Edwin Allen principal still positive after Champs loss
Published:Sunday | April 9, 2023 | 1:02 AMRaymond Graham - Gleaner Writer
PRINCIPAL OF Edwin Allen High school, Jermaine Harris, is still very positive despite his team’s inability to retain their girls’ title at the recent ISSA Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs), losing out by two points to first-time champions, Hydel High.
Edwin Allen, who were hoping to win their 10th title overall and ninth in a row to join former champions, Holmwood Technical, with the same feat, had also lost their Central Championships title a few weeks earlier, again to Hydel by half a point
Despite the double blow, Harris, in only his second year at the helm of the Frankfield-based institution, is praising his team for its effort and is looking forward to getting back to the top as early as possible.
“Our girls were unable to defend their title but high commendation to them as they fought gallantly and epitomised the school motto, Transeamus in Exemplum [We shall be an example],” said Harris.
“The principal and coaching staff will build on the gains made so that we will continue to represent colour blue and make Edwin Allen a force to be reckoned with,” he said.
Harris went on to explain that all focus is now on the Penn Relays.
“The team is looking forward to taking all three relays on offer at the Penn Relays and we could see the boys winning their first Penn Relays title,” said a hopeful Harris.
At the Penn Relays the girls will be defending their 4x100 and 4x800 metres titles.
The boys’ team ran an impressive 3 minutes, 10.09 seconds, finishing second to Jamaica College at Champs and ahead of Penn Relays’ defending champions Kingston College.
With the outstanding Bryan Levell, who missed most of the season with injury, set to return to the team, Harris’ hope may well become reality.
“Edwin Allen expresses its sincere gratitude to our student athletes, coaching staff and teachers, sponsors, alumni, parents, friends, well-wishers and other stakeholders for our participation in the 2023 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships. Without your generous support, dedication and hard work, we could not have achieved the level of success that we did in winning nine titles since 2012 and placing second this year,” said Harris, who singled out Michael Dyke and Leon Powell, coaches of the girls’ and boys’ teams, respectively, for their continued hard work.