JC head honcho happy with coaching unit, progress

Dwayne Johnson, head coach of Jamaica College (JC), has expressed delight with his team’s performances in the build-up to this year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships (Champs), which will be held at the National Stadium in March.

Johnson said the team has done extremely well in the development meets they have competed in so far, particularly the second-string athletes, who are pushing hard for places on the Champs team. Joseph Salmon, who smashed the Class One discus record at Champs, was among JC’s top performers last weekend.

Salmon hurled the discus to a record 66.32m, well above the previous mark of 61.55m.

Johnson also noted that he was very pleased with their showing at the PureWater/R. Danny Williams-JC meet on the school’s grounds last Friday and Saturday.

“Things have been fantastic because I loved what I saw from the boys at this two-day meet,” said Johnson.

“There were some incredible performances, but what is most important is that some of our second strings have recorded PBs (personal bests), and this is how you know how things will shake out for Champs. The truth is that as I look back at our performances over the years, because at the 2024 Champs we won the most gold medals, but we lost Champs by 60 points,” he said.

“I am happy to see a number of our second strings stepping up, recording PBs, and looking fantastic. So far, so good, because I am happy with the performances that I have been seeing so far,” Johnson said.

Jamaica College finished a disappointing third last year behind champions Kingston College and runners-up Calabar. However, Johnson believes the addition of veteran coaches Bertland Cameron and Corey Bennett has been a major boost as the school seeks to wrestle the Champs title away from rivals Kingston College.

Bennett left Calabar at the end of last season after being at the helm for three years after his contract as the head coach of the Red Hills Road-based institution was not renewed.

He also led Hydel High School to last year’s girls’ title. Meanwhile, Cameron joined JC from St Jago High School, where he was in charge of the school’s quarter-milers for a number of years.

“The vibes in the camp are good, and things are looking good,” said Johnson.

“The additional coaches that we have got are working some magic here, and the whole coaching staff right now is working together as one unit, and we are hoping that everything works out.

“That is the aim, that is the goal, and that is the reason why I went out and got capable assistant coaches to assist me in areas that they are stronger at, and so I am looking forward to it.”

“It is going to be competitive, but I am hoping that we are there with the other two schools, and we will see where the chips fall,” Johnson said.

Robert Bailey