Sts Peter and Paul edge St Andrew Prep for third straight JISA prep athletics crown

Jerome Kirby, head coach of Sts Peter and Paul, described Saturday’s third consecutive JISA Preparatory Schools’ Athletics Championships victory as the most satisfying of the lot after his purple-and-white squad fended off a relentless St Andrew Prep challenge that was not settled until the last race.

The defending champions finished on 200 points, only five ahead of St Andrew Prep’s 195. The challengers stayed in contention throughout before the title hinged on the closing event. Sts Peter and Paul, who claimed their maiden crown in 2024, have now lifted the trophy three years running.

“This is the third-straight championship for us winning the title. It’s the greatest feeling,” Kirby told the Jamaica Observer. “I don’t know what other word I can input there. I’m the happiest coach right now, you know. Very emotional because it has been a journey,” Kirby said.

The school broke Hydel Prep’s long hold on the competition in 2024 and successfully defended in 2025. This season, St Andrew Prep emerged as their fiercest opponent. Saturday marked Kirby’s fifth year leading the programme. His side placed second in 2022 and fourth in 2023 before beginning their current run of titles in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

“The hardest one was this one on Saturday because it came down to the last race. It was very, very intense. Never had this experience before and I don’t wish to have it again,” Kirby said.

“St Andrew really did well this year. We anticipated it,” Kirby said.

With four events still to run, Sts Peter and Paul led by just three points. They stretched the margin to 14 after the next two relays, aided by the Class Three 4x100m relay in which St Andrew Prep fielded no team. St Andrew Prep struck back by taking the Girls’ Open 4x200m relay while Sts Peter and Paul came fifth, trimming the gap to seven points before the championship’s final race.

St Andrew Prep won that last event for 12 points, but Sts Peter and Paul’s second-place finish brought 10 points—enough to keep the trophy by five.

“I actually spoke that the championship would come down to the last race. I said this from April of this year after being at the first track meet,” Kirby said. “So St Andrew really, really stepped out and, boy, it’s the greatest feeling for us to retain the title. “So, we just have to be thankful. It’s all about giving thanks,” Kirby said.

Kirby praised fellow coaches Nimroy Turgott and Pamella Hewitt for their contribution to the result and said the programme will keep pushing to remain among the leading prep schools next season.