Champs roars to life
KC, Hydel face title fight
The much-anticipated Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships run off today with champions Kingston College (KC) and Hydel High Girls hard-pressed to retain their crowns.
KC are hunting their fifth-straight victory and a record-extending 37th lien on the Mortimer Geddes trophy, while Hydel High Girls are seeking their third title. However, but both Jamaica College (JC) and Edwin Allen High are fancied to end their dreams.
The stage is set for an epic battle and one of the closest championships in years, following weeks of hard work and preparation at the various development meets over the last few months.
The time is now to deliver and KC, under new Head Coach Richard Smith, are oozing with confidence. The famed Purples won last year, amassing 293 points well clear of Calabar High in second with 229.25, and JC back in third with 207.
“Kingston College is always ready for battle, especially at this time of the year. The preparation has been focused, disciplined, and purposeful, and the team understands what is required to perform at the highest level at Boys’ Champs,” Smith told the Jamaica Observer.
“Confidence is high, but we remain grounded. We respect the competition, as Champs is never won on paper; it’s earned on the track and in the field. Our goal is to execute, stay composed, and represent the purple with pride,” he added.
But the pundits say JC have what it takes to overturn that 86-point deficit in one year, despite them being battered by KC at the ISSA Corporate Area Championships last month.
Head Coach Duane Johnson is quietly confident that the boys from Old Hope Road can win their first title since 2021 and their 22nd overall.
“Champs is always a highly competitive environment, and we have great respect for Kingston College and all the other schools. Their recent success speaks to the quality and standard of the competition, and we recognise that nothing is given at this level, it has to be earned on the track and in the field,” he told the Observer.
“Jamaica College is prepared and focused as we approach another ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Championships. The preparation has been deliberate and the team has put in consistent work over the season. At this stage, our priority is ensuring that each athlete is physically ready, mentally composed, and clear on their role within the team effort,” he said.
