Harrison cautiously optimistic about Champs

Jamaica College (JC) track and field team head coach Neil Harrison says he is satisfied with the progress of his athletes as they look towards the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) in March.

Harrison’s comments follow a good showing at the Purewater/JC/R. Danny Williams Development Meet earlier this month.

“We used that meet as a yardstick to evaluate where they are so we can know where to move forward,” Harrison told The Gleaner. “There are areas of weakness. Nothing of major concern, but with time those areas will be strengthened.”

The last years were marked by novelties for JC track team, such as the new track at the Ashenheim Stadium.

“It’s a great facility,” he said. “It attracts athletes and helps in preventing injuries. This is much more conducive to athletic performances than what they had before.”

The coaching staff, and therefore the programme, are also new with Harrison’s arrival from rivals Kingston College (KC) last season.

But this year, the focus is on the recruiting of new athletes. Former Glenmuir High student Zidane Brown is one of them.

“I’ve visited most of the top boys’ schools and I thought that JC was perfect for me,” the quarter-miler, who did not compete at the meet, said. “Not only for my event, but also for what I want to accomplish in the future. The atmosphere here is eccentric.”

Sleeping giants

Asked whether he considers JC being KC’s main rival this season, the 17-year-old answered “I think so. We are the sleeping giants, we have an overall of talent here, and I think we can more than make a big impact at Champs if we keep injury-free. This year, we have a lot more boys ready to do better than last year, so it should be interesting.”

The head coach seemed less optimistic. “We are much stronger this year than last year and I’m hoping that the team will rise to the occasion, but I still think Calabar and KC are the teams to beat. We have a significant role to play, as to how we measure against the big two.”

Harrison says his team was outdone at throws and hurdles at last year’s Champs. He is hoping to improve in those events in the next years.

“I don’t think it will be a one-year fix, but you can’t see the area and ignore it,” he explained.

Other newly recruited athlete Andre Bent, from William Knibb High School, believes in a strong year for his new institution.

“I chose to be part of JC because of how the sprinters performed last year, which encouraged me to be part of the programme. I think we have a chance to get the title,” Bent said.

-Melena Helias