Calabar High School’s hopes for the 2025 ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships took a hit on Saturday after star quarter-miler Nickecoy Bramwell suffered an injury during the Boys’ 4x400m relay at the Gibson-McCook Relays. Bramwell, who fell along the backstretch, is now set to undergo an MRI scan to determine the extent of his injury, casting doubt on his availability for the marquee championships set for March 25-29 in Kingston.
Head Coach Corey Bennett acknowledged the severity of the situation, revealing that the injury has been a lingering issue for Bramwell dating back to last season. “Nickecoy is due to do an MRI. At face value, it is not sounding too good, but we will do an MRI to determine how bad it is,” Bennett explained. “I am hoping for his sake and for the school's sake that it is not as bad as it looked on Saturday. Hopefully, the MRI will be done this week. In the meantime, he is being treated.”
Bennett elaborated on the underlying cause of Bramwell’s recurring setbacks. “He really has extremely tight muscles, and this is causing a lot of the problems. We will make a decision as soon as we get the MRI results. Nickecoy is so important to the team. You see how the boys rallied around him when he went down, and that's how much he means to the team. It would be devastating for the team if he is unable to compete at Champs.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Bramwell, Calabar remains a formidable contender for the Champs title. The school boasts a well-rounded squad featuring in-form sprinter Shaquane Gordon, who is expected to shine in the Class 1 Boys' 100m, 110m hurdles, and the 4x100m relay. Additionally, Byron Walker will lead the charge in the Class 2 Boys’ 100m and 200m.
In the field events, Kamani Kennedy has been dominant in the discus and ranks highly in the shot put, adding significant firepower to Calabar’s title ambitions. The team also displayed impressive depth in the 400m, as seen in Saturday’s 4x400m relay, before Bramwell’s unfortunate mishap.
With the championship race heating up, Bennett stressed the importance of injury prevention and athlete management. “Our team, I think we are progressing okay. We are coming along at the right time. I think we have had a fairly good season so far, but it’s just a matter of finishing this race and seeing it through to the end. We are very cautious about injuries like what happened to Nickoy, so injury management is critical,” he said.
The race for the coveted Champs title is expected to be highly competitive, with Kingston College, the defending champions, and Jamaica College both boasting strong squads. “Kingston College won by a whole heap of points last year. I don’t see them being affected too much, but I suspect that once Calabar remains healthy, we can be a lot more competitive. Jamaica College is under new management, and we are not so sure what angles they're taking, but I also expect them to be very competitive,” Bennett assessed.
While Calabar’s squad may be the smallest among the traditional “Big Three,” Bennett remains optimistic about their chances. “I think the boys are fine and raring to go. The school spirit is coming back, and I am really hoping that with a few weeks to go, we can keep them healthy and hopefully, they will be ready to compete at their best come the end of March at Champs,” he said.