Veteran track and field Coach Corey Bennett says he is honoured to join the Jamaica College (JC) athletics programme, describing the move as a “full circle moment” in his coaching career.

Bennett, who previously served as head coach at Calabar High School for three years, led the Red Hills Road-based institution to a runner-up finish at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships in March.

However, following the expiration and non-renewal of his contract at Calabar, Bennett has now taken his expertise to Old Hope Road. Bennett will be in charge of the sprints and hurdles programmes at JC. He remains in charge of the track and field programme at Hydel High.

“It is an honour and privilege to join such an elite programme,” Bennett said. “It has great past students, and it is actually the school where my sons went to, so it is just really a full circle moment.”

Jamaica College last lifted the coveted Champs trophy in 2021, but since then, Kingston College (KC) has dominated, winning the last four editions. JC placed second in 2022, 2023, and 2024, but slipped to third in 2025, behind both KC and Bennett’s former team, Calabar.

Bennett is no stranger to success, having also masterminded Hydel’s historic ISSA Girls’ Championships victory in 2023. But after losing the title to rivals Edwin Allen High in 2024, they raised above all expectations to win the title this year with a mere 37 athletes. At JC, Bennett is hoping to build on the existing foundation with a focus on the sprints and hurdles.

“They have a group of great coaches and great leaders in the school. It makes it fun and makes you want to go to work a lot easier. It is such an honour to be a part of the programme with such good coaches and leadership at the school,” he said.

Bennett stated that his aim is also to add value to what’s already in place and to continue the tradition of discipline and excellence that Jamaica College is known for.

“I am hoping that I will be able to guide the youngsters in a very disciplined way. I think a lot of structure exists before I go there, so it’s just for me to add and build on that. There are a lot of enthusiastic youngsters who are willing to learn my way, so to speak,” he noted.

The vastly experienced Bennett noted that his focus will be on helping the student-athletes develop both on and off the track, bringing stability and structure to the team’s sprint and hurdles unit.

“I believe that whatever impact I can have on these young lives, I will be more than willing to do it. I carry a lot of experience in these areas, and hopefully we can get these boys to be the best version of themselves,” he said.

Jamaica College athletes celebrate winning the boys 1600m sprint medley during the ISSA/GraceKennedy Athletics Championships on March 29, 2025. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Corey Bennett (Photo: Garfield Robinson)