For 24 hours Edwin Allen High thought that they had secured another Central Championships girls’ crown. But a recount saw them lose their grip on a title that they have held for years. Hydel High were declared the new champions.
But from that disappointment, Edwin Allen girls’ head coach Michael Dyke said that it reinvigorated his squad, and they are more determined than ever to leave no doubt when the real business starts on Tuesday at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).
That revision of the scores saw Hydel edge Edwin Allen by half a point, winning their first Central Championships title and denying Edwin Allen their 12th in a row. Dyke said that despite the late twist, the girls not only took it in stride but it also gave a reality check to some athletes who have shown signs of complacency.
“We had a good Central Championships based on where we were at that time in terms of our preparation. We were hoping to pull it off. Unfortunately after winning it for a few hours, things eventually changed. But I got the girls together and they took it in good spirits. They realised that is not Girls’ Championships even though we have been winning Central Champs consistently. But we didn’t allow that to dampen our spirit and I think that helped to motivate them a bit,” Dyke told The Gleaner.
Middle-distance runner and team captain Leanna Lewis said that there were many lessons that they took from the loss, which has invigorated their drive for a ninth straight title and 10th overall at Champs.
“It was not a pretty feeling as we had not lost Central Champs for quite some years now. I must say we still had enough confidence to motivate the girls as we know that we have the main target out there which is the Girls’ Championships. I think we can actually learn something from it (Central Champs defeat) and move forward,” Lewis said.
Dyke said that the way they responded at the Carifta Trails was an encouraging sign.
“You could have seen even after the Carifta trials it was a different team and the true Edwin Allen spirit will be back at the championships this year,” Dyke said.
They may no longer enjoy the sprinting brilliance this year with the absence of Tina and Tia Clayton who made the jump to the professional level, but Dyke is still confident that they will fend off the challenges from others.
“In the past, we would have been dominating most of the sprints, this time we may not be as dominant as we used to but we are still a force to be reckoned with in terms of scoring consistently across the different classes,” Dyke said. “It should be very competitive. We have Hydel, Holmwood Technical and St Jago High as the main rivals and other schools will be taking valuable points. We are preparing ourselves for all the eventualities, so hopefully at the end of the day we will still be champions.”