Track and field season heats up with three big meets

The 2025 local track and field season continues today with three big meets. In Kingston, the Douglas Forrest Invitational meet will take place inside the National Stadium. GC Foster College in Spanish Town will host the JAAA/PUMA Charlie Fuller meet, while in central Jamaica, the Charlie Fuller Field Events meet will be held at Manchester High School.

All three meets are expected to be well-attended as athletes seek qualification for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, scheduled for March 25–29.

After Hydel High sent a strong statement last weekend at the Purewater/R. Danny Williams/JC meet with stellar all-around performances, defending girls’ champions Edwin Allen High will be out in full force today at GC Foster College. They aim to respond to their main rivals, who will be absent from the track today.

Edwin Allen will be led by team captain and head girl Monique Stewart, who will compete in the Class One 800m. She hopes to continue her strong form following an impressive win at Jamaica College last week. Holmwood Technical’s duo, Florence Nafamba and Terrice Clarke, will look to challenge Stewart’s early dominance and possibly upstage her.

After an impressive personal best of 53.60 seconds last week, Kelly Ann Carr of Edwin Allen will aim to make another statement in the Class One 400m event, hoping to further lower her time.

In the field events, the Class One long jump will be a highlight, featuring Edwin Allen’s Deijanae Bruce and Bianca Baker, who will compete against Holmwood Technical’s Dejanae Nembhard. All three are expected to renew their rivalry in the triple jump open, where they will be joined by Crystal Solomon of St Elizabeth Technical.

After a commanding performance at the Wesley Powell meet at Excelsior High, where he outclassed a quartet of Kingston College’s Kenya-based athletes in the 5000m Open, St Jago High’s Ryan Achau will shift his focus to the Class One 800m where he will face Kingston College’s Rekeilme Hunter.

Attention will also be on another St Jago athlete, Khieme Campbell, in Class Three. Following an impressive 800m win at Jamaica College last week, where he outpaced Kingston College’s “Champs” favourite Julius Itubo with a time of 2:02.59, Campbell will seek to replicate his performance in the event.

Today’s events will also feature action in the 4x400m for both males and females, along with field events such as high jump, shot put, long jump, and triple jump.

At the National Stadium, top male teams including Jamaica College, Kingston College, and Excelsior High will be in action. On the girls’ side, a rejuvenated Vere Technical will lead the charge, along with St Jago, Immaculate Conception, and an improved Convent of Mercy, Alpha.

Meanwhile, Manchester High will host all top male and female teams, with growing interest in field events over the past few seasons.