Early mistakes cost us Champs title – JC’s Harrison

There was no comeback this time for Jamaica College (JC) at the 2022 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs). Head coach Neil Harrison said that the points gap was too much to overcome on the final day of competition.

JC saw their crown slip to Kingston College (KC) after one year, with the latter accumulating 372 points compared to JC's 300.83 points. Calabar High School was third with 170.

While, last year, JC overcame a 7.5-point deficit to take the title, they couldn't repeat a similar feat this year, with a gap of 62.67 points entering Saturday's final day.

Harrison said that difficulties in the opening days of the competition gave his team too much to do down the stretch.

"I knew it was going to be tough," Harrison told THE WEEKEND STAR. "This KC team is a good one. But we lost connection on day one and day two. I think that's where we actually lost the championship, because we knew we would come strong on the other days. But day one and day two, we made some serious mistakes which I think cost us."

While the early days of the competition did not go in JC's favour, there were performances that stood out. J'Voughnn Blake captured the Class One Boys 800m title and equalled the Champs record in the process. Harrison was particularly pleased with Samuel Creary, who edged out KC's Nahashon Ruto to win the Class Three Boys 800m crown.

While the end result was disappointing, Harrison said that he was pleased with the competitive spirit both teams displayed.

"The rivalry between KC and JC was done in true sportsmanship," Harrison, a former KC coach himself, said. "That, for me, is a plus. You are not always going to win. But the fact that you can compete and compete with sportsmanship, with grit and tenacity, and still have great comradeship, is good for me."

Harrison said that they are determined to be in the title hunt again next year.

"It's all about giving the best you have at the moment and, whether you win or you lose, it's all about giving the best you can," he said. "And I think we laid everything out. Kingston College was just the stronger team this year."