WILL HYDEL FINALLY WIN THE GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY?
The Battle for School girl track and field supremacy promises to be quite fierce, with favorites Edwin Allen looking to successfully defend its title and Hydel hoping to get its first Girl championship win. The Corey Bennett coached Hydel defeated Edwin Allen at the central championships by half a point and are ready to finally get their hands on the girl’s championship trophy. The dark horse in this championship race is the resurgent Holmwood Tech who is vastly improved from last year.
Edwin Allen (331 pts)
The defending champions looked a bit vulnerable during the early season, but as the season progressed, the Edwin Allen athletes have steadily improved and are now favored to retain their title. As is expected, the team is a deep one with very few weaknesses. Edwin Allen is particularly strong in the middle distances where they will battle Holmwood and Alphansus Davis for supremacy. Kevongaye Fowler, Monique Stewart, Amoya Jameison and Rickesha Simms are expected to score valuable points in the 800m and 1500M in classes one two and three.
In the sprints, world Junior silver medalist Serena Cole and Toni-Ann Forbes should score well in the class One 100m, but in the lower classes, only Theianna Lee Terrelonge is expected to score significant points. Terrelonge is recovering from injury and a lot will depend on her fitness.
Edwin Allen’s major weakness is in class 4, where they will struggle to keep up with their main rivals Hydel and Holmwood. If they manage to keep the deficit to a minimum, the championship will be theirs.
Hydel (323 pts)
Hydel has placed second at these championships for quite a few years and Coach Corey Bennett must be wondering what it will take to take him over the edge. Despite losing top athlete Kerrica Hill, Hydel defeated Edwin Allen at the central championships. But two of his top athletes Camoy Binger and Abigail Campbell who scored valuable point for Hydel at the meet, will not be eligible to participate at the ISSA championships due to transfer rules.
Hydel continues to be strong in the sprint and hurdles events, with Alana Reid, Oneika McAnnuff, Alia Baker and Jodi-Ann Daley expecting to score valuable points in the upper classes. While In the lower classes Teixeira Johnson, Arrian Nelson, Onetta Mitchell and Nastassia Fletcher should do the same.
But Hydel’s weakness continues to be in the throws and the middle distance events. This year, they can hold their own in the throwing events, but the middle distances will be a problem and they will be outscored by Holmwood and Edwin Allen in this area.
Hydel has always performed above most expectations, and this could just be the year when Coach Corey Bennett takes his team over the hump.
Holmwood (269.5 pts)
Last year Holmwood placed fourth at these championships and lost by almost 200 points. This year, Holmwood has had a complete turnaround and have their goals and aspirations set on winning the championships. But the Holmwood squad is not deep and they have glaring weaknesses that will prevent them from mounting a sustained challenge.
Holmwood is strong in the middle and long distance events and will score valuable points with athletes Jodyann Mitchell, Andrene Peart, Cindy Rose, Jovi Rose and Florence Nafamba. Holmwood also has quality sprinter and hurdlers like Kiara Meikle, Annalice Brady, Rosalee Gallimore and Rickian Russell in the upper classes, while Maya Oakley and Maria Baker will hold their own in class four.
But Holmwood has a number of weaknesses. Their class three athletes have not performed, and although they boast multiple gold medalist Cedrika Williams in the discus, they are quite weak in the throws.
But teams have been known to win champs with glaring weaknesses and if Edwin Allen and Hydel underperform, Holmwood might just surprise and push their way to the top.
St. Jago (210 pts)
St. Jago has always been title contenders and has always been among the top four girls team. This year, they will not contend for the title but will remain in the top four. St. Jago has quite a few star athletes and they will make themselves quite visible at these championships. Of all the St. Jago stars, horizontal jumper Jade Ann Dawkins shines brightest of all. The class two athlete won both the U20 long and triple jump events at the Carifta trials and is expected to win that same double at champs. Last year’s Carifta U17 100m gold medalist Briana Davidson is in great form and is expected to contest both the hurdles and the 100M in class two.
Abigail Martin, Jessica Thompson and Kemika Smith are expected to score valuable points in the throwing events, while Kedidra Coombs and Misha-Jade Samuels will do the same in the middle distance events.
But St. Jago is strangely very weak in class one and only discus thrower Abigail Martin is expected to score any individual points in that class.
St. Catherine (130.5 pts)
Last year St. Catherine had their best ever championships and placed joint sixth with Wolmers on 83 points. This year they expect to score over 100 points and place in the top five for the first time in their history.
Class four Long jumper Tshani Armstrong is expected to take home the gold medal in her event, while class III hurdlers Akeelah Ellis and Michealann Lindo have visions of emulating their central championship feat by winning the quinella in the 80M hurdles.
Captain Asharria Ulett (class I 100m hurdles) and Kitania Headley (class II 800m) are both in great form and are expected to make it to the medal podium.
Wolmers (110 pts)
A top five placing for Wolmers is not out of the question. They renew their urban rivalry with Excelsior and Immaculate to be the top urban school. Wolmers does not have a deep team, but they do have a few stars that will look to score maximum points.
Wolmers has a relatively strong class three team, led by top sprinters Natrice East and sprint/hurdler Tiana Marshall. East and Marshall placed first and seconds in the U17 category at the Carifta trials and could do the same at the girl’s championships. Their sprint relay team has won at Gibson relays and corporate champs and are the leading contenders for the gold medal. Shaniqua Williams is the leading contender for the class two high jump title and her teammate Malaika Cunningham is the defending champion in the girl’s class one event and is expected to retain her title.
POTENTIAL STARS FORM THOSE ‘OTHER’ SCHOOLS
The top six schools will continue to showcase the majority of stars at champs, but there are a number of potential stars from the ‘other’ schools.
Class four
Giana Murray (Mt Alvernia) is expected to vie with Kayla Johnson (Immaculate) for top honors in the class four sprints. While 70M hurdler Ayana Blake (Immaculate) is poised to win gold in her favorite event.
Class Three
Shanoya Douglas (Mushette), Brianna Brown (Excelsior) and Kimberly Wright (Imm) will do battle in the 400m while Alikay Reynolds (Alphansus Davis) is a strong medal contender in the middle-distance races.
Class Two
Former class III sprint medalists Lavanya Williams, Sabrina Dockery and Habiba Harris (St. Elizabeth) will renew their Western championship rivalry in the 200m, while new hurdling sensation Harris will show that her win at the Carifta trials over world junior silver medalist Alexis James was no fluke.
Class One
Alexis James (Petersfield) should easily win the 100m hurdles and vie with Carleta Bernard (Mt. Alvernia) for medals in the class One 100m. Kishay Rowe (Alphansus), Shone Walters (St. Mary) and Clarke-Giddings (Port Antonio) could all be among the medals in the 800m/1500m middle distance races.
In the field events, Aaliyah Foster (Mt Alvernia) is favored to win the long jump while Camperdown throwing twins Britannia and Britannie Johnson are expected to win medals in both the Shot Put and discus events.
