Lessons from Grenada’s 2026 Penn Relays experience

by Michael Bascombe

Grenada’s participation in the 2026 staging of the Penn Relays once again emphasised both the immense value and the undeniable challenges of competing on one of track and field’s most prestigious high school stages.

No question, exposing our young athletes to competition beyond the Inter-Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships (Intercol) is a step in the right direction. The Penn Relays is an institution that tests not only speed and strength, but discipline, preparation, and the ability to perform under global scrutiny.

However, participation at that level demands far more than enthusiasm; it requires early planning, structured preparation, and strategic partnerships.

The reality is simple. The Penn Relays does not accommodate late decisions.

With the 2027 edition already set for April 22–24, and registration codes typically distributed by February, schools have a clear window to begin preparations. That preparation must include early confirmation of intent (by September–October), structured training cycles aligned with peak performance in April, visa application timelines, fundraising strategies, and travel logistics and accommodation planning.

Too often, ambition is present, but execution falls short due to late starts.

One of the most underutilised advantages available to Grenadian schools is access to experienced individuals such as Phil Zodda.

With his deep understanding of the US high school system and direct ties to Grenadian athletes, including past connections to figures like Dr Sean Lambert and Lee Cuffie, who he coached at South Shore High School in Brooklyn, NY, Zodda represents a bridge between local ambition and international standards.

Engaging expertise like his could help navigate Penn Relays qualification and registration processes, understand event standards and expectations, structure relay teams and baton exchange strategies, and build relationships with US-based meets and institutions.

This type of collaboration should not be optional; it should be institutionalised.

The continued participation of the Grenada Boys' Secondary School (GBSS) must be commended, particularly given the logistical and financial burdens often carried by the Alumni International Foundation (AIF).

However, participation alone is not enough. There must be a deliberate effort to conduct post-event reviews (technical and administrative), build a multi-year participation plan, and develop a sustainable funding model beyond emergency fundraising.

A critical lesson from recent participation is that reliance solely on alumni support and last-minute sponsorship is not sustainable. Grenadian schools must develop their own structured, local fundraising programmes to complement external assistance.

This can include annual school track meets or relay festivals as revenue-generating events, community fun runs and sports days involving parents and alumni, corporate sponsorship packages tied to school athletic programmes, crowdfunding campaigns targeting the Grenadian diaspora, and merchandise sales (team apparel, memorabilia) linked to major competitions.

Fundraising should not begin weeks before departure; it should be a year-round, organised effort embedded within the school’s athletic programme.

By creating consistent revenue streams, schools can better manage costs associated with travel, uniforms, equipment, and preparation, while reducing the pressure on alumni bodies like the AIF.

If Grenadian schools are serious about sustained participation at the Penn Relays and similar high-level competitions, several measures should be considered.

There is a strong case for establishing a National Schools International Competition Calendar to identify key meets such as the Penn Relays, Florida Relays, and regional invitationals. This would allow for coordinated planning and reduce duplication of effort.

Additionally, a centralised support unit, possibly in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, could assist schools with documentation, visa guidance, registration processes, and travel coordination.

Given that the Penn Relays is built on relays, schools must also invest in baton exchange clinics, specialised relay coaching, and maintaining consistent relay team combinations. Beyond the Penn Relays, schools should actively pursue participation in smaller US invitationals, Caribbean meets, and exchange programmes with US high schools.

Equally important is athlete readiness. Preparation must extend beyond physical training to include mental conditioning, understanding travel expectations, media engagement, and maintaining academic eligibility.

Perhaps one of the most important areas requiring urgent attention is talent identification.

GBSS once led the way in scouting athletes at the primary school level, a system that helped build generations of elite performers. That tradition must be revived.

Other institutions such as Presentation Brothers' College (PBC), Boca Secondary School, and St Andrew's Anglican Secondary School (SAASS) have already recognised the value of early recruitment, actively identifying and nurturing talent from both primary and private schools.

GBSS must re-enter that space, not as a reaction, but as a structured programme.

Previous Story: Grenadians shine and struggle at Penn Relays finale in Philadelphia

Grenadians shine and struggle at Penn Relays finale in Philadelphia

by Michael Bascombe

PHILADELPHIA, PA, April 26, 2026 - Grenadian athletes delivered a mix of standout performances and tough lessons as the 130th staging of the Penn Relays concluded at Franklin Field on Saturday.

Leading the way for Grenada were Nazzio John and Jamora Alves, both of whom made significant impressions at one of the world’s premier track and field meets.

John produced the highlight of the weekend, capturing gold as part of the Ohio State University team in the College Men’s 4x100 metres Championship of America. Running the opening leg, the Grenadian sprinter set the tone for teammates Kyler Brown, Nick Biega, and Marcus Brown, as the quartet stormed to victory in 39.56 seconds.

The triumph marked Ohio State’s fourth title in the event, adding to their historic wins in 1929, 1931, and 1932.

John had also qualified for the Men’s 100 metres Championship final after clocking 10.30 seconds in Friday’s preliminaries. However, he was withdrawn from the final alongside teammate Brown, with coach Rosalind Joseph opting to protect her athletes amid cold and rainy conditions.

The final was won by Gary Card of the University of Technology, Jamaica, in 10.34 seconds, slower than his record-breaking 10.03 run in the preliminary round.

On the field, Alves, representing St John's University, continued her consistent form with a fourth-place finish in the College Women’s Discus Throw Championship. Battling adverse weather, she recorded a best mark of 52.37 metres, narrowly missing a top-three podium finish.

Alves was edged out of third place by Morgan Graham, who produced a 52.52m effort in the fourth round, while Ines Lopez of Arizona State University secured victory with a throw of 54.44 metres. The Grenadian had earlier claimed silver in the Shot Put, completing a strong overall showing across the meet.

In the high school division, the Grenada Boys' Secondary School (GBSS) endured a challenging end to

their campaign.

After a promising 4x100m performance on Friday, the Grenadian champions were unable to replicate that form in the 4x400 metres relay, finishing last in their heat in 3:31.14.

Josh Thomas opened with a solid 51.58 split, handing over in sixth position among the nine teams. However, the team slipped back on the second leg, where Kashay Stephen clocked 55.53 seconds, leaving too much ground to recover for Nathaniel Alfred (54.04) and Karmal Joseph (50.00).

GBSS finished 202nd overall out of 522 teams that completed the 4x400m event, while their 4x100m effort ranked 80th among 582 teams.

Meanwhile, Bullis School of Maryland captured the highly anticipated High School Boys’ 4x400 metres Championship of America title in 3:10.15, becoming the first American team to win the event since Long Beach Polytechnic High School achieved the feat in 2007. The winning quartet of Zayden Saxton, Cameron Homer, Gideon Newton, and Quincy Wilson had earlier signalled their intent with a blistering 3:09.73 performance.

Previous Story: Alves claims shot put silver while John advances to sprint finals and relay showdown

GBSS shows grit at Penn Relays, turns focus to 4x400m

by Michael Bascombe

PHILADELPHIA, USA, April 24, 2026 — The Grenada Boys' Secondary School (GBSS) delivered a commendable performance at the Penn Relays on Friday, narrowly missing qualification for both the High School Boys’ Championship of America and International finals in the 4x100 metres relay.

Despite winning their heat in a solid 42.86 seconds, the GBSS quartet fell just short of the final qualifying position among the international teams. That coveted spot was secured by Puerto Rico’s Eugenio Guerra Cruz, who clocked a faster 42.26 seconds.

The GBSS team of Nathaniel Alfred, Karmal Joseph, Josh Thomas, and Kashay Stephen executed clean baton exchanges to take their heat, but ultimately faced the challenge of competing in a less competitive race, which impacted their overall qualification standing.

Head coach Nicholas Benjamin praised his athletes for their effort and composure under the circumstances.

“Our team has made us proud, running out in a heat without much competition and still producing a time that ranked us 81st in a 583-ranking list is awesome,” Benjamin told GrenadaSports. “We now set our sights on making a mark in the 4x400m on Saturday.” 

Assistant coach Lee Cuffie also commended the youthful squad, highlighting both their performance and long-term potential.

“We did very good in my view, with a fairly young team,” Cuffie said. “Kashay 14, Alfred 15, and Karmal 16. We have room for development. Last year the team ran 46 with much poorer baton exchange. However, I did as much as I can with the drilling of the exchanges and saw good improvement.”

In a field dominated by Caribbean sprint powerhouses, Jamaica once again asserted its strength, occupying six of the nine lanes in the International category with schools such as William Knibb, St George’s, Calabar, Munro College, Cornwall College, and Herbert Morrison. They were joined by St Augustine’s College of the Bahamas, St Benedict’s College of Trinidad and Tobago, and Eugenio Guerra Cruz of Puerto Rico.

Jamaican dominance was even more pronounced in the Championship of America final, where eight of the nine qualifying schools hail from the island, including Jamaica College, Kingston College, Edwin Allen, Excelsior, St Jago, Petersfield, St Mary's, and Wolmer’s Boys. The St James Academy of Virginia is the lone non-Jamaican representative.

Overall, GBSS finished 80th out of 607 schools entered in the High School Boys’ 4x100m heats. With 11 disqualifications and 13 teams failing to finish, a total of 583 schools recorded official times.

Attention now shifts to the 4x400 metres relay, where GBSS will look to rebound when they line up in the heats at 10:50 a.m. on Saturday. The nine fastest teams will advance to the Championship final, scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

Visa issues sideline InterCol Champions SAASS from Penn Relays

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, April 21, 2026 — Grenada’s Inter-Secondary Schools’ Athletics (InterCol) champions, St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS), will not participate in this weekend’s Penn Relays in Philadelphia due to visa challenges.

GrenadaSports has been reliably informed that members of the SAASS team were unable to secure visa appointments in time for the competition, forcing the withdrawal of what was expected to be a strong national representation.

SAASS had planned to field relay teams in both the Boys’ 4x100m and 4x400m events, along with competitors in the Boys’ Javelin Throw and Triple Jump. The 4x100m team was set to include Randy Jones, D’Ron St Cyr, Crystophe Calliste, and Darell Daniel, while Teavughn Hall, Calliste, Daniel, and Phillip Mitchell were listed for the 4x400m relay.

Individually, Deshawn Smart was down to compete in the javelin, with Calliste also scheduled for the triple jump.

Former InterCol champions Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (GBSS) will be the lone school from Grenada competing at the meet. GBSS secured their visas in early March, ahead of the InterCol Championships, and will join approximately 16 other international high schools, alongside teams from Jamaica and the United States.

GBSS will be represented by Nathaniel Alfred, Karmal Joseph, Josh Thomas, Kashay Stephen, and Qwanell Pierre, as they take on a strong international field.

Grenada will still have representation through athletes competing for Jamaican institutions. Egypt Benjamin is expected to line up for Edwin Allen High School in the Girls’ 4x100m and 4x400m relays, while Dylan Logan will represent Kingston College in the Boys’ Discus Throw.

The Penn Relays, one of the most renowned track and field events in the United States, gets underway on Thursday and runs through Saturday.

SAASS’ absence is a significant blow, particularly after their historic InterCol triumph this year, as the school misses an opportunity for its athletes to compete on a big stage.

SAASS Sweeps Intercol Titles, Claims Historic Double

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, March 19, 2026 – St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS) delivered a historic performance on Thursday, emerging as double champions of Grenada’s Inter-Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships for the first time ever, capturing both the boys’ and girls’ titles at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium.

In a landmark achievement, SAASS dethroned the long-standing powerhouse Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (GBSS) in the boys’ division, amassing 299 points to secure its 22nd championship title—moving ahead after previously being tied with GBSS. GBSS finished second with 240.5 points, while Presentation Brothers’ College (PBC) secured third with 118 points.

On the girls’ side, SAASS also ended the reign of St David’s Catholic Secondary School (SDCSS), claiming the title with 196 points. SDCSS finished second with 177.5 points, followed by St Joseph’s Convent St George (SJCSG) with 130.33 points.

The victory marks SAASS’s fourth girls’ championship title, adding to previous triumphs in 1968, 1971 and 2012.

In the boys’ competition, Boca Secondary School placed fourth with 69 points, followed by SDCSS (63), Mac Donald College (56), and St John’s Christian Secondary School (50). Hillsborough Secondary School (26.5) and Grenada Christian Academy (25) rounded out the top nine.

In the girls’ division, Anglican High School finished fourth with 114.33 points, Boca Secondary School fifth with 100, and Mac Donald College sixth with 84.33. Bishop’s College (34) and St Joseph’s Convent Grenville (33.5) were also among the leading schools.

SAASS’s dominance was further reflected in the medal standings, leading both divisions with 41 medals for boys and 28 for girls.

Head coach Niade Simon credited the teams' success to early and structured preparation.

“We started our preparations from as early as August 2025, identifying a core group of athletes and implementing a comprehensive programme in both track and field,” Simon explained.

For GBSS, the result signals a period of transition and rebuilding. Head coach Nicholas Benjamin acknowledged the challenges faced during the championships.

“I want to congratulate SAASS—they performed exceptionally well and outscored us. We made some costly mistakes, particularly in the relays, and injuries also affected our performance. However, GBSS is focused on rebuilding and coming back stronger,” he said.

Meanwhile, SDCSS coach Calim Francois cited missed opportunities that affected their title defence.

“The sub-junior relay and the junior discus throw were crucial events for us. Unfortunately, our top thrower fouled all three attempts, and while we were competitive in the relay, we were disqualified. Those setbacks proved decisive,” Francois noted.

GBSS sends team to US track meet

Officials at the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School call it a “proud moment for GBSS.”

They are referring to the presence in the United States of a continent of eight athletes, who are there to participate in Penn Relays, a renowned annual track and field event that features emerging and established talent drawn from clubs, colleges and secondary schools in the US, as well as from foreign nations.

The GBSS efforts at fielding a team were publicly endorsed by former national 100-metre record-holder, Dr Sean Lambert, and Olympic and World Championship gold medallist Dr Kirani James, both ex-GBSS students. “It’s always important for our young athletes to get that experience and that exposure early; so that way, they could be motivated,” James said in the video message to the GBSS Alumni International Foundation (AIF), which spearheaded a fundraising campaign in support of the athletic team. “I think it’s going to be exciting for the boys; it’s going to be exciting for everybody; I’m excited for them.”

Among the eight GBSS students competing in the meet at Franklin Field in Philadelphia is 13-year-old Kashay Stephen, who, at last week’s secondary schools’ InterCol games, broke James’s 200 metre record for sub-junior boys. Stephen’s Penn Relay teammates are Josh Thomas, Jaylon St Louis, Jaiden Pierre, Nathan Hillaire, Antwoin Alleyne, Nathaniel Alfred and Rishon Daniel.

Some other top GBSS Intercol athletes, such as Ethan Sam, Timothy Greenidge, Emilio Blanco Bishop, Qwanell Pierre, Kemron Mathlyn and Karmal Joseph, are headed to the CARIFTA Games in Trinidad. So, too, is Lee Cuffie, a GBSS coach at Intercol.

In preparation for travel to the United States for the Penn Relays, several Grenadians in the US, including members of the GBSS AIF, have made logistical arrangements for the team, such as accommodation and transportation to the training facility.

A key facilitator is also Kent Simon, a Grenadian with a long history of involvement in the Penn Relays. The team’s first showing is in a preliminary 4 x 400 metre in the afternoon of Thursday, April 24.

“At the end of the day, they are all representing Grenada, and they are all trying to make us proud,’’ said superstar James, Grenada’s most decorated athlete, who was knighted last year. “If they can go out there and perform to the best of their ability, they’re going to make us proud, and we are going to be excited and happy and inspired by them.”

Qualification in the preliminary will put GBSS into the 4 x 400 metre final of the competition, which also includes 4 x 100 metre, 4 x 200 metre and 4 x 800 metre races.

Team GBSS is accompanied by school principal Kenny James and teacher Vaughn Joseph, who is serving as coach. In a word of gratitude for the team’s participation at the Penn Relays, the school expressed “big thanks to our ever-supportive alumni group, AIF, for fully funding the trip and accommodation, making this dream a reality.”

The Penn Relays culminate on April 26. It’s the third time a GBSS team has competed at the Philadelphia track and field event.

SAASS Dethrones MDC, SDCSS Wins Again

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS) regained the boys’ title while St David’s Catholic Secondary School (SDCSS) retained the girls’ division of the Inter-Secondary Schools’ Track and Field Championships for a 10^th consecutive year on Thursday at the National Stadium.

SAASS, led by a strong field-event effort, scored 148 points, 35 more than former champions, McDonald College. The Telescope-based school also took three of the four divisional titles to spread their domination.

But it was easier for SDCSS to retain the girls’ championship with 116 points. St Joseph’s Convent Grenville (73) and SAASS (64) were the only schools putting up a challenge.

Six records, including two by World Junior 400 metres silver medallist Kirani James and Rondel Bartholomew, were broken during the two-day event.

James of the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (GBSS) broke the Junior boys’ 200 and 400m, while Shakir Simmon of SAASS (Senior boys’ Shot Put), Rondel Bartholomew of SAASS (Senior boys’ 200 and 400m), Kellon Alexis of Westerhall Secondary School (Junior boys’ Shot Put), Jayon Creedland of Westerhall Secondary School (Junior boys’ Shot Put), and McDonald College (Boys’ 4x400m Relay).

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