Conceptualiser of the Corporate Area Championship, Ricky Martin, said this year’s third staging will have a Diamond League-style setting, making it not just a track meet, but an experience.

The two-day Corporate Area Championship, which will be held on February 20 and 21, was launched at the NHT Sports Club in New Kingston on Tuesday, February 10.

This year, there will be two honourees in veteran administrator Ian Forbes, custos rotulorum of St Andrew, and second vice-president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and respected Coach David Riley, now at Excelsior High.

There will also be a tribute to the fallen soldiers of athletics, with a special moment of silence for renowned race starter Vinton “Pow Pow” Powell and a 21-gun salute with blanks from a starter’s gun.

“I think it’s something not to miss, it’s going to be something exciting,” said Martin.

The championship will be held at the Ashenheim Stadium at Jamaica College, and will have the look of the World Championship or Olympics, according to Martin, with fireworks at the end of races, flowers presentation to the winners, amongst some of the new stuff aimed at making it more entertaining.

“We will have the announcers call the athletes one by one from an area to their blocks to give them a feel, a professional feel, and a look of discipline, and I know it brings some excitement, especially in the stands,” said Martin.

“For the first time, all the 100 metre winners will get flowers at the end. You can do whatever you want with it, you can throw it to the crowd, or you can keep it as a souvenir,” he added.

Meanwhile, winners of the hurdles events will get a trophy instead of medals in honour of the late Hubert Lawrence, who conceptualised the Sprint Hurdlers Fest.

“There will also be a 100-inch screen at the finish line for instant replays, so athletes will get a chance to actually look back at the race — coaches also,” Martin pointed out.

Winners will be presented with signs of congratulations and also for record breakers.

“So the aim is to carry it to a level,” said Martin.

Importantly, the Corporate Area Championship will carry forward points earned in the steeplechase and pole vault from the Youngster Goldsmith Classic on February 7.

Jamaica College (JC) and the Convent of Mercy Alpha are the early leaders of the Corporate Area Athletics Championship after three events held at the Youngster Goldsmith Classic on February 7, 2026.

There were two events in the boys’ section, that is, the 2000m steeplechase and pole vault opens and the 2000m steeplechase for the girls.

JC jumped to an early lead on 29 points and holds a 15-point advantage over defending champions Kingston College (KC) on 14.

Excelsior High are third on eight points ahead of Calabar High on six points, with Camperdown and Wolmer’s Boys on four points each.

In the girls’ section, Convent of Mercy Academy “Alpha” are out front after one event with a maximum of 16 points, seven clear of The Queen’s School on nine points.

Defending champions Excelsior High and Immaculate Conception High are on six points each.

Alpha took the top two spots in the steeplechase as Ashanti Park won in 8:21.60 minutes, ahead of her teammate Tydrania Palmer in 8:52.51 for 16 big points.

Ashana Bonnick of Queens was third in 8:57.66 and Excelsior’s Shea-Anna Mullinga finished fourth with 9:24.19.

In the boys’ steeplechase, JC got 16 big points courtesy of Evans Tetteh, who won in 6:09.68 and his teammate Tyrone Lawson, who was second in 6:30.59. Calabar’s Shakeem Ebanks was third with 6:46.02 and Christopher Anderson of JC was fourth in 6:50.69.

In the pole vault, top place went to KC’s Jurel Clement with 3.40m. He was third overall behind Alj Lewis of STETHS (3.60m) and Jaquan Souden (3.50m) of Happy Grove High.

But the top two performers are not from the Corporate Area; hence, Clement was the best-placed competitor and he earned nine points for KC. JC got second and third courtesy of Isaac Reid (3.30m) and Daniel Facey (3.20m).

KC and Excelsior Girls are the defending champions.

MARTIN…I think it’s something not to miss, it’s going to be something exciting