Calabar ‘pumped up’ for Champs – Hawes

Leading up to this week's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, there has been drama surrounding the defending boys champions Calabar, however, coach Omar Hawes is not fazed by the recent happening and is assuring fans that the Red Hills Road-based team will make it eight wins in a row.

"After the 4x400m relay finals on Saturday night it should be another win and the coaching staff and athletes are very confident of this," Hawes told STAR Sports.

In response to the recent allegations around star athletes Christopher Taylor and De'Jour Russell, who have been accused by a teacher at the school of assault, Hawes said the incident has actually helped to motivate the team going into Champs.

"There will always be distraction in preparation for any major championship, but we have put that aside and it has helped to fire up the guys and come over the five days of Championships, you will see a pumped up Calabar team," continued Hawes.

WE ARE WINNERS

Several pundits have former champions Kingston College as slight favourites for the title, but Hawes is concentrating on what his boys can do and not on the opponents.

"This is a championship and several teams want to win, but only one can and we are winners and we will continue to do the things that have made us successful over the years," he said, before dismissing arguments that they are weak in all classes except Class One.

"For the past couple years we have been hearing this but at the end, it will be the same result. Our boys in the lower classes have come on well over the past few weeks and are ready to give of their best. It will be a new experience for some of them, who will be competing at the Championships for the first time, but the coaching and support staff have rallied around them and they are eager to deliver," said Hawes.

The coach also shared that there are no injury concerns going into the Championships.

"In the final stage of peaking, where you are unloading, you will have some niggles here and there, but nothing major. The team has no injury concerns going into the Championships. We are hoping that the entire team will remain injury free throughout," Hawes added.