Cautious Goburn banking on open events for success

IT's been two decades since St Jago girls won the last of four consecutives Girls' Champs title. But past student Keilando Goburn is hoping to end the 21-year wait.

Goburn, who was appointed the head coaching position in 2007, is optimistic but cautious about his team's chances lifting the title going into the Championships this year.

"We are hoping to make a big push this year in the open events. We have an all-round team but I expect to score a lot of points in these events, which includes the 3000m, steeplechase, javelin and heptathlon", he said." Hurdles are very unpredictable and we are just hoping to get as much people in those finals, "he said.

During their four-year dominance, St Jago relied on their hurdlers to separate them from their rivals. The team has been consistent all season in the hurdles but Goburn is looking in another area for big help to lift their fifth title.

"Thanks to John Leiba, a notable past student, who has come on-board this season to inject some funds into the middle distance programme. He bought a bus to help with transporting these girls as most of these girls now are at one place and it has become much easier for them to move around at the same time," Goburn said.

St Jago finished fourth in the points standing for the past two seasons.