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Serena Cole is placing no pressure on herself, despite being expected to be the flag-bearer this season in Edwin Allen's quest to win eight consecutive Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) girls title and eventually joining Holmwood Technical on nine.

The expectation of Cole is further heightened because of the exit of twin sisters Tia and Tina Clayton, who both spearheaded the Frankfield institution to success in the last four of Edwin Allen's winning years. The twins have joined the professional ranks, despite being eligible to participate another year.

According to Cole, who participated in her first track and field meet of the season on Saturday at the PureWater/Jamaica College (JC)/Danny Williams Meet at the Old Hope Road institution, her attitude for the March 28-April 1 Champs will be similar to previous years.

"Absolutely none, I am under no pressure to perform, as it will be the normal thing for me to just go out there and do the best for myself and the team. I know that the other members are looking forward to my leadership and I cannot let them down," she said.

She was rumoured during the summer to be going professional and was hounded by several shoe company agents, locally and overseas, to do so. Cole, however, with the guidance of family members and the track and field team around her, decided to stay in high school to help Edwin Allen win another title.

She is looking forward to proving her detractors wrong, and performing at her utmost to justify the decision.

SUPPORT

"I have a lot of people in my corner who have given me a lot of support and there were many people also who did not believe in me, but now they realise my good potential and are motivating me; and I must big up coach (Michael) Dyke, who has always believed in me," Cole said.

"I am happy to be back at school competing, as over the summer there were some individuals who were encouraging me not to go back as (they believed) there was not going to be good competition for me and I would have fallen back in my performances. However, with good encouragement from my coach and family, I am happy to be back and I will show all that I made the correct decision," she said.

Cole won silver in the 100 metres and was a part of the world record-breaking 4x100 metres relay winning team in Cali, Colombia, at the World Under-20 Championships. Those exploits will make her a marked athlete this season, but she hopes to give her school their third Class One 100 metres victory in a row, following Brandy Hall and Tina Clayton doing so at the past two Championships.

She is also defending champion in the long jump, and should play a key role in Edwin Allen retaining their 4x100 metres relay title.

At the Purewater JC/R Danny Williams meet, she displayed a glimpse of what is to come for the remainder of the season after wins in the 100 metres and long jump, where she had moderate marks based on her pedigree.

"It was good to start my season with wins. Not the performances I wanted, but a win is a win and can only go better as the season goes on. I had a little issue, but I am not using that as an excuse," said Cole.