Easy for Edwin Allen; KC, JC, Calabar set for close battle at Champs 2025

by

March 24, 2025

Photo

Tashana Godfrey of Edwin Allen High celebrates after winning the Class Four Girls’ 70 metres hurdles final Champs last year. Godfrey is expected to dominate the Class 3 80m hurdles this week.

Kahlia Senior of Edwin Allen High celebrates after her team’s win in the Class Four 4x100m final at the Gibson McCook Relays on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

Tahj Marques White of Kingston College anchors the 4x400m relay team to victory in the final event of the Gibson McCook Relays at the National Stadium on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

Roshawn Lee of Kingston College leads home the field in his Boys’ Class One 400m heat at the S.W. Isaac Henry Track & Field Invitational meet at the National Stadium on Saturday, February 15.

Starting tomorrow at the National Stadium, the country's top high school track and field teams will battle for glory over five days as the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships gets under way.

This year's championships is one most anticipated in recent years, especially in the boys' category where the three powerhouses of local schoolboy track and field -- defending champions Kingston College (35 titles), Jamaica College (28 titles), and Calabar High (22 titles) will engage in a fierce battle for the Mortimer Geddes Trophy and it should be a close battle over the five days.

Based on performances throughout the season at the various development meets and regional championships , STAR Sports has made its projections for the winners in each category and there will be no room for error, especially among the boys.

Despite entering the championships as overwhelming favourites in recent years, the Michael Dyke-coached Edwin Allen High's team from Frankfield, Clarendon, has often struggled to assert its dominance, narrowly holding on to victory on many occasions. This was evident last year when they edged Hydel High by just nine points, despite being projected to win by more than 80 points.

This time around, with their powerful Class Three and Four groups, they are once again the overwhelming favourites to retain their title. In these two classes alone, they are projected to score 117 points, compared to Hydel's 30 and a rejuvenated Holmwood Technical with 65.

With a weak Class Three unit, Hydel's chances of winning are significantly impacted, despite their strength in Classes One and Two and the Open events. Meanwhile, Holmwood have performed well all season and will be Edwin Allen's biggest threat, but they lack the depth to match them.

On Saturday, Edwin Allen, currently tied with Holmwood on 10 titles, are expected to pull away and secure title number 11, claiming sole second place behind Vere Technical (21 titles).

PROJECTED GIRLS' TOP FIVE

1. Edwin Allen - 305

2. Holmwood - 244

3. Hydel - 227

4. Vere Technical - 147

5. St. Jago - 124

BOYS

This year's boys' competition is expected to be one of the closest in years, with Kingston College, Jamaica College, and Calabar with a combined 85 titles -- locked in an intense battle. The competition could come down to the final event on Saturday night, the Open 4x400m relay.

Each team has its strengths in different classes:

Calabar are projected to lead in Class One (97 points) and Class Three (60 points).

Jamaica College should dominate the Open events (65 points).

Kingston College are expected to take charge in Class Two (83 points).

However, in the end, the defending champions, Kingston College, who appear to have the best allround team of the three, are the slight favourites to edge their rivals and make it four titles in a row, ahead of Jamaica College in second and Calabar in third--the same finishing order as the past three years.

PROJECTED BOYS' TOP FIVE

1. Kingston College - 277

2. Jamaica College - 264

3. Calabar - 254

4. St Jago . 110

5. Edwin Allen 70