HILLEL Academy, for the first time in the school’s history, has an athlete qualified for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).

Renowned for its academic excellence, the institution is entering a bold new era through the achievement of Damian Jongwe.

Jongwe was born in France and moved with his mother to Jamaica last August from Bangkok, Thailand, and has already made it into the history books.

“Emotionally, I am feeling prepared,” Jongwe said. “Secondly, nervous and excited because it’s the first time someone from Hillel is running. I look forward to it because it’s going to be a great experience and I hope that I will do well.”

At 13 years old he’s a global resident, having lived in Kenya and with a father who hails from Zimbabwe. Jongwe said they had no prior knowledge of Champs before arriving last year.

“I did not know about Champs before coming to Jamaica but I did know Jamaica has a very strong track and field culture, so that’s part of the reason we came here instead of going to another country.”

Coach Devon Grant, who is also the head coach of Papine High school and formerly guided Mavis Bank High, is no stranger to unique tasks — and this one is already a success.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to know that I could find someone from Hillel to represent the school at Boys’ and Girls’ Champs 2026,” Grant said. “We tried [in] previous years with [a]couple of guys but it didn’t work out.”

Jongwe, in his first championship, will compete in the Class 3 Boys’ sprint double, and Grant says he can exceed expectations in one event.

“He has potential but I think this season is going to be a learning process for him,” Grant said. “Based on his talent, he’s going to do well. I have him to go forward to the final in the 200m but the 100m it’s going to be a little bit difficult for him.”

Grant is optimistic that the work done with Jongwe is the start of something special at Hillel.

“This is an opportunity for others, and I think the interest [is] already showing because I have two other bigger guys from Hillel working with now and if them stay, they can be a force to reckon with, along with Damian, in the future.”

In a new environment for less than a year and having experienced track meets in Jamaica, Jongwe is also nervously relishing his first championships and what is to come in the future.

“It pushes me to go harder and to try achieve my best,” he said. “I hope to, in the future, I’ll be able to compete with these types of people. I am anxious and nervous but I feel like I am good enough to be there and good enough to do well, so I think it will be interesting.”

Jongwe will start his campaign for Hillel on Tuesday afternoon in the 100m and Thursday morning in the 200m.

— Trishana McGowan