Kingston College won a record-extending 36th ISSA GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championship title for their 100th birthday gift while Hydel High secured their second crown in nail-biting fashion at the National Stadium on Saturday (March 29).

Kingston College (KC) which was winning their fourth consecutive crown and their fifth in the last six championship, amassed 293 points for a comfortable win.

The famed Purples were 63 points ahead of second-placed Calabar High on 229.25. Jamaica College finished in third on 207 points, with St Jago High fourth on 135. Excelsior High completed the top five on 78 points.

On the girls’ section, Hydel High captured their second trophy having first won in 2023 as they garnered 277 points and were 11 points clear of dethroned champion Edwin Allen on 266.

A rejuvenated Holmwood Technical High School were third with 230.5 with St Jago finishing in fourth spot on 149. Immaculate Conception was a surprised fifth with 100 points.

KC closed the show in style winning the 4x400m in 3:07.46 without their Class One and Class Two 400m champions Tahj-Marques White and Jason Pitter. But outgoing senior Marcinho Rose anchored brilliantly.

Hydel started the last race nine points ahead of Edwin Allen and they couldn’t afford any mishap winning in 3:33.88 ahead of Edwin Allen with 3:38.78. Holmwood Technical were not far behind in third on 3:38.85.

Calabar started the day on fire picking up 30 points to KC’s 24 in the sprint hurdles getting the quinella and 16 points in Class Three as Ronaldino Barrett won in a record 12.92 seconds ahead of his teammate Jordan McBean in 13.11. Jhaidon Dawkins of KC took third with 13.38.

In Class Two, KC got back as Jonathan Clarke sped to victory in a record 13.63 ahead of Marquies Page with 13.71. JC’s Christan Wallace was third in 13.84.

Shaquane Gordon won the Class One 110hurdle in 13.52 holding off the fast closing Daniel Clarke in 13.54. JC’s Shakir Lewis was third in 13.85.

St Jago’s Shanica Williams took the girls’ Class Four 70m hurdles in 10.60  while Tashana Godfrey of Edwin Allen captured the 80 hurdles in 11.26m.

Wolmer’s Tiana Marshall with 13.71 took the Class Two event ahead of her teammate Akeelah Bell in 13.95. Rajana Price of Convent of Mercy Alpha was third in 14.04.

Hydel’s Jody-Ann Daley was too good in Class One winning in 13.40 ahead of Kiara Meikle of Holmwood Technical in 13.51.

At this point, Calabar had closed to within eight points of KC while Hydel maintained their lead over Edwin Allen.

But at the end of the 200m, KC has responded collecting 26 points to Calabar’s 11 and that was decisive in what was by now a two-horse race.

St Jago notched the top two spots in Class Three courtesy of Rajaun Romelly (22.57) and Jevaney Findlay (23.03). KC’s Emmile Higgins ran on late for third in 23.31 and his teammate Andre Genus finished sixth in 23.43 for nine points.

In Class two, the boy name Usain won, not Bolt, but Usain Bernard of Peterfield High in 21.82. Jaydon Collins was second in 21.99 ahead of the KC pair of Jason Pitter (22.01) and Azriel Allen (22.15).

In Class One, Sanjay Seymore who lost his father recently, ran the race of his life winning in 21.27 ahead of Calabar’s Junior Gallimore in 21.42 and Kc’s Markel Smith in 21.54.

Hydel’s Jody-Ann Daley stunned race favourite Sabrina Dockery winning the Class One 200m in 23.53. Dockery was second in 23.63. Hydel got more precious points as Shemonique Hazle was third in 24.01.

But there were no upsets in Class Two as World Under-20 bronze medallist Shanoya Douglas of Muschett High ran away to an easy win in 23.30. Natrece East of Wolmer’s was second in 24.05 just ahead of Sashana Johnson of Hydel with 24.07.

Shannia Campbell of St Jago won Class Three in 24.15 while Adalia Simpson of Holmwood Technical took Class Four in 25.15.

The night closed with some outstanding records as KC’s Amani Phillip erased the Class Two triple jump mark of 15.54m leaping 15.66m.

Calabar’s Kamari Kennedy threw 61.46m for a new mark in the Class Two discus and his teammate Tarique Daley threw 65.11 for a new javelin record.

It was a wonderful championship of five days filled with drama, records, disqualifications, reinstatements, disappointments, tears and finally joy, for both KC and Hydel High schools.