JC’s coach confident that sprints will boost title hopes

Jamaica College's (JC) coach, Jody Muschette, contends that they are on target to regain the envied Mortimer Geddes Trophy after being denied the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) title for two consecutive years.

Sprint coach Muschette has high expectations for JC, as he believes they are having good results so far this season in their preparation for Champs.

"I'm looking for great things because the boys are hitting all the targets, and the goals that we have set for them are on target," Muschette said.

Last year, JC amassed 299 points at Champs to finish a distant second to runaway winners KC, who claimed the Mortimer Geddes Trophy with 366 points. JC's last victory was in 2021, with KC winning the following year.

However, the boys from Old Hope Road are entering this season high on confidence, and Muschette argues that their sprinters are ready to play their role in their title challenge.

Muschette explained that they were hampered by injuries throughout last season and had to contend with an illness outbreak throughout Champs.

"The sprint team is very comfortable for our title hopes. We know our role. The field events are there as well, the jumps and the throws. The middle distance is there, and the quarter-mile is there," he said. "We had things that affected us in the previous years, you know, the injuries and mishaps that happened, like in the 4x100 relay; Mark Anthony had pulled up on the track.

"Last year, most of the boys were sick. The place where we were staying didn't seem to be sanitised properly, so most of the boys weren't well. Some were vomiting, and that affected us. There are no worries about the talent of the boys. If we come out there and they are healthy, we will have a great Champs."

According to Muschette, JC will not only be targeting the Champs title this year, but also an impressive showing by their athletes at the Penn Relays and Carifta Games.

"We will be going for the Carifta Games, also. At JC, we try our best not to burn out athletes. We sit down at the beginning of the season and try to identify the meets we want to target. For example, the Penn Relays, or we say we will turn out for Corporate Champs. We'll be going for the Penn Relays again," Muschette said.