Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS), more known for academic performance, created history in athletics when they won the ISSA Corporate Area Athletics Championship. Head Coach Franz Forde was emotional, but said their success wasn’t an overnight sensation.

Immaculate, which finished 15 points behind winners Excelsior High in 2025, returned in 2026 and won by 120 points for the school’s first-ever title.

“This wasn’t an overnight sensation, it took careful planning just to get us to this point. As an academically focused institution, our task would have been hard, but we were really up for the challenge,” Forde told the Jamaica Observer.

“I’m excited and giving our Lord and Saviour Jesus all the praise, because without Him none of this would have been possible.”

Forde said Immaculate’s success was not his alone and praised Floyd Quarrie, Sabastian Thompson, and Principal Stacey Reynolds, who “all contributed to the success of this weekend’s historic victory”.

At last year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs), Immaculate was the best-placed urban team, finishing with 100 points in fifth behind Hydel High and Edwin Allen High.

They were 28 points ahead of Excelsior High, and that form carried into this year’s meet. Immaculate now turns its focus to Champs in March.

“Respect is always given to defending champions and the big three,” Forde said.

“Currently, we’re in this game to see what can be done. We have a small team and we’re praying that whatever the outcome is, it’s to the betterment of the ICHS Wolves. Our aim is to learn and apply. So we continue to learn and apply from the big three,” he added.