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Holmwood Technical head coach Dave Anderson is very confident that his team can regain the girls' title at this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships (Champs). The five-day meet will run from March 28 to April 1.

Anderson, who has been heading the school's track and field programme since 2016, is oozing with confidence following performances in early season from his girls. Holmwood, with 10, are at number two in girls' titles won at Champs, behind Vere Technical who have 21. Holmwood topped Girls' Champs nine years in a row with the streak ending in 2012 when they were beaten by Edwin Allen High. They had their last triumph in 2013 and after sub-par performances since, including a fourth-place finish last year, Anderson feels they are now ready to wear the crown again.

"After sub performances, especially last year, the coaching and management staff along with the athletes met before the start of the season and decided to take a different approach this year and it is paying dividends," said Anderson, who is also a past student of Holmwood.

"Based on performances at the various development meets we saw where we had a good chance to challenge for the title and the team is feeding off this," he added.

Despite a third-place finish at the recent Central Athletics Championships, Anderson is pleased with where the team is ahead of Champs.

"We could easily have gotten an extra 20 to 25 points if we had gone full out but we decided not to stretch the athletes after coming off a hectic Gibson McCook Relays," he said.

Although a bit weak in Class Three, he likes the overall strength of his team.

"We are a bit weak in Class Three but our main rivals also have weak areas so we just have to capitalise on their weak areas plus work on our strengths, especially in Class Two where we are very deep," said Anderson who lauded the likes of Rickiann Russell, Jodyann Mitchell, Cedricka Williams and Analece Brady in Class One and Kiera Meikle in Class Two.

Anderson has appealed to fans of the school to come out and support the team.

"We are appealing to our loyal fans to come out and support the team as they will see some quality performances. I also want to take this opportunity to thank principal of the school, Hidran McKulsky, for his support and Adidas for coming on board at this moment with their sponsorship," Anderson said.