The atmosphere at the National Stadium was electric as a new wave of talent emerged at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. Among the stars, Rohana Sudlow of St Catherine High delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the Class One Girls’ long jump, reclaiming her title with a wind-assisted leap of 6.46m. The jump, aided by a 3.1m/s wind, propelled Sudlow to the top of the podium after a thrilling competition that saw her make a dramatic comeback from sixth place.
Chloe Palmer of St Elizabeth Technical was the runner-up, securing silver with a wind-aided 6.26m, an impressive improvement from her third-place finish the previous year. Jade-Ann Dawkins from St Jago High, renowned for her triple jump success, also made her mark in the long jump, taking third place with a wind-aided 5.80m.
In the Class Three girls’ long jump, Campion College’s Stefvanco Henry rose to the occasion, claiming the gold with a 5.61m effort, which was aided by a powerful 4.4m/s tailwind. Ashley Barrett of Immaculate Conception earned second place with a wind-aided jump of 5.56m, and St Mary High’s high jump champion secured the third spot with a 5.55m leap.
The shot put competition also saw fierce battles, with Kimeka Smith of Excelsior High dominating in the Class One Girls’ event. Smith threw an outstanding 15.02m, a mark that earned her the gold in impressive fashion. Smith’s consistency was evident, as she surpassed 14.43m in all her attempts. Able Mills of St Catherine High took the silver with 13.83m, while Hydel High’s Natassia Burrell rounded out the top three with 13.80m.
Hydel High’s Zavien Bernard continued to showcase her talent, adding another title to her collection in the Class Two high jump, clearing 1.70m. Bernard, who had claimed the Class Three title last year, proved her versatility by also finishing second in the Class Two long jump and achieving a seventh-place finish in the open triple jump. Kijonna Lee of Vere Technical claimed silver with 1.65m, while Malia Housen from Mount Alvernia High earned bronze with a 1.60m clearance.
The championships displayed the depth of talent within Jamaican athletics, with athletes rising to new challenges and setting the stage for future successes in the sport.
