I was cheering for the boys more – Edwin Allen acting principal

Donna Barrett-Reid, acting principal of Edwin Allen High School in Frankfield, Clarendon, is still basking in the girls making it seven consecutive wins at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships last Saturday.

"I'm sorry, I shouted louder for the boys," she said with a laugh. The boys finished sixth, which was an improvement from their 10th-place finish in 2019.

"I was at home watching television and making noise especially for the boys. I kinda knew where the girls were, but the boys, I really felt good for them. I was making noise right throughout the house when they were running. I was very disappointed when Tia (Clayton) false-started but I know that the girls had it down pat," she shared, adding that she told girls coach Michael Dyke that he would be returning with the title.

Reid said they had a very scaled-down celebration with just the athletes, staff and a few parents at the school yesterday morning.

"I said to them that this is not what we are used to but, in all things, there is a season and we have to adapt. Despite the fact that we don't have all our other supporters, we are there and they are the ones who are supposed to be feeling good," she shared. Barrett-Reid said the athletes nevertheless ended up having a ball as they enjoyed music, messages from staff "and they really got down".

During the celebration, she said the boys made a declaration for the 2022 championships. She said they informed her that they would be taking the third spot at the next staging.

Barrett-Reid said they are working on a virtual celebration during which messages from sponsors and other stakeholders will be read.

Barrett-Reid, however, noted that the journey to a seventh straight title was not easy. She said during the camp, personnel from the Ministry of Health and Wellness visited, and some of the students were not wearing their masks. Barrett-Reid said they were told to improve or the camp would be halted.

"It was ticklish as there were concerns that it would break the students' training routine, and two, the majority of them come from outside of the parish and the camp served two fold, training and for those persons who live far out to come to classes. So to break the camp at the time wouldn't only hurt track and field training, it would also hurt the students," she said.

Financing was also an issue as she said that with the closure of the tuck shop, they had to look to sponsors to help.

"We are thankful and extremely proud of the students that they rose to the occasion and did well for themselves first and then for us," she said.