Jamaica College (JC) is one of the few founding schools of all sporting events in Jamaica, hence their steep, rich history.

Formed 235 years ago in 1789, JC is the sixth oldest school in the country behind Wolmer’s Boys’ (1729), Manning’s (1738), St Jago (1744), Rusea’s High (1777), and Titchfield High (1786).

Even before today’s version of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) was formed in 1910, there were multi-event games between six schools from 1904 to 1909 and JC won the first five with Wolmer’s winning in 1909.

It was very unofficial as the competitors were categorised by appearances and their known talents, hence it wasn’t a fair competition.

But then in 1910, headmasters of the six schools formed the first Boys’ Champs and it was contested on June 29 at Sabina Park over 15 events. Wolmer’s being the oldest school had the distinction of winning the first.

But then in 1911, JC took control through the sport’s first superstar Normal Manley who would win six events leading JC to further titles in 1912 and 1913.

Manley, who has since been named a national hero of Jamaica, won six gold in 1912 and six in 1913 and was never worse than second five times.

His 100-yard record of 10 seconds stood for 41 years, his son Douglas Manley equalled in 1941 before it was broken in 1952 by another JC student, Frank Hall.

JC were the most dominant school winning six of the first 10 championships and nine before Kingston College was formed in 1925 and 10 titles before Calabar won their first in 1930.

But after winning their 13th title in 1959, JC had to wait 32 years for another taste of victory in 1991 and what a dramatic one it was.

The then defending champions Calabar had left the stadium on Saturday night as the winners but after a recount, JC emerged champion and collected the Mortimer Geddes Trophy from their rivals winning 151 to 149.

Edward Clarke was the star for JC winning the Class Two 200m and 400m and lost the 100m by a whisker to Wayne Fenton of Wolmer’s Boys’.

There were outstanding runs from Rudolph Mighty of JC defeating Donovan Powell of St Jago in the Class One 200m, running from lane 8 and Carl McPherson in the Class One 400m.

JC’s Dean Richards became the second jumper after KC’s Desmond “Zele” Morris in 1979 to leap over seven feet.

JC defended their title in 1992 winning by 18 points, tallying 143 points to Calabar’s 125 with KC back in third with 112. Everyone remembered the smooth Kevin “McGyver” Mitchell over the hurdles in Class Two while Oneil Smythe led the way with two record-breaking wins of 14.76m in the shot put and 43.66m in the discus.

Mighty would return and broke the Class One 100m clocking 10.39 on his way to three gold in the 200m and 4×100.

The Dark Blue boys from Old Hope Road won back to back in 1994 and 1995 for their 16th and 17th titles before rattling off three straight wins between 1998-2000 that saw the unique father-son combination of Head Coach Michael Clarke and his son Sekou playing pivotal roles.

Young Sekou Clarke was favourites to land the triple, the 100m, 200m and 400m in Class Three, and after winning the 100m, he picked up an injury and failed to show for the 400m but bravely returned for the 200m and walked home for a valuable point.

In 1999, the year Boys’ and Girls’ Champs were merged, JC won their 19th title beating a resurgent KC by seven points 210 to 203. Calabar were third with 194. Sekou Clarke won the Class Two 400m, Winston Smith took the Class Two 100m and 200m in records 10.72 and 21.67.

JC completed their third-consecutive win in 2000 tallying 226.5 points with KC once again second with 208 and Calabar falling further back with 176. JC had overturned a 48-point deficit on the last day. Sekou Clarke was JC’s top performer capturing the Class Two 200m-400m double in 21.91 and 47.57, respectively.

But the boys from Old Hope Road had to wait another 11 years for victory in 2011, beating KC by 11 points, 280 to 269. Calabar again was third with 236.

Then after another 10 years, JC got their 22nd title in 2021 on the back of some outstanding performances from their middle and long-distance crew led by J’Voughnn Blake and Handal Roban in Class One, Kemarrio Bygrave and Khandel Frue in Class Two and Tyrone Lawson and Rasheed Pryce in Class Three.

Javier Brown took the Class One 400m hurdles in a record 49.86 and a splendid 45.75 in the 400m plus Mark Anthony Miller in Class Two. Nishon Pierre won the Class One high jump with 2.08m.

JC has been second in the last two editions behind rivals KC and they are expected to make another assault on the championship and at this point, they are very much in the hunt for title number 23.