“I knew he wasn’t going to beat me”
JC’s Kai Kelly was always confident he would win the 100m gold medal
Published:Friday | March 28, 2025 | 12:12 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
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BOYS’ CLASS Three 100 metres champion and record holder, Kai Kelly of Jamaica College (JC), said he was always confident he would walk away with the gold medal, despite the strong performances of medal contender Jevaney Findlay of St Jago High....
BOYS’ CLASS Three 100 metres champion and record holder, Kai Kelly of Jamaica College (JC), said he was always confident he would walk away with the gold medal, despite the strong performances of medal contender Jevaney Findlay of St Jago High.
Both Kelly and Findlay were the top performers on Wednesday at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) as they entertained spectators with impressive runs throughout the rounds.
Kelly opened his series with 10.95 seconds in the preliminaries, before lowering his time in the semi-finals, running 10.90.
He shattered Christopher Scott’s Champs’ record in the final, stopping the clock at 10.60.
Findlay was equally as impressive throughout his rounds, running a reserved 11.33 in the preliminaries before a blistering 10.72 in the semi-finals.
He was second best in the final, however, as he finished behind Kelly with a time of 10.67.
After the final, Kelly said Findlay’s impressive semi-final time did not shake his resolve to cross the line first.
“I wasn’t concerned, to be honest,” Kelly said. “When I saw him run the 10.72, I was just like ‘That’s okay’. I knew that I would come out here and execute my race perfectly, and I knew he wasn’t going to beat me.”
Kelly explained his unwavering confidence came from how he felt after advancing from the semi-finals.
He said he executed the race smoothly and, with the amount he had left in the tank, he was sure he would have enough to topple the St Jago duo of Findlay and bronze-medallist Rajaun Romelly.
However, he said, he was not focused on the record, as his only goal was to secure his spot atop the class.
“From the semi-finals, it was a great feeling because, the way how I ran the semi-finals, I knew that I would come out here and run faster,” Kelly explained.
“My mind wasn’t on the record. My mind was just on coming out here and to execute the race. They thought they were going to win but I had to come out here and show them.”
Kelly, who will not be contesting the 200m, said his next focus now will be on the sprint relays, as he looks to play his part in JC’s challenge for the Mortimer Geddes Trophy.