The 2025 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium saw a display of incredible athleticism and fierce competition, as top student athletes from across the island showcased their talent.
Rohana Sudlow, representing St Catherine High, once again made her mark in the Class One Girls’ long jump, successfully defending her title with a remarkable 6.46m leap. The wind-assisted jump, recorded at 3.1m/s, came after a challenging start, where Sudlow was in sixth place until the third round. Her perseverance paid off as she surged ahead to claim victory, leaving Chloe Palmer of St Elizabeth Technical to settle for the silver with a strong 6.26m (2.2m/s). Jade-Ann Dawkins from St Jago High, known for her prowess in the triple jump, took third place with a jump of 5.80m (2.4m/s).
In the Class Three girls’ long jump, Stefvanco Henry from Campion College soared to a win with a wind-assisted jump of 5.61m (4.4m/s). Close behind, Ashley Barrett from Immaculate Conception secured second place with a jump of 5.56m (4.5m/s), while St Mary High’s high jump champion took third place with a 5.55m leap.
In the Class One Girls’ shot put event, Excelsior High’s Kimeka Smith gave a dominating performance, taking the gold with a throw of 15.02m. Smith, also a contender in the javelin throw and heptathlon, showed consistency with all six of her throws surpassing 14.43m. St Catherine High’s Able Mills earned the silver with a throw of 13.83m, while Natassia Burrell from Hydel High finished in third with 13.80m.
The high jump events also brought about some notable performances, with Hydel High’s Zavien Bernard winning her second high jump medal in consecutive years. Bernard, who clinched the Class Three title last year, cleared a height of 1.70m to win the Class Two gold. Kijonna Lee from Vere Technical secured the silver with a 1.65m jump, while Malia Housen of Mount Alvernia High rounded out the top three with 1.60m.
These performances serve as a testament to the dedication and hard work of the athletes, as they continue to raise the bar for their respective schools and for Jamaican athletics.
