For me, the 2019 edition of the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championship, will go down as one of the best ever. As usual, the attendance was great for Friday and Saturday. And while there were surprises and disappointments, the championship lived up to its billing. The seven-straight champions, Calabar, was dethroned by its nemesis, Kingston College, the competition's most successful school.
Boys
At the end of the Championship, KC amassed 395.5 points, the most by any school in the history of the competition, to establish an 82.5 points margin on their arch-rival, Calabar, who finished on 313 points. Jamaica College finished the competition in third place, on 232.5 points, and St. Jago High, in fourth place, on 106.5 points. St. Elizabeth Technical, on 90 points, rounded out the top five schools
I would be remiss if I did not pause to express the hurt I felt for Christopher Taylor (my name sake), for not establishing a Champs record in at least one event, to solidify his legacy, and the claim by some that he is the greatest athlete of all time at Champs. Irrefutably, Taylor has been a dominant athlete from class three, right through to second year class one, with sublime and electrifying performances that have been laced with golden record runs up to class two. But such is life, there are setbacks for comebacks on a much grander scale and stage. Over the years, Taylor has thrilled supporters, and has mercilessly and disdainfully punished his rivals much to the delight of his adoring fans and sports enthusiasts. I have no doubt, the prodigy will be back to perform, and to excite us all.
Girls
Edwin Allen claimed top honours on to the girl's side, for a sixth consecutive years, edging out the rapidly improving Hydel High by a mere 7 points. At the end of the championship, Edwin Allen amassed 291 points to Hydel's 284 points. Holmwood finished in third place on 220 points, while St. Jago finished fourth on 207 points. Ruseas rounded out the top five on 84 points. Interestingly, no corporate area girl school made it to the top 5.
Having highlighted all the above, there were some excellent and memorable individual performances to salivate on. And these include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Kemar Farguharson's 1.48.67 in the boy's class one 800m to erase the 33 year old record of 1.48.84, formerly held by Sherwin Burgess.
2. Wayne Pinnock's 7.95m and 8.05m in the class one boy's long jump, to erase the 26 year old mark of 7.93m, previously held by Leon Gordon
3. Wayne Pinnock's awesome 13.06 run in the class one boy's 110m hurdles to shatter the 13.16 record held previously by Dejour Russell.
4. Oblique Seville's 10.13 in the class one boy's 100m, which is a mere 1/100th of a second outside Zharnell Hughes' 10.12 record.
5. Vashawn Vacciana's 10.38 in the boy's class two 100m
6. Kevona Davis' 11.19 in the girls class two 100m.
7. Ralford Mullings' 19.99m in the boy's Class two Shot Put.
8. Shaquan Coke's gutsy and determined run to win the class three boy's 800m. The most phenomenal victory I have ever witness at Champs.
9. Giovani Henry's tactical race to get the better of JC's Blake in the Class 2 800m
10. The Clayton twin’s awesome performances in the sprint double to defeat Briana Lyston in both sprints.
11. Hydel High's Ashanti Moore's 11.17 to win the girl's class1 100m.
12. Hydel High's Charokee Young winning the Class One 400m/800m double, and defending her gold medal in the 800m after she upgraded from silver last year, to gold this year in the quarter-miler.
Overall, it was an excellent and satisfying championship that met and exceeded most expectations. And, the performances underscored the fact, that, Jamaica's track and field future is as bright as it ever was. Better and brighter days are ahead!
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