‘We are ready’

Edwin Allen High’s girls’ head coach, Michael Dyke, is oozing confidence after his team produced a dominant performance at last Saturday’s Western Relays. The inter-secondary champions had a perfect record, winning all seven relays, and Dyke is superconfident that they will retain their Girls’ Championships title in April.

“People may say that big teams like St Jago High and Hydel High were absent but Edwin Allen are poised and ready for their ninth title at Champs,” said a very confident Dyke, a day after his team’s domination at the G. C. Foster College in Spanish Town.

With both St Catherine-based teams absent, the Edwin Allen were expected to get some competition from former heavyweight school Holmwood Technical. Holmwood, however, failed to fire as they were outclassed by the Clarendon-based champions.

“We started our preparation very late this season and, with teams like Holmwood starting much earlier, I was expecting some form of competition from them. But this was not to be and this was a big disappointment, as we needed some challenges,” Dyke said. “For us on Saturday, it was not really about the competition. The objective was to look and see where we were because of our late start and to use the opportunity to look at our relay teams and to build their confidence going into competition for the remainder of the season. That was achieved, as I liked how they gelled,” added Dyke, who stated that he was especially pleased with his Class Four and Class One 4x100m and 4x800m groups.

Dyke, however, has a few concerns going forward.

CONFIDENT

“We are a bit behind in our sprint hurdles and our Class Two group where a few have niggling injuries, but, in time, I am confident that these areas will be fixed before championships,” he said.

With Hydel High’s Brianna Lyston in fantastic form so far this season, there are many who think that the former St Jago star can dominate the Clayton twins like she did five years ago in Class Four, and they see Hydel as big threats to dethrone Edwin Allen, but Dyke stated that he is not worried. “ Both girls, especially Tina, are warriors and are champions and I am not worried at all. I do not watch what they do now, as they are big time performers and will deliver when it matters most. I have been hearing for the past four to five years that we are going to lose to teams like St Jago, Hydel and Holmwood and we have always come through, and this year will be no different.”

“I just want to assure our supporters, including past students, members of the school community and friends, to continue with your financial backing with the programme as, once again, we are going to make you proud,” Dyke concluded. Edwin Allen have been Girls’ Champions since 2014. The 2020 championships was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s five-day ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships will be held from April 5-9.