Three-time Jamaican Olympian and Puma’s Marketing Manager for Running, Juliet Campbell, demonstrated her commitment to supporting grassroots athletics in Jamaica by donating approximately 80 pairs of competition spikes to six schools at the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) headquarters in Kingston on Friday.

The beneficiaries included Excelsior High, York Castle High, Steer Town Academy, Harbour View Primary, Garvey Maceo High, and Marcus Garvey High School. These schools, not currently sponsored by Puma, often face challenges in acquiring proper athletic equipment.

“Outside of Puma’s sponsorship of some Jamaican schools, there are still a number of schools that are struggling for equipment,” Campbell explained. “These are not sponsored schools, but I am just helping.”

The donation is a significant boost for schools like York Castle and Steer Town, where resources are limited. Marvin Johnson, who coaches at both institutions, expressed gratitude for the donation, which included 13 pairs of spikes for his athletes.

Coach Johnson collecting competition spikes from Juliet Campbell on Friday.

“At York Castle, we have a very large squad of about 33 athletes, and the principal has been doing his best to support the program financially,” Johnson said. “But when it comes to footwear, it’s very difficult to get. These spikes will cover about 50 per cent of our athletes and are a big boost as we prepare for Champs (ISSA Boys and Girls Championships).”

Johnson anticipates a 60-40 split in favour of York Castle due to its larger team size and higher number of potential qualifiers for Champs.

Garvey Maceo’s coach, Tatiana Smith, echoed similar sentiments. The school received about a dozen pairs of spikes, including specialized ones for jumping events. She highlighted the impact of the donation on her program, which operates in a school where track and field is not a dominant sport.

“This will help us a whole lot because over the years we have had to seek outside sponsors for spikes, as most of our students can’t afford them,” Smith said. “We won’t have students sharing spikes anymore. With what we have now, each athlete will have a pair of spikes for themselves.”

By providing access to quality equipment, Campbell’s donation not only alleviates financial strain on schools but also helps athletes focus on their training and development as they prepare for major competitions. For these schools, the donation represents more than just new gear—it’s a step towards fostering talent, building confidence, and inspiring future generations of Jamaican athletes.