Defending champions of the JISA/GKGI/GK Mutual Funds Prep Champs, St Peter and Paul Prep, are heading into this week’s meet with confidence, despite acknowledging that this year’s squad differs significantly from the title-winning team that secured the school’s crown last season.
Head coach Jerome Kirby believes his team is among the best-prepared squads the school has assembled and is optimistic that the quality of his athletes will once again place them in contention for top honours.
“I think we are better prepared this year than any other year,” Kirby said. “This is our third championship appearance in a row, and we have very high hopes based on what we are bringing to the championships.”
St Peter and Paul will enter the 2026 championships as the two-time defending champions, carrying the weight of expectation, with rival schools eager to dethrone them. However, Kirby said his athletes are embracing the challenge and are looking forward to competing against some of the strongest teams in the competition.
“We have a lot of good competitors out there that are coming with strong teams. We are looking forward to an exciting matchup,” he said. The coach admitted that graduation and player movement have resulted in a different team composition than the squad that captured the title last year.
“Definitely, there have been some gains and some losses. The dynamic is much different this year,” Kirby explained.
While the Saints may not possess the same depth across all age groups that characterised previous teams, Kirby believes their strength lies in the concentration of talent within its ranks.
“There were excellent performances in the lower classes last year. This year, we don’t have as much strength in the lower classes. It is really Class One that is bringing most of the game to the championships,” he said.
Despite the changes, Kirby remains confident that his athletes can deliver when it matters most.
“We don’t have the perfect team. However, compared to other schools, we have a concentration of quality athletes. St Peter and Paul has some of the best competitors, and over the three days, once the medals begin to come where they are supposed to come, the points will follow, and we should have a chance.”
The championships, set for June 11-13 at the National Stadium, are expected to feature intense competition among Jamaica’s leading preparatory and independent schools, with several institutions strengthening their programmes in pursuit of the coveted title.
The action starts at 9 a.m. on Thursday at the National Stadium.
