KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a stunning display of athletic prowess and competitive resilience, Hydel High School’s Zavien Bernard captured her second gold medal within twenty-four hours at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships. The dramatic climax unfolded on Friday at the National Stadium, where Bernard delivered a championship-winning performance in the triple jump open event.
Facing intense pressure in the final round, Bernard found herself momentarily displaced from the top position by her own teammate, Sabrina Atkinson. Atkinson had electrified the stadium with a massive personal best leap of 12.43 meters, catapulting from fourth place into the provisional lead. Undeterred, Bernard responded with sheer brilliance on her very last attempt. Soaring to a new personal record of 12.65 meters, she snatched back the victory with the final jump of the entire competition, cementing her status as a dual champion.
This triumphant moment followed her gold medal achievement in the Class 1 long jump just the day before, showcasing her remarkable versatility. The competition also featured a standout performance from Edwin Allen High’s Akaylea Brown, who completed an exceptional daily double. After securing gold in the Class 1 high jump earlier that day, Brown added a bronze medal in the triple jump with a lifetime best effort of 12.17 meters, further highlighting the exceptional talent on display at the national championships.