Buzz on as 2024 JISA Prep Champs nears

Students at the primary level in private educational institutions across the island are eagerly awaiting the 47th staging of the Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA) Prep School Championships.

This annual rally, now renamed the JISA Prep Champs, provides a platform for student athletes to demonstrate their athletic prowess while representing their schools.

The three-day event, set to kick off on June 13, will see some 1,600 students from 45 schools in eight parishes competing in 39 events – 28 individual events and 11 relays in Classes one to four.

At the launch of this year’s champs, JISA president Tamar McKenzie said the championship “continues to inspire and motivate young athletes, fostering a culture of, and a commitment to excellence and sportsmanship in education among our young athletes”.

Chaluk Richards, general manager of GK Insurance, noted that sports was a tried and proven way to fortify youth with important skills such as critical thinking, agility, teamwork, stress tolerance, patience and discipline. The GK Insurance and GK Mutual Funds companies, as title sponsors of this year’s competition, have committed sponsorship valued at $4m.

Sharon Hunt, registrar of the Independent Schools’ Unit at the Ministry of Education and Youth, said: “Sports is one of Jamaica’s foremost activities and JISA Prep School Championship is happening at an opportune time as it serves as a precursor to the Summer Olympics which is set to take place in France next month.”

She applauded all the sponsors of this year’s competition, adding that their support in cash and kind is expected to finance the competition, motivate and encourage young athletes to strive for excellence.

Title sponsors GraceKennedy General Insurance and Mutual Funds and other sponsors – Little Caesars Pizza, Sunshine Snacks, Kisco, Jamaica Biscuit Co, Pure Water, SureTime Medical, Medical Disposable and Supplies, Rainbow Awning, Emkay Trophies, World Class Athletics, Atlas Protection Limited, Pitech Limited and Adtelligent vowed their continued support of the JISA Prep School Championship.

First-time athletes, Anya Johnson and Donovan James of St Peter and Paul Preparatory School, who were at the launch at the education ministry’s Kingston offices, said they were excited and were looking forward to outperforming their competitors. Their rivals, second-place winners at last year’s competition, Mona Preparatory School, were adamant, however, that they will not be beaten.

Coach Jerome Kirby of the St Peter and Paul Preparatory School said, “Our athletes are ready to go all the way to the top of the points standing table come June 15 when the competition ends.”

Manager and ball throw coach, Garth Phinn of Mona Preparatory School, also insisted that his team was equally ready, physically and mentally, for the competition and stood a good chance of winning the championship this year. Head coach Locksley Anderson added that his team, which has been training rigorously over several months, has the drive, stamina and discipline that a competition like this requires.