分类： sports

The 116th edition of Jamaica’s premier high school athletics championship, known as Champs, continues its legacy as a global sporting phenomenon in 2026. The competition’s rich history traces back to 1910, but the 1926 edition stands as a particularly remarkable chapter in its storied existence.

Amid global turbulence in 1926—including the UK General Strike, Emperor Hirohito’s ascension in Japan, and technological breakthroughs like John Logie Baird’s mechanical television demonstration—Jamaican school athletics witnessed its own historic moments. Munro College spectacularly reclaimed the championship title they first won in 1920, finishing with 28 points ahead of rivals Wolmer’s Boys’ (25.5 points) and Jamaica College (21 points).

The competition saw extraordinary individual performances, particularly from Munro’s DA ‘Alty’ Junor, who dominated four events: the 100-yard dash (10.35 seconds), 220-yard sprint (24 seconds), long jump, and 120-yard hurdles. Historical accounts from the Champs 100 book describe Junor’s hurdles victory as so decisive that competitors were only reaching the tenth hurdle as he crossed the finish line.

Technical innovations emerged during the games, with starter Dr. F L Aris abandoning traditional starting commands due to numerous false starts in the 100-yard final. His solution—simply positioning runners and firing the gun—proved effective.

The 1926 championship also featured Beckford and Smith High School (now St Jago High) making their debut appearance, though they failed to register any points. Another notable achievement came from H W Myers, who set a new Class One high jump record of 5 feet 11 inches, simultaneously establishing a Jamaican national record.

Junor further demonstrated his athletic versatility by placing second in the pole vault to a teammate, cementing his reputation as Munro’s most accomplished all-round sportsman, with additional excellence in football and cricket. The era’s communication limitations were highlighted by the coach’s triumphant telegram proclaiming ‘We shall probably win’—a prediction that proved decisively accurate.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Sanique Watt of Immaculate Conception delivered a commanding performance to claim the Class 3 girls’ high jump title at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships. The event, held at the National Stadium on Thursday, witnessed Watt’s technical mastery as she secured gold with a winning clearance of 1.71 meters.

Demonstrating remarkable consistency, Watt navigated the competition with strategic efficiency. She successfully cleared the first four heights on her initial attempt at each, building momentum for the crucial final stages. While she required two attempts to conquer the gold-medal-winning 1.71m bar, her execution proved decisive. Watt concluded her series with three unsuccessful attempts at 1.74m, a height that would have extended her victory margin.

The podium was completed by Kemoya Campbell from Edwin Allen High, who captured the silver medal with a best jump of 1.68m. Jessica Francis of Alphansus Davis High earned bronze, matching Campbell’s height of 1.68m but requiring more attempts throughout the competition, which determined the final standings. Brianna Stewart of St Jago High, last year’s silver medalist, finished just off the podium in fourth place with a clearance of 1.65m.

In a display of sheer athletic dominance, Wolmer’s Girls’ sprinter Natrece East delivered a career-defining performance at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. Competing in the Class 2 Girls’ 100-meter final on Wednesday at Kingston’s National Stadium, East not only secured victory but did so in spectacular fashion, leaving her competitors trailing significantly behind her. Her record-shattering time of 11.21 seconds established a new personal best and underscored her emergence as a formidable talent in Jamaican track and field. The championship, widely regarded as the pinnacle of high school athletics in the region, witnessed one of its most impressive sprint performances in recent history as East powered through the finish line with a commanding lead. Her technical execution from the starting blocks through the acceleration phase demonstrated a level of prowess that signals significant potential for future international competitions. The victory adds another prestigious title to Wolmer’s Girls’ athletic legacy and positions East as a rising star to watch in the sport.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The stage is set for an electrifying showdown in the girls’ Class 2 discus throw final this Friday, featuring a quartet of elite throwers all demonstrating championship form during qualifying rounds. Defending champion Brandane Malcolm of Hydel High School headlines the group after launching a formidable 43.71-meter throw on her second attempt, successfully rebounding from an initial foul to comfortably surpass the automatic qualifying standard of 42.00 meters.

Malcolm finds herself in close pursuit of Excelsior High’s Zoeyann Plummer, last year’s Class 3 champion, who seized the qualifying round lead with a impressive 44.13-meter heave, also delivered on her second attempt. This sets up a compelling narrative between the established champion and the rising star moving up in class.

The field deepens with two additional serious medal contenders. Clarendon College’s Jamelia Young, fresh from claiming the shot put gold medal, qualified with a strong mark of 43.58 meters, demonstrating her all-around throwing prowess. Meanwhile, St Elizabeth Technical’s Davieka Lewis delivered the most efficient performance of the day, securing her place in the final with a single, decisive throw of 42.88 meters, conserving energy for the championship round.

This convergence of talent promises one of the most anticipated events of the meet, with all four athletes separated by less than two meters, ensuring a dramatic and unpredictable final where any of the contenders could claim the title.

Jamaica’s national football team confronts a pivotal moment in their World Cup qualifying campaign as they prepare to face New Caledonia in the intercontinental playoff semi-finals. The match, scheduled for 10:00 PM at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico, represents the Reggae Boyz’s opportunity to redeem themselves after missing qualification last November.

Under new technical leadership headed by Rudolph Speid, the 27-man squad arrives without injury concerns following their final training session on Wednesday. The team features significant roster changes, with 14 players who weren’t part of former coach Steve McClaren’s final selection now included.

Captain Andre Blake emphasized the team’s determination to secure Jamaica’s first World Cup appearance since 1998. “Everybody knows what’s at stake,” Blake stated. “We have a chance, the football is round, and we’re looking forward to it. Sometimes we as Jamaicans tend to operate better when our backs are against the wall.”

Their opponents, world 150th-ranked New Caledonia, approach the match as underdogs seeking their first World Cup qualification. The Oceania team benefited from the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams, finishing behind favorites New Zealand in their region. However, they enter the match with limited recent competitive experience, having played only three games in the past year.

New Caledonian midfielder Angelo Fulgini embraced their underdog status: “We have nothing to lose. If we go through, it will be an unbelievable achievement; if we fall short, nobody will bat an eyelid. We have to go to Mexico under no pressure and with no fear.”

The winner will advance to face DR Congo in the final playoff on Tuesday, with Jamaica holding a mixed record against Oceanic opponents—two wins and two losses in their four previous meetings.

Jamaica College has established a formidable position at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championship, surging to a 16-point advantage with 54 points after eight finals on Wednesday’s competition. The prestigious national event at Jamaica’s National Stadium witnessed exceptional performances across multiple track and field disciplines.

St Jago High currently occupies second place with 38 points, followed closely by Calabar High in third with 36 points. Defending champions Kingston College sit in fourth position with 31 points, while Wolmer’s Boys’ complete the top five with 25 points.

The sprint events delivered spectacular results, with Riquelme Reid of Excelsior High blazing to victory in the Class One 100m with an impressive 10.12 seconds (1.2 m/s). St George’s College’s Tyreece Foreman claimed silver in 10.21 seconds, while Romario Finnigan of Edwin Allen secured bronze in 10.22 seconds.

Wolmer’s Boys’ achieved a remarkable quinella in the Class Three 100m through Ajani Lumley (10.71) and Joshua McWilliams (10.81), earning a crucial 16-point haul. The Class Two event saw Kai Kelly deliver a jaw-dropping performance of 10.28 seconds (0.6 m/s), narrowly missing Sachin Dennis’s 2018 record of 10.20 seconds.

Field events produced equally impressive results, with Kingston College’s Odane Noble capturing the first championship final by winning the Boys’ Class Two long jump with a leap of 7.18 meters. The middle-distance events witnessed record-breaking performances, including Julius Itubo of KC smashing the Class Three 1500m mark by over four seconds with a time of 4:00.76.

Anticipation builds for Thursday’s 400m finals, with Jamaica College’s Makaelan Woods entering as favorite after posting the fastest qualifying time of 46.39 seconds. The event promises to be one of the most competitive in recent years, featuring seven athletes who have broken the 47-second barrier during preliminary rounds.

The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships witnessed a historic display of speed as Holland High School’s Shanoya Douglas blazed to a stunning victory in the Class 1 100m final. Clocking a phenomenal personal best of 10.98 seconds (0.7m/s) on Wednesday, Douglas not only secured the gold medal but also established a new world-leading time for the season. This monumental achievement etches her name in Jamaican athletics history as the fourth-fastest junior female sprinter of all time, trailing only the legendary marks set by Alana Reid (10.92s), Tina Clayton (10.95s), and Briana Williams (10.97s). Her triumph delivered Holland High its first-ever championship gold medal, a feat she previously accomplished for Muschett High two years prior.

The event showcased deep talent across multiple age categories. In the Class 1 race, Edwin Allen High secured the runner-up positions with Alexxe Henry (11.21s) and Renecia Edwards (11.45s) claiming silver and bronze, respectively.

Dominance continued in the Class 2 final as Wolmer’s Girls’ prodigy Natrece East extended her remarkable winning streak. Adding the Class 2 title to her previous victories in Classes 4 and 3, East powered to a personal best of 11.21 seconds (0.9m/s). The race took a dramatic turn when anticipated challenger Kerelle Etienne of Edwin Allen High, who was competitive through 70 meters, suddenly decelerated and finished eighth. The silver medal was awarded jointly to Mt Alvernia High’s Giana Murray and St Jago’s Shannia Campbell, both timed at 11.61 seconds.

Further demonstrating the championship’s competitive depth, Edwin Allen’s Danelia Clarke captured the Class 3 gold medal with a time of 11.66 seconds (0.9m/s). She was followed by Ferncourt High’s Rihanna Scott (11.74s) and Alpha Academy’s Azaria Harris (11.77s). In the Class 4 final, Excelsior High’s Brianna Gray emerged victorious in 12.01 seconds (0.1m/s), leading a podium that included Edwin Allen’s Monique Bogle (12.30s) and Shantwae Green (12.40s).

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Stadium witnessed exceptional athletic prowess during Thursday’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships as three newly crowned 100m champions launched their campaigns for sprint doubles in the 200m events.

Shanoya Douglas of Holland High, fresh from her spectacular personal best of 10.98 seconds in Wednesday’s Class 1 100m final, demonstrated remarkable recovery to dominate her 200m heat. Clocking 24.21 seconds against a slight headwind (-0.8m/s), Douglas positioned herself as the frontrunner for semi-final qualification.

She was joined by fellow champions Natrece East of Wolmer’s Girls (Class 2) and Excelsior High’s Briana Gray (Class 4), who both successfully navigated their opening rounds. East delivered a strong 24.38-second performance with favorable wind assistance (0.7m/s), while Gray secured her Class 4 heat victory in 25.66 seconds despite challenging wind conditions.

The qualification rounds revealed impressive depth across multiple categories. In Class 2, East’s progression came alongside silver medalist Shannia Campbell of St Jago (24.53s) and bronze winner Giana Murray of Mt Alvernia High (24.78s). Class 4 saw Vere Technical’s Omeika Shepherd lead qualifying with 25.30 seconds, followed by Hydel High’s Reneka Reid (25.49s) and Edwin Allen’s Niesha Campbell (25.52s).

Class 3 competition featured notable advances from Ferncourt High’s 100m silver medalist Rihanna Scott (24.87s), Hydel High’s Tyecia McDonald (24.85s), and Knox College’s Tawaina Marston (24.88s), all overcoming varying wind challenges to secure semi-final berths.