The cancellation comes on the heels of Tuesday’s announcement that a Jamaican woman tested positive for the virus after arriving on the island on March 4.
Stakeholders of the 110-year-old championships - the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), sponsors GraceKennedy, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health – met Wednesday to determine the fate of the championships that like many other sporting events, were being threatened by the spread of the virus that has infected more than 121,000 people globally and killing over 4000.
On Tuesday, there was an indication that the championships were under threat of being cancelled when the organisers agreed to cancel the launch of five-day event that was to be held at the National Stadium in Kingston.
“We agreed that the appropriate measure at this time would be to postpone tomorrow’s launch, and proceed with further discussions about what action should be taken in terms of the actual event,” said ISSA President, Keith Wellington, who also revealed that was also in discussion with its associated sponsors.
Title sponsors also took a position that suggested that a cancellation was the most appropriate measure to take that would be in the best interests of all concerned.
“The Health Ministry has announced that infection prevention and control is a priority at this time,” said GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby in a statement Tuesday.
“We take COVID-19 very seriously and are concerned about the health and wellness of the student-athletes and all involved in the execution of Champs, as well as the implications for the 35,000 persons in attendance at the National Stadium especially during the last two days. This is a decision we will be making in the nation’s best interest.”
The meet, set to take place from March 19-23 at the National Stadium in Kingston, had its official media launch on Wednesday evening at the same venue.
This year will mark the 113th year of the showpiece event as well as the 25th anniversary of the merging of Boys and Girls Champs.
Kingston College are defending champions on the boys side while Hydel High ended Edwin Allen’s eight-year reign on the throne last year of the girls side.
101 teams are down to compete on the boys side while 97 are set to do battle for the girls title. Athletes will contest a total of 88 events over a grueling five days of competition.
While Tuesday’s day one will feature only preliminaries, Wednesday’s day two will see 17 finals contested highlighted by the 100m and 1500m. Thursday and Friday will each have 13 finals contested before the festivities culminate with 43 finals on Saturday’s final day.
Organizers have also added a special event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the merge between the Boys and the Girls events.
There will be exhibition mixed relays, twinning traditional boys’ schools with their sister schools as well as adding Manchester High School in honor of Mr. Branford Gayle, late former principal who was instrumental in the merger.
This year’s edition will also see the introduction of international technical officials to complement the local technical official pool.
President of the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA), Mr. Keith Wellington, expects this year’s event to be special.
“The 2024 version of the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships promises to be another landmark staging of the greatest High School Athletics Championships in the world,” he said at Wednesday’s event.
“We expect patrons that patrons will be dazzled, not only by the performances of our athletes but will also experience pulsating entertainment off the track,” he added.
Wellington also commented on the addition of international officials.
“We believe that the inclusion of an international start referee and the addition of an international official to the jury of appeal will not only add significant credibility to these areas, but will enhance the already significant reputation of “Champs” as a meet of the highest international quality,” he said.
GraceKennedy, who have been sponsoring “Champs” since 2007, have committed $178 million to this year’s edition.
“Champs continues to be the largest sponsorship in dollars and heart by far, for the entire GraceKennedy Group,” said GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby.
“We are honored and proud to be the title sponsor of such an iconic event, an event that holds such cultural prominence among Jamaicans at home and abroad. This is a significant investment and represents a powerful example of our commitment to invest in our schools, youth and our country. Our support for Champs and youth development in Jamaica is unwavering, and will continue for years to come,” he added.
Wehby also announced that, in honor of GraceKennedy’s 102nd anniversary, they will have a special award of $202,000 for any school whose student breaks a 200m record.
The event, which is typically staged in the month of March, was cancelled this year due to the credible threat of being a coronavirus super spreader event. Since then, ISSA has announced the suspension of all school competitions scheduled for the Christmas term.
With no creditable solutions coming to the fore as yet regarding the best possible ways to returning to the staging of high school sports, amidst the pandemic, concerns had been raised regarding the protentional of next year’s event being cancelled as well.
In a letter issued to the coaches, ISSA was quick to point out that the December term cancellations had no impact on next year’s event. But, in light of the need to satisfy restrictive COVID-19 protocols for staging the event, the body also pointed out that creative solutions were needed in order to host the competition.
“ISSA has cancelled all ISSA competitions scheduled for the 2020 Christmas term. This decision, however, does not have any impact on the staging of the 2021 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships,” the letter read.
“However, the national COVID-19 protocols dictate that if Champs 2021 is to be a reality, then adjustments have to be made to the general structure and scheduling of the meet. These changes could possibly have implications for the number of athletes, classes, events and days of Champs 2021,” it continued.
“We, therefore, invite each group of regional coaches (as per Regional Meets, Western, Central, Eastern, Corporate) to meet virtually amongst themselves and discuss possible suggestions as to what the 2021 ISSA/GraceKennedy Champs may look like in the context of COVID-19. It is expected that from the regional discussions, coaches will submit their suggestions via an appointed team leader by email.”
The coaches will have until October 2, to submit their suggestions.
Other honourees included Louis Vazquez, Wesmore Thomas, Karen N. Wilson-Robinson, Aubrey Campbell, Chenelle Gushman, and Kevin Francis as well as Jeremiah Pope, Charles Weekes and Dian Marie Martinez. Their work across sports, community service, and leadership aligns with the 2C2W World Awards’ mission to highlight impactful contributions to athletics.
Representing Jamaica’s national governing body for athletics, JAAA President Garth Gayle was on hand to accept the award. The JAAA has been a central force in nurturing Jamaican athletic talent at all levels, playing a vital role in the country's reputation as a global track and field powerhouse. Under its guidance, many of Jamaica’s finest athletes have flourished on the international stage, with the organization’s commitment to developing young talent widely recognized.
Keith Wellington, President of ISSA, accepted the award on behalf of ISSA, the body responsible for organizing the renowned Boys and Girls Championships (Champs). Founded in 1910, Champs has grown from a small inter-school competition into one of the premier youth athletic events in the world, helping to shape athletes like Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Elaine Thompson-Herah. ISSA’s dedication to nurturing young talent has established Champs as a critical stepping stone for athletes aiming to compete on the world stage.
A touching tribute also honoured the late Hubert Lawrence, a respected track and field journalist, historian and author, who passed away on February 23, 2024, at the age of 63. Teddence Bailey, a longtime friend of Lawrence, read a heartfelt citation that captured the essence of Lawrence's impact:
“Remembering Hubert Lawrence: Renowned Track and Field Analyst, Author, and Broadcaster Passes Away. Hubert Lawrence, born July 15, 1960, unexpectedly passed away on February 23, 2024, sparking widespread shock, disbelief, and sorrow.
“He seamlessly integrated statistical data, sporting facts, and historical context to bring athletic events to life. He was the legendary hand-time grandmaster, Hubert on point. Hand Electronic... don’t play with Hubie! He coined the word ‘Handtronics.’ Lawrence's distinctive voice and confident commentary style made him a staple in sports broadcasting, covering prominent events like Jamaica's High School Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, CARIFTA Games, World Championships, and the Olympics. His expertise was unparalleled, and he was a trusted figure on Television Jamaica sports coverage. Additionally, Lawrence authored several books, including Power and Glory: Jamaica in World Athletics and Champs 100: A Century of Jamaican High School Athletics. He was distinguished by his integrity, respect, and encouraging demeanor. His passing leaves a significant void in the sports community.”
