Holmwood searching for 11th title

Holmwood Technical were the most dominant female team at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships in the 2000s as the team won nine straight titles.

They were knocked off their throne by current champions Edwin Allen High School in 2012 before claiming their 10th title in 2013. The team has been in the wilderness ever since, but head coach Dave Anderson is oozing confidence that his team can return to the top this year.

At the start of the season, Anderson’s team was in awesome form, and there were many who thought then that they could dethrone Edwin Allen. But, of late, their form has dropped, and with several injuries in their camp, he was asked if his team was still a major threat.

“There is no doubt, and with one week to go, we are still a major threat, Championships is about execution, and once we have a good Championships, we do have a great chance of going all the way. I have seen in the past teams who were favourites to win fail to do so, and despite what the media or analysts think about other teams, we are not perturbed, and we do have a winning chance, based on my projection, “said Anderson.

RARING TO GO

Anderson stated that the girls who were injured recently are now fully fit and are raring to go.”We had some injury concerns, which affected the performance of the team at both the Gibson McCook Relays and Central Championships, but everybody is fully fit and back in training and is ready to give of their best. Our top hurdler, Shanette Allison, who is the team captain, is one of those ,and she is back to lead from the front,”he said.

He also spoke about top sprinter Michae Harriot, who was a double silver medallist in the Class One sprints last year.

“Michae (Harriot) has not competed regularly this season, and she was not injured, but it was a strategic move, and she will be a big factor in both sprints, and I expect her to go one place better, and thrower Cedricka Williams should retain her title in the Class One discus. [These] are some of the few I expect to score big points, and I know we are we are right there with the top teams”, he continued.

Anderson is hoping to garner quality points in the 400 metres where his main rivals, Edwin Allen, are weak.

“Our strength is definitely in the 400 metres in all classes as we have defending Class Three champion, Rickianna Russell, and Class Two defending champion, Daniella Deer, who should both retain their titles, and I am looking on about 30 points across the board,” he said. “For the first time in a long while, we have a quality Class Four team as we expect at least two of the girls to be in the final, and also, Sashieka Steele in Class Two should do well in both the 100 and 200 metres,” he said.