The 2021 ISSA Boy's and Girl's Champs Review

The 2021 edition of The ISSA Boys and Girl's Championship is now history. The organizers did an excellent job in this COVID-19 pandemic. The athletes acquitted themselves very well. Notwithstanding the fact that this year's Boy's and Girl's Championship was spectator-free, there was much interest and enthusiasm among track and field fans and keen competition among the athletes.

Girls

On the girls’ side, Edwin Allen scored a massive 340 points in defense of their title to make it seven titles in a row. Next was St. Jago High, with an impressive 309.5 points and Hydel third, with 301.5 points. Indeed, Edwin Allen led for all five days to highlight their depth and dominance. However, St. Jago and Hydel made the girl's champion worked hard to defend their title.

Boys

On the boys’ side, Jamaica College (JC) amassed a whopping 328.5 points to dethrone the defending champions, Kingston College (KC), who had to settle for second place, having scored 313 points. KC led for four consecutive days and entered the final day of competition with a 7.5-point lead. On the final day, the current JC squad was just too strong for the weakened KC. It should be noted that KC had far more injury concerns relative to other schools. And this, more than anything else, adversely impacted the outcome for the defending champions.

Calabar gave a spirited display to finish third on the points standings, scoring a creditable 214.5 points. And while Calabar was not the usual potent force that we have all come to know, respect and admire, it was very clear that they were in rebuilding mode and will be a strong team once again in the very near future.

Highlights of the Championship

Notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant challenges, the Championship produced some very good results. On the girls’ side, Edwin Allen's Tina Clayton won three gold medals in the 100m (11.38), 200m (23.45) and 4 x 100m, class 2.

In the boy's class 1, Javier Brown of Jamaica College won two individual gold medals in the 400m (45.75) and 400mh (49.89).

Of great note, St. Elizabeth Technical High had a clean sweep of the 100m to announce itself as the new sprint factory amongst its high school peers. In the boys’ class 3 and against a -1.7 m/s wind speed, Tramaine Todd of STETHS, stopped the clock in 11.03.  In the boys’ class 2, Orlando Wint of STETHS took the 100m event in 10.76 seconds in a -2.0 m/s wind speed.  In the boy's class 1, Sachin Dennis of STETHS was crowned champion in the 100m final, stopping the clock in 10.53 seconds, and in a wind speed of -2.3 m/s.

Petersfield, Antonio Watson, who came second in the class 1 100m final (10.58), returned in the 200m, to record 20.74, winning the gold medal.

Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah) Sports Writer & Sports Analyst

Ben Nyah is a track and field enthusiast who has covered track and field for over 30 years. A graduate of Kingston College, Ben Nyah has interviewed athletes and analyze their performances. He has covered not just local Jamaican track and field athletes, but international athletes. His photogenic memory coupled with his analytical approach to the sport has led to lively and passionate perspectives of the sport.  

Edited by Raymond Byfield.