QUOTES FROM top coaches ahead of tomorrow's start of the 2005 VMBS Boys' and Girls' Championships.

Latest predictions are for a three-way battle among champions Holmwood Technical, Vere Technical and St. Jago High in the girls' race while the boys title will be decided by champions Kingston College and arch-rivals Calabar High.

RAYMOND GRAHAM (St. Jago's girls): "We have worked very hard for the past six months and the girls are confident and very focussed. When you work hard, you expect great reward and that's what we are aiming at."

MAURICE WILSON (Holmwood's girls): "Once we stick to our game plan and do not make too many mistakes, we will emerge victorious for a third year. I think the real pressure is on the other teams."

DWAYNE JARRETT (Vere's girls): "We expect to do very well. We have been progressing steadily, having many more good meets than bad meets so I think we will be title contenders and should finish in the top three."

LENNOX GRAHAM (KC): "I expect the biggest challenge from Calabar. Last year was a classic championship, its down to the wire, to the last race. This year I expect Calabar to come at full strength and they will be challenging us again. We are not discounting any other opponents but from what we have seen throughout the season, Calabar looks like the biggest threat."

MICHAEL CLARKE (Calabar): "I know they (injuries) have created a significant dent in the machinery of things. It's (vibes) pretty decent still ... they are quite resilient. I would love for it to be higher. I suspect between now and the start of the championships it will get better. I am still positive, I am still confident that a light will be at the end of the tunnel."

LAST YEAR'S TOP TEN

GIRLS: 1. Holmwood Technical 269, 2. Vere Technical 239.5, 3. Edwin Allen High 186, 4. St. Jago High 170, 5. St. Andrew High 162.5, 6. Manchester High 103, 7. Wolmer's Girls 89.5, 8. Queen's High 71.5, 9. Immaculate Conception High 60.5, 10. Morant Bay High 44.5.

BOYS: 1. Kingston College 200, 2. Calabar High 192, 3. Jamaica College 143.66, 4. St. Jago High 135, 5. Wolmer's Boys 88.5, 6. Bridgeport 64, 7. Morant Bay High 61, 8. St. George's College 48, 9. Herbert Morrison High 41, 10. Camperdown High 40.