Underneath the luminous lights of Kingston’s Nationwide Stadium, the 2025 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Women’ Athletics Championships (CHAMPS) reached an exhilarating crescendo on Saturday evening.
With electrifying performances and unforgettable victories, Kingston School (KC) and Hydel Excessive College emerged as the last word champions, etching their names in sporting historical past.
For KC, this victory was notably poetic—an excellent conquest within the faculty’s centennial yr. The win marked their fourth consecutive title and an astonishing thirty sixth championship total. In the meantime, Hydel delivered a shocking efficiency, toppling the formidable Edwin Allen Excessive to say their second title in three years, cementing their rising dominance in women’ athletics.
KC’s commanding show
KC dominated with unwavering consistency, amassing 293 factors throughout 42 finals, pulling nicely away from Calabar Excessive’s 229.25 factors. Jamaica School (JC) secured third with 207 factors, whereas St. Jago Excessive (135), Excelsior Excessive (78), and Wolmer’s Boys (66.75) rounded out the highest ranks.
The North Avenue powerhouse closed their marketing campaign with an emphatic victory within the 4x400m relay, their anchor leg executed flawlessly by Class 1 400m silver medalist Marcinho Rose, who carried the ‘Famed Purples’ to the end in 3:07.46 minutes. Calabar (3:08.60) and JC (3:08.61) fought valiantly however settled for silver and bronze.
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KC’s Amani Phillips left an indelible mark, smashing the Champs report within the Class 2 triple leap with a leap of 15.66m. Excelsior’s Khi-Anthony Corridor (14.31m) and KC’s Demario Clarke (14.19m) adopted behind.
The dash relays had been equally exhilarating. KC’s Class 1 4x100m relay crew initially completed behind Calabar however was later awarded gold after their rivals had been disqualified for an change zone violation. Their profitable time of 39.78 seconds noticed Excelsior promoted to second (39.83s) and JC to 3rd (40.00s). KC additionally clinched victory within the Class 2 4x100m relay in 40.62 seconds, holding off Calabar (40.90s) and JC (40.93s).
Regardless of selecting up vital factors within the dash hurdles, KC’s sole triumph on this self-discipline got here from Jonathan Clarke within the Class 2 110m hurdles, who clocked 13.63 seconds to outpace St. Jago’s Marquies Web page (13.71s) and JC’s Christian Wallace (13.84s).
Calabar’s standout moments
Although ending second total, Calabar’s resurgence in monitor and discipline was simple. Their athletes delivered a number of 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 adopted go well with within the Class 2 discus, setting a brand new Champs report of 61.46m.
Within the dash hurdles, Shaquane Gordon took gold within the Class 1 110m hurdles in 13.52 seconds, narrowly beating KC’s Daniel Clarke (13.54s) and JC’s Shakir Lewis (13.85s). In the meantime, Calabar’s Ronaldinho Barnett claimed victory within the Class 3 100m hurdles, ending in 12.92 seconds.
JC had their second of glory within the excessive leap, with Chavez Penn hovering to gold within the Class 1 ultimate, clearing 2.08m. Santino Distin of Herbert Morrison (2.05m) and KC’s Tejahni Haynes (2.05m) accomplished the rostrum. JC additionally triumphed within the dash medley relay, profitable in 3:29.92 minutes forward of St. George’s School (3:30.18) and KC (3:32.32).
Hydel’s dominance within the Women’ Champs
The ladies’ competitors noticed Hydel take no prisoners, securing a dramatic 277-point victory—11 factors forward of Edwin Allen (266), whereas Holmwood Technical claimed third with 230.5 factors.
The crew’s cost was spearheaded by Jody-Ann Daley, who shattered the Class 1 100m hurdles report in 13.40 seconds, forward of Holmwood’s Kiara Meikle (13.51s) and Edwin Allen’s Santae Wilson (13.74s). Daley later surprised the gang once more with an upset victory within the Class 1 200m ultimate, clocking 23.53 seconds to defeat Lacovia’s Sabrina Dockery (23.63s).
Hydel additionally showcased their power in discipline occasions, with Zavien Bernard clearing 1.70m to say gold within the Class 2 excessive leap. Their relay squads had been simply 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 topped champions sealed their title in dominant style, profitable the 4x400m relay in 3:33.88 minutes, nicely forward of Edwin Allen (3:38.78) and Holmwood (3:38.85).
Different noteworthy performances
Whereas Edwin Allen fell in need of defending their title, they nonetheless had a number of victories to have a good time. Tashana Godfrey’s golden medal run within the Class 3 80m hurdles (11.26s) and Sushana Johnson’s commanding win within the 3000m Open (10:13.58) highlighted their resilience.
St. Jago, Holmwood, and Wolmer’s additionally made their presence felt. St. Jago’s Shanice Williams captured gold within the Class 4 70m hurdles in 10.60 seconds, whereas Holmwood’s Adalia Simpson blazed to victory within the Class 4 200m ultimate (25.15s). Wolmer’s dominated the Class 2 100m hurdles ultimate, with Tiana Marshall (13.71s) and Akeelah Bell (13.95s) securing a 1-2 end.
Because the mud settled on an electrifying 5 days of competitors, Kingston School and Hydel Excessive stood tall, their banners waving triumphantly within the evening sky. For KC, their centenary victory was the last word testomony to a wealthy legacy of excellence. For Hydel, their triumph proved that their rising dominance is not any fluke.
As Champs 2025 concludes, one fact stays simple—Jamaica’s future in monitor and discipline is brighter than ever.
