Nkrumie delivers final gift to KC

Kingston College's 34th hold on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy was the final gift that captain Bouwahjgie Nkrumie envisioned to finish his high-school career.

KC retained the boys' title at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, their first back-to-back success since 2006, storming through the field on Saturday's final day to amass 366 points, leaving Jamaica College and Calabar in their wake.

It was a memorable week in more ways than one for Nkrumie, who on Wednesday became the first schoolboy to go sub-10 seconds, clocking 9.99 to win the Class I boys' 100 title.

It was also the invigorating moment for them, he said, that ensured the title would not leave North Street for another year.

"The mindset was just positivity and motivation. The whole mood of the team was just different from that Wednesday night. The team was ready to go out there and compete," Nkrumie said.

For the 19-year-old, who is now focused on making the senior national team this year, retaining the title was a fitting end to his time at North Street.

"What better way to leave with the title? I will miss it, but I'm here for all of my boys, who are in school now, and I will keep supporting them all the way," Nrkumie said.

Even with a sizeable advantage entering the final day, Nkrumie said they needed to hold their nerve and not chance anything.

"It was all about not getting complacent. I told them to go out every day and treat it like a regular track meet. Don't get pressured, and just do your best," Nkrumie said. "That is all that I asked from my boys."

Despite a commanding victory, head coach Leaford Grant said it was one of his most satisfying wins.

"This year was one of the more challenging years, so yes, I would say it is probably one of the better ones," Grant said.