Under the luminous lights of Kingston’s National Stadium, the 2025 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (CHAMPS) reached a thrilling crescendo on Saturday night.
With electrifying performances and unforgettable victories, Kingston College (KC) and Hydel High School emerged as the ultimate champions, etching their names in sporting history.
For KC, this victory was particularly poetic—a glorious conquest in the school’s centennial year. The win marked their fourth consecutive title and an astonishing 36th championship overall. Meanwhile, Hydel delivered a stunning performance, toppling the formidable Edwin Allen High to claim their second title in three years, cementing their growing dominance in girls’ athletics.
KC’s commanding display
KC dominated with unwavering consistency, amassing 293 points across 42 finals, pulling well clear of Calabar High’s 229.25 points. Jamaica College (JC) secured third with 207 points, while St. Jago High (135), Excelsior High (78), and Wolmer’s Boys (66.75) rounded out the top ranks.
The North Street powerhouse closed their campaign with an emphatic victory in the 4x400m relay, their anchor leg executed flawlessly by Class 1 400m silver medalist Marcinho Rose, who carried the ‘Famed Purples’ to the finish in 3:07.46 minutes. Calabar (3:08.60) and JC (3:08.61) fought valiantly but settled for silver and bronze.
KC’s Amani Phillips left an indelible mark, smashing the Champs record in the Class 2 triple jump with a leap of 15.66m. Excelsior’s Khi-Anthony Hall (14.31m) and KC’s Demario Clarke (14.19m) followed behind.
The sprint relays were equally exhilarating. KC’s Class 1 4x100m relay team initially finished behind Calabar but was later awarded gold after their rivals were disqualified for an exchange zone violation. Their winning time of 39.78 seconds saw Excelsior promoted to second (39.83s) and JC to third (40.00s). KC also clinched victory in the Class 2 4x100m relay in 40.62 seconds, holding off Calabar (40.90s) and JC (40.93s).
Despite picking up critical points in the sprint hurdles, KC’s sole triumph in this discipline came from Jonathan Clarke in the Class 2 110m hurdles, who clocked 13.63 seconds to outpace St. Jago’s Marquies Page (13.71s) and JC’s Christian Wallace (13.84s).
Calabar’s standout moments
Though finishing second overall, Calabar’s resurgence in track and field was undeniable. Their athletes delivered several breathtaking performances, most notably Tarique Daley’s record-breaking javelin throw of 65.11m, surpassing Edwin Allen’s Addison James (65.08m) and Ojay Ellis (55.87m). Kamari Kennedy followed suit in the Class 2 discus, setting a new Champs record of 61.46m.
In the sprint hurdles, Shaquane Gordon took gold in the Class 1 110m hurdles in 13.52 seconds, narrowly beating KC’s Daniel Clarke (13.54s) and JC’s Shakir Lewis (13.85s). Meanwhile, Calabar’s Ronaldinho Barnett claimed victory in the Class 3 100m hurdles, finishing in 12.92 seconds.
JC had their moment of glory in the high jump, with Chavez Penn soaring to gold in the Class 1 final, clearing 2.08m. Santino Distin of Herbert Morrison (2.05m) and KC’s Tejahni Haynes (2.05m) completed the podium. JC also triumphed in the sprint medley relay, winning in 3:29.92 minutes ahead of St. George’s College (3:30.18) and KC (3:32.32).
Hydel’s dominance in the Girls’ Champs
The girls’ competition saw Hydel take no prisoners, securing a dramatic 277-point victory—11 points ahead of Edwin Allen (266), while Holmwood Technical claimed third with 230.5 points.
The team’s charge was spearheaded by Jody-Ann Daley, who shattered the Class 1 100m hurdles record in 13.40 seconds, ahead of Holmwood’s Kiara Meikle (13.51s) and Edwin Allen’s Santae Wilson (13.74s). Daley later stunned the crowd again with an upset victory in the Class 1 200m final, clocking 23.53 seconds to defeat Lacovia’s Sabrina Dockery (23.63s).
Hydel also showcased their strength in field events, with Zavien Bernard clearing 1.70m to claim gold in the Class 2 high jump. Their relay squads were just as formidable, clinching the Class 1 4x100m relay title in 44.55 seconds, edging out Edwin Allen (44.62s) and Holmwood Technical (44.73s).
The newly crowned champions sealed their title in dominant fashion, winning the 4x400m relay in 3:33.88 minutes, well ahead of Edwin Allen (3:38.78) and Holmwood (3:38.85).
Other noteworthy performances
While Edwin Allen fell short of defending their title, they still had several victories to celebrate. Tashana Godfrey’s golden medal run in the Class 3 80m hurdles (11.26s) and Sushana Johnson’s commanding win in the 3000m Open (10:13.58) highlighted their resilience.
St. Jago, Holmwood, and Wolmer’s also made their presence felt. St. Jago’s Shanice Williams captured gold in the Class 4 70m hurdles in 10.60 seconds, while Holmwood’s Adalia Simpson blazed to victory in the Class 4 200m final (25.15s). Wolmer’s dominated the Class 2 100m hurdles final, with Tiana Marshall (13.71s) and Akeelah Bell (13.95s) securing a 1-2 finish.
As the dust settled on an electrifying five days of competition, Kingston College and Hydel High stood tall, their banners waving triumphantly in the night sky. For KC, their centenary victory was the ultimate testament to a rich legacy of excellence. For Hydel, their triumph proved that their rising dominance is no fluke.
As Champs 2025 concludes, one truth remains undeniable—Jamaica’s future in track and field is brighter than ever.
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