Dogfight for Champs’ Corporate Area title

It will be a dogfight to be the best among Corporate Area girls' teams between Excelsior High School and Wolmer's Girls' School during the five days of competition at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) from March 28 to April 1 at the National Stadium.

Teams in central Jamaica are once again expected to dominate the major title race, occupying the top five girls' spots at the end, with the Corporate Area combatants fighting for the minor placing in the top 10.

The Mountain View Avenue-based Excelsior will be hoping to retain their fifth-place finish and top girls' team in the Corporate Area title like they did last year when they amassed 107 points.

Their confidence will be boosted by their big win over their rival at the recent Anthrick Corporate Area Championships, totalling 403 points to the Marescaux Road-based Wolmer's 310. They will, however, still have a fight on their hands at Champs.

With their quality in the lower classes, especially in Class III, the Michael Carr-coached Wolmer's, who were joint sixth with St Catherine High last year on 83 points, look set for big performances over the five days.

The duo of Tiana Marshall and Natrice East are expected to score quality points in both the 100 and 200 metres in Class III while with Natrilia Campbell in the long jump, they are expected to score high in individual events.

They should also continue their dominance in the 4x100 metres relay by extending their unbeaten run this season.

In Class IV, the Wolmer's Girls' will rely on Jadea Harris in the 70 metres hurdles and Karieca Morrison and Adajah Drysdale in the high jump for quality points.

In the higher classes, Shanniqua Williams will start favourite to win the Class II high jump, with teammate Danielle Noble expected to finish amongst the top six.

In Class I, Wolmer's will be banking on Mickayla Gardener in the 100 and 200 metres, with Malaika Cunningham looking to shore up more points in the high jump, while a good showing is expected in the 4x400 metres Open relay.

Excelsior, despite their dominance at the Corporate Area meet, this time around it could be very tough for them to get the better of their opponents.

The David Riley-coached Excelsior will be banking on the upper classes to pull them through. On the track, their best chance for maximum points will come from Breanna Brown, who is the favourite to win the Class II girls' 400 metres.

In the field events, they are expected to gather vital points in Class III from Kayla Honeywell in the discus and Xavi Harvey in the long jump, with a good showing expected from their 4x100 metres relay team, who are medal contenders.

Good showing from Omarion Constable in the Class I long jump, and in the Open event, good points should come from Jade-Ann Dawkins in the triple jump and Tikyla Bennett in the 400 metres hurdles.

At the end of the five days, however, with more quality, especially in the lower classes, it should be Wolmer's Girls' coming away with the tag as the top girls' team in the Corporate Area in what is expected to be a narrow margin.