Central Champs begins today

The final regional high school track and field meet of the season, the Central Athletics Championships, will be held over two days starting today at the G.C. Foster College of Sports and Physical Education, as athletes seek qualifying standards for next month’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).

The region, considered the most competitive among the females and which has produced six national champions, led by 10-time champions Edwin Allen, will not see defending ISSA champions Hydel in action, as the Ferry-based institution have not registered for the meet.

However, defending champions Edwin Allen, St Jago, Holmwood Technical, Manchester High, and Vere Technical, all of whom have tasted victory at the national level, should make it another exciting affair, with the Michael Dyke-coached team from Frankfield starting as favourites.

Edwin Allen, who started their preparations late due to several mishaps at the school earlier in the season, including the passing of one of their athletes, have been rounding into good form lately and will be hoping for strong performances over the two days of competition. With the absence of Hydel, their biggest challenge should come from the Dave Anderson-coached Holmwood Technical, whose athletes have shown great form, especially in the 400 metres and middle-distance events this season.

On the male side, the Carl Page-coached St Jago High have never lost here, and they look well set to continue their dominance and lift another title. Their biggest challenge is expected to come from a resurgent Clarendon College, who has shown good form on the track and in the field so far this season.

Competition will start this morning with the girls’ 2000-metre steeplechase finals at 8:30 a.m., to be followed 15 minutes later by the boys’ final.

Also on the track today, there will be finals in the 100m, 400m and 1500m in all classes for both males and females.

Three field event finals are slated to start the programme at 9 a.m. There is the Class 4 girls’ high jump, Class 1 girls’ discus and Class 2 boys’ long jump.