Emmanuel ecstatic after Prep Champs victory

One small victory for a Christian school family can serve as inspiration for an entire nation.

That’s the message from principal of Emmanuel Christian Academy, Adjoa Dawes, following Saturday’s resounding victory after two gruelling days of sprinting, jumping and hurdling at the National Stadium.

For the first time in its 22 years, Emmanuel lifted the National Prep Schools Athletics Competition crown, and Dawes, along with head coach Gregory Jones, basked in the afterglow of the institution’s 44.83-point margin of victory over Sts Peter and Paul Prep, 185.67, with dethroned champions Hydel Prep in third with 184.

Hydel had reigned supreme for 14 consecutive years, a run which was punctuated by the last two years when the meet was cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions.

“We have a lot of work to do with our children as a nation, and something such as this which gets them excited about life and its purpose is something that we can all feel good about,” she told The Gleaner during a visit to the Olivier Road, St Andrew, compound on Tuesday.

“It’s a good moment, it is a wonderful moment and we are excited to be at this place, at this time,” she added.

Dawes said Emmanuel was a school of choice for academics and other areas and in other sports, but winning the track and field championship, sponsored by the Jamaica Independent Schools Association and Little Caesars Pizza, was “a major coup”.

With 560 students enrolled and about 61 staff members, Dawes described the school as a small family which has been dominant in football. It is also involved in netball, swimming, gymnastics, and chess.

While this year’s sports day was low-key, there were signs that something special was on the cards. Twelve-year-old Caleb Taylor and co-captain Mikal Rose pulled out all the stops in their final year at the school to deliver on that promise.

After romping to victory in the 100m final and long jump on the first day, Taylor returned Saturday to win the 200m final and anchor the 4x100m relay team to victory en route to copping the Class One Champion Male Athlete title.

“I got gold in all of them. I felt good and the races were very fun because there were some very fast people and I enjoy running against people of my level of speed,” the shy, bespectacled youngster said.

However, as he prepares to transition to high school, Caleb was clear about his choice.

“I’m probably going to get into Campion and I definitely don’t want to switch … . I have a lot of friends going there,” he said.

Mikal, who is also 12, ran the 100m, 200m, 4x200m and 4x100m relays, finishing second in all her races.

“I didn’t achieve what I wanted, which was to come first in all my races, but I am proud of my performance,” she declared.

And the youngster, who has her sights set on a place at Wolmer’s School for Girls, already has ambitions of becoming a professional athlete.

Meanwhile, for head of the Sports Department, Gregory Jones, team management and the synergy of all members, including the efforts of those working behind the scenes, made the difference this time around. The strategy of entering multiple athletes in all events also paid good dividends.

Emmanuel covered all bases by ensuring that someone was in charge of nutrition and hydration. A team doctor proved critical after the championship period was reduced from the usual three days to two, putting added pressure on the athletes.

“It’s a team effort. Without all of those persons in their respective roles, I don’t think we would have gotten over the line the way we did,” Jones said.

He gave credit to two other members of the coaching staff, Kirk Turner and Gabrielle Samuels, for their dedication and hard work. Jones also praised the efforts of star athletes Taylor, Rose, Joshua Scott, Abigail Brown, Micah McIntyre, Matthew Barnett, and Jesse-Joel Ingram.