Western Jamaica Schools Shine at Champs

Schools from western Jamaica are being praised for their performance at the recently concluded ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, signalling a bright future for track and field in the region.

While urban schools have traditionally dominated Jamaica’s premier high-school track and field event, which ran from March 25 to 29 this year, there was an impressive showing from institutions in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, Hanover, and Trelawny.

These schools not only secured places in the top 12 but also demonstrated the potential to be formidable contenders in the future, creating a buzz of excitement among fans and stakeholders alike.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, expressed her delight at the performance of the rural schools.

“It’s heartwarming to see western schools and their rural counterparts doing well at the Boys and Girls’ Champs,” she told reporters at a recent function in Richmond, St. Ann.

“This certainly augurs well for the future of Jamaica’s track and field and shows great depth in our high-school programmes,” she added.

Four schools from the county of Cornwall finished in the top 12, recording several outstanding performances.

Few were more impressive than the 16-year-old Thywaine Sterling from the Trelawny-based William Knibb Memorial High School.

The Champs debutant won both the 800 and 1500 metres, clocking 1:54.88 and 4:06.24, respectively.

Another William Knibb standout, Sanjay Seymore, won the gold in the Class One 200 metres, clocking 21.27, joining sprint legend Usain Bolt as the second athlete from the school to achieve the feat.

Class Two standout, Shanoya Douglas from Muschett High School, also in Trelawny, won double gold medal for the second year in a row in the 100-metre and 200-metre events.

Petersfield High School in Westmoreland was also among the winners, with young sensation, Usain Bernard, storming home in the Class Two boys 200, winning the gold medal in an impressive 21.82 seconds.

Over in St. Elizabeth, Munro College’s Javontae Smith won the Class Two boys’ shot put with 18.81 metres while Lacovia High’s Sabrina Dockery clocked 11.08 to take the 100-metre Class One girls.

St. Elizabeth Technical High School’s Tauntyae Sherman was also a gold medallist, winning the Class Three girls discus (38.25 metres).

Minister Grange said that with the championships serving as a critical platform for young athletes, the importance of community support for these programmes “cannot be overstated”, urging past students and local businesses to invest in the future of athletics.

“There’s hardly a better community builder than sports,” she asserted.

“It brings people together and provides opportunities for many young Jamaicans to make something of their lives,” she pointed out.

The call to action has resonated with local entrepreneurs such as Co-founder of Hah-R-Mony Entertainment Limited and Montego Bay, St. James businessman, Garth Ramsay.

“It hasn’t been lost on us that we are part of a community,” Mr. Ramsay remarked. “Sports offer us that opportunity to give back, and we will definitely be exploring ways to contribute,” he told JIS News.

Owner of Smokeez Restaurant in Rose Hall, St. James, and member of the Cornwall College old boys’ fraternity, Lowell Spence, shared his commitment to supporting local athletics.

“We understand and appreciate the importance of sports,” he told JIS News. “It’s a huge outlet for those who might otherwise have nowhere to turn after leaving school,” he added.

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, for his part, noted that “as the dust settles on this year’s championships”, the promise of western Jamaica’s athletic programmes shines brightly.

“The integration of local businesses into the fabric of school athletics is a vital step towards building a robust support system that can nurture and elevate these young talents,” he added.

Senior Director of the Royal Shop Duty Free Store, Ravi Daswani, said that the call for support extends beyond financial contributions.

“Schools require mentorship, encouragement, and resources to help cultivate talent. The collaboration between educational institutions, local businesses, and community members can create a thriving environment that not only fosters athletic excellence but also prepares students for life beyond the track,” he told JIS News.

Kingston College and Hydel High won the respective boys and girls sections of the championships.