Gibson McCook Relays 2019 predictions

T he 43rd staging of the Gibson McCook Relays is set for tomorrow at the National Stadium. The one day carnival is expected to be a very competitive affair, especially among high school teams based on performances so far at the various development meets.

Indications are that this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships scheduled for March 26-30 could be the most competitive for years as the likes of Edwin Allen, Holmwood, Hydel, and St Jago among the girls, and Calabar, Kingston College, and Jamaica College among the boys look set to fight to the finish for the top prizes. Teams such as Petersfield, Rusea's, Excelsior and Immaculate could play the spoiler role among the girls and St Jago Petersfield, St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) could do the same on the boys' side.

The following are STAR Sports' top three predictions in selected events.

CLASS One 4x100M

Edwin Allen are the defending champions and head coach Michael Dyke will be hoping for another 4x100m sweep like they did a few weeks ago at the Milo Western Relays. After losing to Holmwood at Central Hurdles and Relays, Edwin made it even at Milo Western Relays at GC Foster College, winning in 45.29 seconds, just edging out Holmwood, who were second in 45.39 seconds. This time, Holmwood with the likes of Shannette Allison, Kishawna Wallace and Michae Harriot is expected to get the better of their rivals and go sub-45 seconds.

1. Holmwood

2. Edwin Allen

3. Petersfield

Class Two 4x100M

The record is 45.00 seconds, jointly held by Vere and Edwin Allen. After a sizzling history-making performance at Milo Western Relays when a quartet led by the outstanding Kevona Davis, Edwin became the first Class Two team to go sub-44 seconds by winning in 43.94 seconds. They are expected to go much faster and the record will go here.

1. Edwin Allen (MR)

2. Holmwood

3.Excelsior

Class Three 4x100M

It should be back-to-back records for Edwin Allen as they hope for their third Gibson McCook relays record in a row, after record runs in 2017 and 2018. Led by twin sisters Tia and Tina Clayton, Edwin went sub-45 seconds five times last year and have gone so twice this season. The record of 44.91 seconds done last year will be gone after this race.

1. Edwin Allen (MR)

2. St Jago

3. Immaculate

Class Four 4x100M

This will be one of the most competitive event among the females, as any of five teams can win. Three have gone sub-49 seconds so far, with Edwin Allen the leader with their 48.64 seconds done at the Milo Western Relays. St Jago, 48.79, and Holmwood, 48.92 seconds, are the others under the 49 seconds so far, while the like likes of St Mary High, Vere, Hydel, and a dangerous Immaculate will be looking to surprise here.

1. St Jago

2. Holmwood

3. St Mary High

4x400M Open

Hydel was the dominant team in this event last year. This time around, they will have to play second fiddle to a very strong Holmwood team, who are unbeaten so far this season in the event. Holmwood has some of the best female quarter-milers in high school, including Daniella Deer, Calisha Taylor, Danielle Brissett and Rickiann Russell.

1. Holmwood

2. Hydel

3. Petersfield

4x800M Open

One way traffic here as Edwin Allen the only team to have gone sub-9 minutes so far this season, and with a top time of 8:52.58 when winning at the Milo Western Relays, should continue their winning ways.

1. Edwin Allen

2. Holmwood

3. Spalding

BOYS

Class One 4x100M

After missing last year's meet, the Calabar team is back and will be hoping to get back to winning ways. They are the record holders with 39.22 seconds, done in 2015. They have a quality group which includes Christopher Taylor, Dejour Russell and Michael Stephens, but it is unlikely that any of the three will compete, with both Russell and Stephens injured. With a season's best of 40.73 seconds done at the Camperdown Classics, they have the fifth fastest time so far.

Defending champions, Jamaica College (JC) are the leaders with their 40.22 seconds done at the Milo Western Relays. With Malik Shepherd, Safin Wills, Michali Evrett, and Ryiem Robertson in their line- up, they should win and will be hoping to go sub-40 seconds.

1. Jamaica College

2. St. Jago

3. Calabar

Class Two 4x100M

With several members of their dream Class Three team from last year now in the higher class, it will take something extra special from any other team to defeat a very strong Kingston College (KC) team. Three members of that dream team in Terrique Stennett, Jovani Clarke, and Adrian Kerr helped KC to an impressive 41.94 seconds win at the Milo Western Relays. With Nkrumie Bouwahjgie set to join the team, KC should not be stopped here.

1. Kingston College

2. St. Jago

3. Camperdown

Class Three 4x100M

No stopping the dark blues of JC here as after holding off KC at the Milo Western Relays, they should do so once again and make it two from two in the event this season.

1. Jamaica College

2. Kingston College

3. Calabar

4x400M Open

With Calabar's absence last year, KC ruled the roost here and after a record-breaking performance at the Milo Western Relays, where they won in 3:10.29 minutes, they will be hoping for a win here. However, record holders Calabar, despite running without top quarter-miler Christopher Taylor, won easily at the Camperdown Classics in 3:10.01 minutes, and with their quality quarter-milers group, any three who join Taylor should continue their dominance in this event at this level.

1. Calabar

2. Kingston College

3. Excelsior

4x800M Open

This event will undoubtedly be the race of the meet, as it will be three the hard way as defending champions KC, Calabar and JC should have the fans on the edge of their seats in what is expected to be an enthralling affair. KC are the leaders here with 7:38.64 minutes, after turning back JC at the Milo Western Relays. However, two of their top runners did not compete on that day. With their depth in this event, JC could go all the way.

1. Jamaica college

2. Calabar

3. Kingston College.