For the 116th time

It is all systems go as the biggest high school track and field event in the world, the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, gets under way today inside the National Stadium for its 116th staging.

Over 2,000 athletes from 100 schools will be in action over the next five days, with competition set to begin today at 9 a.m. with first-round action in the girls’ Class 3 1500 metres.

The 1500m will be one of four track events on opening day, where there will only be preliminary-round action, as no finals will be contested on today’s programme. Other track events scheduled include the 400m, 100m, girls’ Open 400m, boys’ Class 2 400m hurdles, and the boys’ Class 1 400m hurdles, which will close the day’s proceedings at 6:55 p.m.

Field event action will start at 9:40 a.m. with first-round action in the boys’ Class 1 long jump. Other field events down for action today, are the girls’ Class 2 shot put, girls’ Class 2 long jump, and girls’ Class 1 discus.

Hydel are the defending champions among the girls after surprising favourites Edwin Allen last year, while Kingston College will defend their boys’ title after making it four in a row.

Overwhelming favourites

Based on performances leading up to this year’s championships, Edwin Allen are overwhelming favourites to return to winning ways and capture their 11th title. Head coach Michael Dyke is oozing with confidence ahead of the meet.

“Yes, we are favourites, but we are not letting this get to us, as this will not be the first time we are starting as favourites. I am very confident, and so are the girls, and they want to do it for former hurdles coach Kirk Douglas and athlete Taneisha Gayle, a member of the winning sprint medley team last year. This is added motivation for them,” said Dyke.

It is expected to be a dogfight among the boys, with rookie head coaches Richard Smith of Kingston College and Duane Johnson of Jamaica College set to be involved in a titanic battle. Both coaches are confident ahead of the championships.

“Despite being at the helm for the first time, it means nothing, as I have been in the system for a long time and have been part of winning teams. I feel very good, and the boys and the coaching staff have the same feeling. We have a balanced team and we are ready to defend our title and make it five in a row,” said Smith, who stated that he is not under any pressure despite it being his first year at the helm.

After a third-place finish last year, Johnson, now in his second year as head coach, is very confident about his team’s chances of winning their 22nd title.

“Last year we fell short, but this time around we have a more rounded team and we are very optimistic. The boys have shown this season that they are ready, and we are extremely confident of pulling this one off. We are very strong in Class 1 and I think, here, we will have a big advantage in our chances of winning,” said Johnson, whose charges are slight favourites going into the championships.