Campbell charts plans to put St Jago back on top

Newly installed Athletic Director of St Jago High School, Olympian Juliet Campbell, says she is humbled by the appointment and determined to help the Spanish Town‑based institution return to the pinnacle of Jamaica’s high school track and field.

Campbell, a past student of St Jago, said the role represents a full‑circle moment, given the school’s influence in laying the foundation for her successful track career.

“It is a full-circle moment for me,” said Campbell. “St Jago gave me my foundation and now I have the opportunity to go back and help strengthen the foundation for others, so it is a good feeling.”

She added that she has received overwhelming support since taking up the position and is eager to begin rebuilding St Jago’s track and field programme.

“My goal is to restore the culture of excellence of track and field at St Jago and to give these young athletes the support and structure that they will need to do well, so we are going to get back to excellence,” she said.

“I am not naive to the amount of work that it is going to take to get on top, but St Jago is a winning school,” Campbell continued. “We are a name-brand school and we are the most successful co-ed track team here in Jamaica.”

Campbell, 56, represented Jamaica at three Olympic Games – 1992, 1996 and 2000 – and has personal bests of 22.51 seconds in the 200m and 50.11 in the 400m.

St Jago’s girls have won the ISSA/GraceKennedy Girls’ Athletics Championships title four times, in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, while the boys have captured the boys’ title twice, in 1987 and 1993.

Campbell noted that she has remained closely connected to the school since leaving in 1988 and has consistently supported its athletes.

“It is not only being a past student. I have never not supported St Jago since the day I left there in 1988. Even in university, I always came back and I gave back,” she said.

‘Always around the girls’

Her involvement has included working with the school’s female athletes, holding meetings, offering encouragement, and supporting the institution through her role with sportswear company Puma.

“I was always around the girls and having meetings and encouragement, and through Puma, I supported the school,” Campbell said. “So I have never not been in contact with St Jago and not been familiar with what is going on there at some level.”

“My coaches are experienced and qualified, and so I am just looking forward to going in, and we are starting right off the bat heading towards our goal of getting back on top,” she said.

Campbell, currently a marketing manager with Puma, said she expects to remain in the athletic director role for several years while continuing her work with the company.

“My job at Puma allows me to take up this position, and so yes, I am still very much there and I will still do my job to my full potential as I have been doing for the last 20-plus years,” she said.

She added that her work with Puma complements her new responsibilities at St Jago, particularly in helping young athletes develop.

“We have several schools and young athletes here and when it comes to Jamaica and Puma, it is always about nurturing and helping our athletes,” Campbell said.