IMMACULATE Conception High School’s steady climb in track and field continues to gather momentum, with Assistant Coach Floyd Quarrie pointing to intentional development and strategic partnerships as central to the programme’s growing ambition.

After finishing inside the top five at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships in 2025, Quarrie believes the school is now entering a new phase. That ambition was on full display during the school’s Adidas Day activity last week, which took place at the school’s Constant Spring Road campus and was staged as part of a five-day Christmas training camp during which performance goals were reinforced through exposure, education and elite inspiration.

“When I came to Immaculate we started out as participants at Boys’ and Girls’ Champs then we became competitors — worthy competitors — and now we are moving into contenders,” Quarrie said. “We were top five this year so the aim is to climb up the ladder.”

Immaculate has established themselves as the top Corporate Area female track and field team, and Quarrie credits their success to the support from the German sports goods manufacturers.

“It’s something that we celebrate. Adidas came on board and supported us and this is our way of showing homage — and celebrating the brand as well — for believing in us. Since three years ago we have been constantly improving and moving up the table — and the aim is to keep that trajectory going,” Quarrie added.

Beyond competition results, the Immaculate coach stressed that the programme’s rise has been underpinned by a broader focus on personal development, particularly for young female athletes.

“We’ve had media training in terms of how to conduct themselves in interviews, female etiquette — all the necessary things that women need as far as their development as young ladies — so that they won’t only leave with running fast times but also leave with learning something and being a little bit more empowered as women.”

Team Manager Obinna Blake said the Adidas partnership has played a critical role in supporting both the athletes’ practical needs and their long-term aspirations.

“It’s absolutely important. Adidas has come on board, sponsoring the team in providing all the support we need in terms of gears, spikes, clothing, training gear. And having ‘Adi Day’ gives the girls an opportunity to see the professional athletes — who they see at stadium or on the TV running — as they aspire to the next level and are able to interact with those professional athletes,” Blake said.

“It’s a holistic development. They are student athletes, and some of them are being prepared for university and some may go professional so we want to develop the fully rounded, academic-athletic child.”

Quarrie also highlighted a significant indicator of the programme’s progress — unprecedented participation.

“For the first time in history we have had a record number of girls training right now, and that speaks to the growth. We have something that we’ve never had before, numbers. When it comes to championships, numbers is a big point so having numbers now will be beneficial.”

National 100m hurdles record holder Ackera Nugent, who addressed the athletes during the camp, said exposing young runners to the realities of the next level is vital.

“It is very important to know that this is an environment and these ladies are going through the same process that I went through to get where I am at professionally, so I think it is very important to give them a view on the next level and what it takes to get there,” Nugent said.

She also emphasised balance and discipline as key to long-term success.

“For them at this stage I would say the most important thing at this age is to focus on their studies, and the opportunities that they can get and, most importantly as an athlete, you have to be coachable — and when you are coachable you will get the results that are needed.”

World 100m champion Oblique Seville, another Adidas-sponsored athlete, was also on hand to address the student athletes.

With a growing athlete base, elite role models, and a strong corporate partnership, Immaculate Conception High’s Adidas Day stands as more than a celebration — it is a strategic investment in a programme intent on converting promise into podium contention.