Champs set for thrilling battle among top teams

THE 2025 ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships is set for a thrilling last two days, following last night’s 400 metres finals at the National Stadium.

Kingston College (KC), after 15 of 42 finals, lead the boys’ standings with 99.5 points, ahead of Calabar High with 75 and Jamaica College (JC) on 54. The top three among the girls, after 16 of 46 finals, are Hydel High with 88, Edwin Allen High on 84 and Holmwood Technical in third with 83.

In the performance of the night, Tajh-Marques White of Kingston College came from off the pace in the Class One Boys’ 400m final to win the event in a personal best 45.84 seconds. The defending champions pocketed maximum points as his teammate, Marcinho Rose, secured second in 45.90 while Omarie Williamson of Holmwood finished third in 46.66.

Earlier, Calabar also secured a one-two finish in the Class Three Boys’ 400m, as Rajeve Allison won in 50.33 ahead of his teammate Justin McKoy, who placed second in 50.66. Nicholas Jones of Lacovia High took third in 50.86.

KC picked up another 400m victory after Jason Pitter won the Class Two final in 47.92. Calabar’s Di Wayne Sharpe finished second in 48.30 while Chanton Whyte secured Denbigh High’s first medal at these championships with a third-place finish in 48.56.

Hydel’s girls continued their dominance in the 400m with two victories. In Class Two, Nastassia was outstanding, winning in a personal best of 52.82, ahead of her teammate Sashana Johnson who clocked 54.08. Madison Campbell of Holmwood claimed third in 54.44.

Abigail Campbell showed great determination in the final 50 metres to successfully defend her Class One title with a time of 53.03. Abrina Wright of Holmwood took second in 53.53, the same time awarded to Edwin Allen’s Kelly-Ann Carr for third.

Shameika McLean created history for Foga Road High with a vintage run in the Class Three 400m, securing the school’s first-ever medal at the championships. She controlled the race from start to finish, winning easily in 54.22 while Tracey-Ann Evans of Holmwood finished second in 55.55. Hydel’s Shaniel Henry was third in 56.19.

Field Event Finals

St Elizabeth Technical continued their strong performances in the horizontal jumps as Anastacia Richards dominated the Class Four long jump final. She posted the three best marks in the event, winning with a distance of 5.49m. Edwin Allen’s Kemoya Campbell placed second with 5.21m, while Shanique Watt of Immaculate Conception secured third with 5.16m.

St Mary’s High’s Sackoya Palmer won gold in the Girls’ Class Three high jump after clearing 1.65m. Brianna Stewart of St Jago High and Stefvanco Henry of Campion College also cleared the same height and finished second and third, respectively, based on countback.

Immaculate Conception’s Jaeda Robinson captured the gold medal in the Girls’ Class Two long jump with a leap of 5.91m. Hydel’s Zavien Bernard took silver with 5.73m, while the defending champion Janella Canns, of St Jago High, finished third with 5.51m.

Jamaica College’s Joseph Salmon continued his unbeaten run this season in the Class One discus, delivering a massive throw of 62.14m to secure the title. Rajay Hemmings, of St Catherine High, claimed silver with 54.61m, while Rajaun Street, of Munro College, took bronze with 54.50m.

Munro College’s Javonte Smith, another standout athlete this season, impressed in the Boys’ Class Two shot put with a winning throw of 18.81m. Kamari Kennedy, of Calabar, placed second with 18.25m, while St Catherine High’s Adrian Daley finished third with 17.30m.

In a highly competitive Boys’ Class Three high jump final, Calabar’s Shamar Shaw emerged victorious after clearing 1.78m. Kingston College’s Jamari Nugent and Herbert Morrison Technical’s Leondrae Thomas tied for second place, also clearing 1.78m