Jamaicans storm New Jersey’s Ultimate Tae Kwon Do Challenge

RICHARD Stone was the toast of the evening, taking the coveted black belt heavyweight crown after going through Armani Bernard, the favourite, who had eliminated the other Jamaicans in the field.

In the male black belt lightweight category, a spirited Donald Francis was at his best but was unable to get past defending champion Ackeem Lawrence, who was fresher, having been spared the rounds leading to the final.

Tyrique Tai-Loy won the junior male black belt division, fighting his was through six rounds of combat, eventually defeating fellow Jamaican Jamaica College’s Sharic Bowen, who was the first to mine gold, earlier winning patterns.

Female lightweight fighter Marissa Jones, won bronze, along with heavyweight Rasean Martin.