DEFENDING champions Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory School retained the Jamaica Independent School Association (JISA) Prep Schools Athletics Championship at the National Stadium, winning by 38 points yesterday.

St Peter and Paul, which won its first title last year, rattled up 220 points and were well clear of Vaz Prep in second on 182. Mona Prep, with 125, finished in third spot.

The 2023 champions Emmanuel Christian Academy, with 110.5 points, finished fourth, ahead of St Andrew Prep with 105.5, completing the top five.

Hydel Prep, which rallied late and finished with a flourish, were sixth on 94 points while day-one leader Our Lady of the Angels (91), Mount St Joseph (88), Knox Junior School (64.5), and Lannaman’s (58), completed the top 10.

“It is a wonderful feat having achieved it the second time in a row. A lot of people doubted if it was by luck we won last year but we did it a second time, so it’s a wonderful feeling,” winning Coach Jerome Kirby told the Jamaica Observer. “There’s a lot of work that went into this year, a lot of investment, a lot of supporters, and we did our best to showcase and bring home the trophy for another time.

“So, this school did a lot this year in terms of the programme — supporting us, getting us what was needed to prepare the kids for this year. And all of that work that was put in definitely paid off and we’re feeling great.”

Antwane Miller, of Hydel, won his second gold, capturing the Boys’ Class One 200m in 25.01 seconds ahead of Nathan Graham of Knox with 25.10. Jaydon Grant of Vaz was third in 26.19.

Jordon Ricketts of Hydel won the Class One 400m in 56.21, ahead of Andre Brown of Sts Peter and Paul in 57.87. Rushawn Edwards of Lannaman’s was third in 1:00.05 minutes.

Riccae Wright of Knox captured the Girls’ Class One long jump with a leap of 4.40m. Meghan Price of Emmanuel Christian Academy was second with 4.31m.

Nathan-Neil Heirs of Hydel won the Boys’ Class One long jump with a leap of 5.57m. Liam Delisser of Mona was second with 5.07m.

In the Girls’ Cricketball Open, Andreanna Phillips of Our Lady of the Angels won with 38.94m while Cahvanie White of Sts Peter and Paul won with 50.30m in the boys’ equivalent.

Hydel’s Class One boys smashed the 4x100m record, stopping the clock at 49.38 seconds. Vaz Prep was second in 52.09, ahead of Sts Peter and Paul in third with 52.60.

Ardenne captured the Class One Girls’ 4×100 in 53.80, ahead of Vaz in 53.96, and Sts Peter and Paul in 54.16.

Vaz returned and won the girls’ 4x200m relay in 1:53.86 minutes, while Hydel boys continued their relay dominance, closing the curtain in style with a record run of 1:42.17.