising to a 4-0 lead.
The tournament was staged over eight divisions, the first two won by Francis, who landed the 9-10 patterns and sparring easily, giving Jamaica a two-division lead.
Asheika Dyer took the 11-12 green belt sparring and patterns easily and her teammate, Maya McKay, won silver and bronze respectively in the same division, giving Jamaica a lead of four out of a possible eight divisions.
COME BACK
However, the Jacksonville kids came roaring back after World Cup gold medallist Tashana Grannum surprisingly lost the 12-13 blue belt patterns against her American opponent, taking silver.
Grannum was also denied in the 12-13, blue to black belt sparring, beaten by black belt teenage sensation Francesca. Grannum fought bravely but her rival made it 4-2 for Jacksonville.
Black belt Nicholas Dussard, the flagship of Jamaica's contingent, captain of the junior squad, Pan-Am gold and world silver medallist, was next up and gave a big effort in the patterns.
However, he too fell to a member of the Francesca family, losing to second degree black belt, Isiah, whose sister had won the girls division.
Isiah pulled Jacksonville one point off Jamaica, putting Dussard in a do-or-die battle to win sparring for the division.
A loss for Jamaica would have given Jacksonville victory as they had accumulated more second and third place points up to that point.
However, Dussard, who was recently honoured with the Prime Minister's Youth Award for Excellence, rose to the occasion to defeat his opponent, scoring a narrow victory in a tough fight.
Jason McKay, head of Jamaica's contingent and coach of the junior squad, said he was very impressed with both teams' performances, especially the brother-sister Francesca act.
"Dussard showed his class again," McKay said. "He maintained his cool and came good at the end."
