The National Stadium buzzed with excitement as athletes delivered standout performances at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. In a dramatic display, Rohana Sudlow of St Catherine High clinched the Class One Girls’ long jump title with a wind-assisted leap of 6.46m (3.1m/s), marking a season highlight that propelled her from a mid-event position into victory.
After trailing in the early rounds, Sudlow’s third-round effort secured her win. Meanwhile, Chloe Palmer of St Elizabeth Technical surged into second place with a wind-aided jump of 6.26m (2.2m/s), leaving her mark as a rising star. Jade-Ann Dawkins from St Jago High, renowned for her prowess in the triple jump, rounded out the podium with a 5.80m leap (2.4m/s).
In the Class Three girls’ long jump, Campion College’s Stefvanco Henry emerged victorious with a wind-assisted jump of 5.61m (4.4m/s). Immaculate Conception’s Ashley Barrett closely followed with a 5.56m effort (4.5m/s), while St Mary High’s high jump champion clinched the bronze, recording a jump of 5.55m (1.1m/s).
Not to be outdone, Excelsior High’s Kimeka Smith delivered a commanding performance in the Class One Girls’ shot put, throwing an impressive 15.02m to take home the gold. Smith, who also showcased her versatility by finishing second in the javelin and competing in the Heptathlon, maintained consistency with all six throws surpassing 14.43m. Her efforts were met with strong competition from St Catherine High’s Able Mills, who threw 13.83m, and Hydel High’s Natassia Burrell, who posted 13.80m.
Hydel High’s Zavien Bernard celebrated her second consecutive high jump medal by claiming the Class Two title with a clearance of 1.70m. Bernard’s multi-event success was evident from her previous win in Class Three, a second-place finish in the Class Two long jump, and a seventh-place finish in the open triple jump. In the same event, Kijonna Lee of Vere Technical secured silver with a 1.65m clearance, while Malia Housen from Mount Alvernia High took bronze at 1.60m.
The championships showcased the spirit and talent of young athletes, promising a bright future for track and field in the region.
