Mullings wins Under-13 title at Carib squash champs

Grand Cayman:

Following on her recent triumph at the All-Jamaica Squash Championships, Alyssa Mullings has taken the Under-13 title at the 2010 Walkers Caribbean Junior Squash Championships, which is currently under way in Grand Cayman.

The national Under-13 champion defeated Faith Gillezeau of Trinidad and Tobago 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 on Tuesday.

With the straight sets win, 11-year-old Alyssa has now added the regional title to her growing list of credentials.

"I feel very happy and proud to be the Caribbean Under-13 champion," Mullings said shortly after her victory. "I came to the tournament ranked number one and I am happy that I lived up to it."

Commenting on her victory, national junior coach, Karen Anderson, said Mullings handled the pressure well.

"Going in as the number-one seed means the pressure to win is always greater, because everyone else is gunning for you," said Anderson. "But Alyssa handled herself beautifully, and her intensity and passion are without a doubt the reason she is the Under-13 Caribbean champion."

Mullings and her teammates, including All Jamaica Under-15 girls champion, Mary Mahfood, Under-19 women's champion, Brooke Burrowes and Under-15 men's champion, Julian Morrison, now have their sights set on winning the team competition, which got under way on Tuesday.

Jamaica defeated Barbados

In the boys competition, Jamaica defeated Barbados 5-0 with both David Lawrence and Joshua Mahfood posting wins in the Under-19 category, Ashante Smith winning in the Under-17 age group and Julian Morrison and Cameron Anderson scoring victories in the Under-15 and Under-13 sections, respectively.

The boys later registered a close 3-2 win over the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Lawrence lost to Jules Snagg (0/3) - 4/11, 2/11, 5/11; Mahfood beat Stefan Joseph (3/1) - 7/11, 8/11, 15/13, 8/11; Smith stopped Romario Constance (3/2) - 11/8, 9/11, 11/5, 7/11, 11/8; Julian Morrison blanked Rory Thornton (3/0) - 11/5, 11/6, 11/9; while Anderson went down to Jason Doyle (1/3) - 11/4, 9/11, 11/6, 11/7.

The Jamaican girls defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-2, with Under-19 contender Lauren Mahfood, Under-17 player Ericka Robertson and Mullings all winning their respective matches.

The also knocked over the OECS team 5-0. Burrowes beat Zoe Sorrentino (3/0) - 11/3, 11/3, 11/4; Lauren Mahfood beat Erin Anderson (3/0) - 11/0, 11/2, 11/1; Jessica Perkins beat Erika Sorrentino (3/1) - 11/5, 9/11, 11/6, 11/4; Mary Mahfood topped Gianna Alexander (3/0) - 11/0, 11/3, 11/9; and Mullings nailed Demi Olivierre (3/0) - 11/4, 11/4, 11/6.

"The girls have a realistic chance of reaching the finals and are trying to secure the team trophy, while the boys have a tougher road to travel. But with them playing to their fullest potential, I think they can secure a semi-final spot which would be a marked improvement over last year's performance," Anderson noted.