KC’s White back with a bang at Champs
Published:Saturday | March 29, 2025 | 12:09 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
Having missed out on the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) last year due to injury, Kingston College’s (KC) Tahj-Marques White was a man on a mission this year when he took gold in the boys’ Class One 400m final on Thursday.
White was the best of the field as he brought home a KC one-two in the final, crossing the line first in a new personal best of 45.84 seconds.
He finished just head of his teammate and last year’s champion Marcinho Rose, who also clocked a personal best, 45.90, and Holmwood Technical’s Omarie Williamson, 46.66.
Speaking after his race, White said he was delighted with his winning time.
“To be honest, I’m absolutely speechless and I’m just grateful for this. I am very happy with the time,” he said.
White ran a measured race in the final as he responded well to the immediate pressure of Excelsior High’s Kishawn Hoffman who blew past him in the opening 100m of the one- lap race.
He would slowly increase his pace throughout, coming off the final bend just behind his teammate Rose, who he slowly reeled in before beating him to the line in the final metres of the event.
White explained missing last year’s championships was a bitter pill to swallow which gave him the added motivation he needed this time around.
“To be very honest, the last year and a half, as I’ve said multiple times, it was very difficult. It affected me mentally seeing people compete and I wasn’t able to compete. It took a toll on me obviously as an athlete but I just stuck through it all and stayed strong,” he explained.
White will have a chance at claiming another gold medal as KC booked their spot to the final of the 4x400m Open final set to close the five-day championships today.
With the gold and silver medallist for the 400m set to make up half of the quartet, expectations are high for the boys from North Street.
Following Champs, White will continue his impressive season when he competes in the boys’ U20 event at the Carifta Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
The games are set to begin on April 19 and run through to April 21 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.