Latest ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É
St Catherine nip JTA/Sagicor National Champs in nail-biter
June 23, 2025
The 40th staging of the JTA/Sagicor National Athletics Championships, which saw more than 1,300 athletes from 14 parishes competing over two days, came to an end on Saturday at the National Stadium in a nail-biting finish, as 2017 champions St Catherine edged 2018 winners St Andrew by 1.83 points to take top honours.
In what was a see-saw battle between the top two teams -- with the lead changing on several occasions during the final six events -- it was St Catherine who prevailed, tallying 270.83 points, ahead of St Andrew with 269 points. St Elizabeth (228.3), Portland (158.5), and Westmoreland (125.5) closed out the top five.
The championships came down to the final event, the boys' sprint medley relay, where St Catherine held a six-point lead. Despite finishing sixth for a mere three points, St Andrew's third-place finish, earning six points, was not enough to surpass their rivals.
Sports Coordinator of St Catherine, Calvin Walsh, credited the win to heart, preparation, belief, and multiple hands coming together for a bigger goal.
"Yes, St Catherine won, but track and field won today. Regardless of the position, everybody was happy, everybody was excited, and this meet over the years has brought out several champions at the highest level," he said.
"It brought out world-class athletes. Some of the kids who ran here don't get the chance to run in other meets, as some of the schools cannot afford it. This is the only stage they get, so high school coaches and scouts can see them," Walsh added.
The overall female champion of the meet was Antoya Lindsay of St Andrew, with 18 points. Competing in the under-11 category, she posted personal best times of 14.05 seconds to win the 100m, and 29.69 in the 200m.
There was a three-way tie among the boys for champion athlete , as all three athletes ended with 18 points after winning two events each -- Kahniel Walford of St Thomas, and Kelan Harris and Ashumur Morrison, both of St Catherine.
Walford won the boys' under-11 100m in 13.50 seconds and the 150m in 28.47. Morrison won the boys' under-13 200m in 25.97 seconds and the 400m in 59.42, while Harris won the under-15 100m in 12.73 seconds and the 200m in 25.40.
All four athletes received full secondary school scholarships, courtesy of the Sagicor Foundation.
Some $12 million was spent at this year's staging, bringing the total to $100 million since the partnership was formed.
Both St Catherine and St Andrew dominated the relays, winning three each.
Olympic icon Veronica Campbell-Brown, who was this year's patron of the meet, was pleased to be back.
"Being back at the meet brought back so many memories for me. I saw so much talent over the two days," she said.
"These young athletes gave it their all and I was happy to be back, as it brought back many memories, and it was beautiful to witness. Jamaica's track and field future is in great hands -- and it all starts here," said Campbell-Brown, herself a product of the meet.
