Champs 2021 starts on Tuesday with several changes due to COVID-19 loopjamaica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from loopjamaica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the 110th staging of the
ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, popularly called Champs , that will be held at National Stadium from May 11-15 will have a massive 65 per cent cut in participants than previous years.
This was disclosed by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) during a virtual media launch of the 2021 staging.
The launch, which was facilitated on the Zoom platform, three weeks after the government had given ISSA the approval to stage the five-day spectacle without spectators.
Champs organising committee chairman Richard Thompson said that only 970 athletes will be eligible to compete this year, a massive reduction from just under 3000 over the years. “We have entered 68 male teams totalling 506 athletes, 61 female teams totalling 464 athletes. Total athletes will be 970 across 80 schools,” said Thompson.
Edwin Allen High and St Jago High retained their girls’ and boys’ titles at the 2021 Central Athletics Championships on Thursday at GC Foster College in Spanish Town.
Frankfield-based Edwin Allen scored 317 points after the 36 events were scored to repeal another spirited challenge from Hydel High, which were second with 281 points. The winning margin of 36 points could be a strong indicator of what to expect at the May 11 to 15
Boys’ and Girls Athletics Championships where Edwin Allen will be looking for their seventh straight victory and eighth overall. The annual championships was cancelled last year amidst the global coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak.
Defending champions Edwin Allen High and St Jago High have surged into the lead heading into Thursday’s second and final day of the 2021 Central Athletics Championships at GC Foster College in Spanish Town.
Edwin Allen High are leading the girls championship with 293 points after 30 events scored, 55.5 points ahead of second-place St Jago High (237.50 points), while Hydel High are in third place on 209 points. Holmwood Technical (115.50 points) and Vere Technical (103 points) complete the top five.
St Jago High are in total control of the boys’ championship. The Spanish Town-based school has tallied 274 points after 25 events scored, a 136-point lead over second-place Edwin Allen on 138 points, while Clarendon College are third on 93 points. St Catherine High (60 points) and Vere Technical (51 points) complete the top five.