JAMAICA College (JC) are no strangers to success in sports, but on Monday it felt like the first time as the school fraternity celebrated their ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ Athletics Championships title.

JC secured their 23rd boys’ title on Saturday at the National Stadium, amassing an impressive 345 points across the five-day championships, 63 clear of dethroned champions Kingston College (KC). They remain the only school to have broken KC’s dominance, with the North Street outfit winning four straight titles, while JC’s last triumph came in 2021 and Calabar’s in 2018.

After Saturday night’s celebration, the energy moved to 189 Old Hope Road as a sea of dark blue filled the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium on the school’s campus. Captain and eight-time gold medallist Michael-Andre Edwards, in his final year, led his team as they paraded their medals and the Mortimer Geddes Trophy in front of exuberant compatriots and staff.

“I still feel great. Honestly, I haven’t fully soaked in yet. I’m quite tired, but I’m very happy,” he told the Observer. “I don’t think I’ve been this happy in a very long time. This is one of the best things, the highlight of the year. It probably will be for the rest of my high school career.”

JC’s successes in other sports this season were highlighted during the two-hour devotion, dubbed “Brag Monday”, including the youth football teams, swimming, lacrosse and hockey. However, it didn’t take away the spotlight from the track and field team who, along with Principal Wayne Robinson, led hundreds of students in a in a flag- and music-filled motorcade on the streets.

It’s title number two since Robinson took over as principal and he hailed not just the athletes but everyone involved in making it happen.

“This particular title is a blessing,” he told thecJamaica Observer. “The boys have worked very hard, the team that has guided them worked very hard. The coach and his group of support sections worked very hard and they left very little to chance. We’re very grateful for this and humbled by it,” he said.

Duane Johnson was given the responsibility as head coach to steer the team towards success. He did in just his second year and believes its extra-special, given his status as a JC old boy.

“It’s always been my dream to be able to bring back the trophy here,” he told the
Observer. “There’s so much talk about us not showing up at Champs and even when we do show up, we’re so way behind our main rivals. So I’m happy that all that I planned out, all that we discussed as coaching and management team, it actually worked to perfection and we’re able to deliver the goods.”

Students and staff may have returned to their regular activities, but chants of “One College” still echoed, a reminder of their dominance as this year’s athletics giants.