After a thrilling and controversial five days, Kingston College (KC) won their 36th title, while Hydel captured their second crown as the 2025 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships came to an end on Saturday night at National Stadium in St Andrew.

Heading into the final day, KC, looking to seal their 100th year of existence with a title, had a respectable lead of 21.5 points over arch rivals Calabar.

The Red Hills Road-based Calabar, looking to end a six-year drought, made a strong push to move ahead, which was highlighted by record-breaking performances from Kamari Kennedy in the discus throw with 61.42 metres and Tarique Daley with a 65.11 metres in the javelin throw.

However, the North Street boys weren’t to be denied, widening their lead as the night went on, finishing with 291 points ahead of Calabar’s 232.5.

KC earned crucial points in a number of events, including maximum in the Class One shot put with Despiro Wray, the Class Two 110m hurdles, with Jonathan Clarke and the Class One and Two 4x100m relays.

The 4x400m gold medal-winning team and Amani Phillips, with a meet record of 15.66 in the Class Two triple jump put the icing on the cake.

It’s KC’s fourth straight hold on the title and their best championship streak since winning six consecutive titles from 2001 to 2006 and their 14-year dominance from 1965 to 1975.

Jamaica College, 207 points; St Jago High, 135; and Excelsior, 78 completed the top five.

The girls section, however, created more tension as the final event for the night, the 4x400m open, decided the championship, with just nine points separating Hydel and Edwin Allen.

Hydel, coming into Saturday with an 11-point lead, had big wins throughout the day, including double gold for Jody-Ann Daley in the Class One 100m hurdles and the Class One 200m, Calah McDonald in the heptathlon open, and the Class One 4x100m team.

Edwin Allen, despite various mishaps, kept the battle close with big points, including the sprint medley open, Sushana Johnson in the 3,000m open, Aneka Lowe in the Class Three 800m, and the Class Four 4x100m.

With the title on the line with the 4x400m, Hydel just needed to get the baton around, and they did so by winning gold in dominant fashion, clocking 3:33:88 ahead of Edwin Allen 3:38:78.

Hydel reclaimed the title they lost in 2024 with 277 points, dethroning Edwin Allen who tallied 266 points. Holmwood Technical, 230.5; St Jago, 149; and Immaculate, 100, rounded out the top five.

Winning their second title under Head Coach Corey Bennett, Hydel remain the only school to beat Edwin Allen in the last 11 years.

Members of Hydel High School girls’ 4x400m relay open team celebrate after winning the event to take their second hold on the ISSA/GraceKennedy Girls’ Championship title at National Stadium in St Andrew Saturday night. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Sandra Spence plants a kiss on her daughter Stefvanco Henry after the Campion College athlete won the Class Three Girls’ long jump with a leap of 5.6m at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at National Stadium on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Calabar’s Kamari Kennedy competes in the Class two boys’ discus final at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. He won the event with a throw of 61.46m (Photo: Garfield Robinson)