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Charles E. Mills Secondary School (CEMSS) held their nerve in a thrilling finale to capture their ninth consecutive TDC Interschool Track and Field Championships title, finishing with 29 gold medals in a fiercely contested meet at the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium.
While the final medal count shows CEMSS ahead of Charlestown Secondary School (CSS), the path to victory was anything but comfortable, as the championship came down to the final event of the meet.
Every event proved crucial in determining the outcome, with both schools trading blows throughout the three-day competition. With six 4x400m relays remaining, CEMSS held a narrow lead of 27 gold medals to CSS’s 24, but momentum began to shift.
CSS struck early in the relays, capturing two victories despite a baton drop in one race, and also picked up valuable points in the field with a win in the shot put. Their late surge brought them level with CEMSS on gold medals heading into the final two relays, while also holding a slight advantage in silver and bronze medals—putting them in position to win on a tiebreaker if they could edge ahead.
With the championship on the line, CEMSS responded when it mattered most.
The Sandy Point-based school delivered under pressure to win the penultimate event, the Under-18 Girls 4x400m relay, regaining the lead and setting up a dramatic final race.
Everything then came down to the last event of the championships.
CEMSS needed any team other than CSS to win the final relay to secure the title outright, while CSS needed victory to draw level on gold and claim the championship on countback.
CSS made a strong start, leading at the first handoff. However, by the second exchange, CEMSS had surged ahead, opening up a commanding 30-metre lead. That advantage only grew on the final handoff.
CSS’s anchor, CARIFTA-bound athlete Keymani Newtown—who had already dominated the Under-18 400m and 800m in record fashion—faced a daunting 40-metre deficit. Despite a determined effort, he was unable to reel in the CEMSS runner, as CEMSS crossed the line to seal their 29th title.
The victory extends CEMSS’s dominance of the championships, while CSS, despite a gallant and spirited challenge, must continue their wait for a first title.
Both schools were backed by passionate supporters throughout the meet, with CSS bringing a particularly large travelling contingent from Nevis, creating one of the most electric atmospheres seen in recent years.
Denzil Llewelyn Douglas Secondary School was recognised as the most spirited (“most hype”) school over the three days of competition.
Individual Champions
Several athletes delivered standout performances across the age groups:
- Under-14 Female: Kirklynn Harris (Verchilds High School) – 46 points
- Under-14 Male: Naheem Williams-Farrell (CEMSS) – 60 points
- Under-16 Female: Nyah Liddie (CEMSS) – 38 points
- Under-16 Male: Michel Gumbs (Verchilds High School) – 37 points
- Under-18 Female: De’Cheynelle Thomas (Denzil Llewelyn Douglas Secondary School) – 30 points
- Under-18 Male: Najeeb Kelly (Charlestown Secondary School) – 28 points
- Under-20 Female: Uzariell Hodge (CEMSS) – 60 points
- Under-20 Male: Levante Stevens (Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College), Rayjaun Fyfield (Charlestown Secondary School), Amir Parris (Charlestown Secondary School) – 36 points
Hodge also secured the Victrix Ludorum title, while Williams-Farrell claimed the Victor Ludorum crown, capping a dominant showing for CEMSS both individually and collectively.
The 2026 championships will be remembered as one of the most intense and closely fought in recent history, with every race, jump and throw ultimately proving decisive in a dramatic battle for supremacy.
President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Athletics Association, Delwayne Delaney, has described this year’s Championship as one of the most thrilling in the history of the competition, highlighting its dramatic finish and exceptional level of performance.
Speaking at the conclusion of the meet, Delaney said the event lived up to his expectations, noting that he had anticipated a fiercely competitive championship.
“I’ve been telling persons all the time, I don’t know if people believe me or not, but I told them it will be one for the ages,” he said.
The 2026 edition proved just that, as the championship came down to the final race—an occurrence Delaney admitted he had never witnessed before.
“I have never witnessed in my life an Inter-School that comes down to the final race. I don’t know when was the last time that happened,” he added.
Delaney credited the intense competition to the dedication and effort of all involved, from athletes to coaches and administrators.
“It’s just a testament to the competitive nature of this year’s edition. A testament to the hardworking athletes, the coaches, the administrators,” he said. “You can’t ask for more than what we saw over these last three days.”
He further praised the overall standard of the meet, stating that the performances were on par with top-level regional competitions.
“High-level competition—competition that will rival any other high school in the region. I mean, I’m basically speechless for the job done,” Delaney remarked.
Looking ahead, Delaney believes the championship has set a strong foundation for national representation, particularly with the upcoming CARIFTA Games.
“It’s time now for CARIFTA Games and representing your country. We now have the best of the best moving on,” he said.
He also called on the public to rally behind the nation’s young athletes as they prepare to compete on the regional stage.
“We just need to come together as a country and support these athletes, because they are competing at a high level—one that we should all be proud of,” Delaney said.
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