Dyke sounds early Champs warning

IT is early days but head coach of Edwin Allen High school Michael Dyke is speaking tough ahead of the 2018 track season and is confident that his team can make it five wins in a row at next year's ISSA Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships.

Unlike former years, Edwin Allen's athletes have not been seen in road races this season in what is usually used as a key pre-season preparation, with Dyke stating that he has taken a different approach to getting his team ready for their title defense.

"Due to consistent rain all season the girls were unable to train properly and we decided that we will instead do our own running on the road and not with other teams as we do not want to risk injury that early", said Dyke.  

Despite losing several of his top girls in Class One, who contributed significantly to their success this year, Dyke remains upbeat and does not see this affecting his team too much, as they again get ready to meet the challenge of teams such as Holmwood Technical, Hydel High, St Jago and Vere Technical.

"We have lost around eight girls from Class One, including four, who did very well in individual events but we have good replacements", said Dyke.

The likes of Gabrielle McDonald, who won the 100 metres hurdles and 400 metres hurdles double; Ashanni Robb, who was second in the Class One 800 metres and third in the 1500 metres; Janiel Moore - a 800 metres and 400 metres hurdles finalist along with Patrice Moody, who was second in the 100 metres and third in the 200 metres, are some of the outstanding athletes who will be missing from Champs next year for Edwin Allen.

"Our team is stronger than last year as we have good replacements in Class One as the likes of former Denbigh High quarter-miler, Kimorla Muschette and former Rusea's High sprinter, Avagay Morris, who came in September in sixth form are two who I expect to do well in the upper class.

"Also we were weak in Class Two at Champs this year, as we failed to get points in the 100 metres to 400 metres but this will not happen again as our Class Two will be much stronger this time", he continued, while underlining that he is looking forward to the challenge.

"The Championships is there for the taking but we will be no pushover and it will take something extra special from any of those teams to beat us", said Dyke, who also warned that his recruiting for the lower classes have been exceptional this year.