The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) was held from March 24-28, 2026, ushering in a wave of sports mania and school spirit among Jamaicans at home and abroad. Among the more than 200 schools competing was our very own Convent of Mercy Academy, Alpha (Alpha Academy), which was determined to surpass their own 12th-place ranking – the then highest ranking in the school’s history – from last year’s Champs. Building on outstanding performances at other meets (such as the McKenley/Wint Track Meet and the Corporate Area Championships) in the months leading up to the event, expectations were high that they would achieve exactly that.
After undergoing intensive training (including a week-long overnight camp), and expertly balancing demands of athletics with their academics, Alpha’s team was ready to face the first day of Champs! With a contingent of 40 athletes, the team rose to the occasion and made a powerful impact in various track events (e.g. sprints, long-distance races, hurdles and relays) as well as field events (e.g. high jump, shot put, discus throw, discus throw, and long jump). After clearing the preliminary rounds, several of our athletes delivered a strong showing in the semi-finals, during which rising star Azaria Harris set a new record in the Class 3 80m Hurdles with an impressive time of 10.80 seconds.
Once the finals came around, our team did not disappoint. Our Class 3 4x100m relay team secured a gold medal for the school in a thrilling race, as Azaria Harris blazed a trail to victory with a stunning last-second overtake of the Edwin Allen front-runner just before crossing the finish line. Danoya Scott, Rajana Price, Shajay Davis, Azaria Harris won silver medals in the Girls Class 3 1500M, Girls Class 2 Long Jump, Girls Class 3 400M and Girl Class 3 80M Hurdles respectively. Bronze medals were also brought home by Azaria Harris in the Girls Class 3 100M and Aleisha McDonald in the Class 4 Girls 70M Hurdles.
With our athletes taking to the podium time and time again, Alpha’s name rang out proudly throughout the five days of competition. Overall, Alpha Academy placed 7th among 100 girls’ teams – a new milestone for the school. Alpha also stood out as one of the most improved teams compared to last year’s performance. Beyond the dedication of the students and the unwavering support of parents and teachers, the school’s Principal, Mrs. Kali McMorris, credits much of the team’s increasing success to the values and vision of Coach Kirk King. While Alpha has always had great coaches, Coach King stands out as a leader who always puts faith in God at the centre of the sport. This, coupled with a strong emphasis on maintaining academic excellence alongside athletic pursuits (evidenced by the number of honour roll students on the team), has strengthened the team’s discipline, focus an mission.
Upon their return to school in the week following Champs, the students were met with a celebration by the wider school community. Champions such as these continue to inspire others to pursue track and field – a fact which has been reflected in the team’s significant growth over the last few years. Looking ahead, three Alpha Academy students (i.e. Azaria Harris, Imani Lowe and Macaela Gordon) will represent Jamaica at the upcoming CARIFTA Games in Grenada, while the team also prepares to compete at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. For now, however, the 2026 Champs stands as a significant milestone in the school’s history, and we eagerly anticipate what our students will achieve next.
