Champs 2018: Twin turbo - Edwin Allen pair target Champs glory

Throughout the 13 years they have been on Earth, it has been double the laughs and trouble for Tia and Tina Clayton, the twin sprinters from Edwin Allen High School.

They will be doubling their efforts to help the school from Frankfield win their sixth title at ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships this year, as they are expected to star in Class 3.

The Clayton twins showed tremendous potential in Class 4 last year, when they made the finals of the 100 and 200 metres separately. Tia, who was born five minutes after her sister, finished third in the 100m, while Tina finished just outside of the medals in the 200m.

Both have shown tremendous improvement this year, and have vowed to spring some surprises at the championships.

DISAPPOINTED

Tia got the better of defending Class 3 100m champion Sasheika Steele at Central Championships in the event and according to her, she would have done the same at the Digicel Grand Prix Final two weeks ago, if she had not made a few technical errors.

"I beat Steele at Central Champs and I know I can do it again. I was disappointed to lose to her at Grand Prix, but after I watched over the race, I saw that I slowed down at the line and that is why she won," Tia told STAR Sports at one of her final training sessions before the start of Champs today.

Steele, who equalled the Class 3 100m record last year in 11.50 seconds, is also expected to pose some challenge to Tina in the 200m. The older twin showed her readiness to take on the challenge, though, when she won the event in the Under-17 Girls category at the Digicel Grand Prix Final.

"I wanted to run good because I know I have Steele and Brianna Lyston to compete with still. My mind set going into Champs is to train hard and execute, and if I do that I know I will be the champion," Tina said.