Wilson-Copeland improving Alphansus Davis

Coach Megan Wilson-Copeland looks forward to good results from Alphansus Davis' athletes at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs), from March 19-23 at the National Stadium.

Wilson-Copeland, guiding the track and field programme at Alphansus Davis for the past 14 years, outlines several athletes among both sexes, who she believes should provide them with points, which will be garnered mainly from their traditionally strong middle-distance programme.

"Good performances are expected from Carlene Temple, Tabbrel Williams and Alikey Reynolds in the girls' 800 and 1,500 metres from Classes One-Three. Also, in Class Two, there is quarter-miler Shanika Lindsay, while there is Jadeanne Patterson in Class Four 200 metres," said Wilson-Copeland.

She also believes that Daniel Francis will perform creditably in the Class One boys' 400 metres and Rheem Palmer and Jerise Brooks in the 800 and 1,500 metres in Class One.

Wilson-Copeland, also the head of the Physical Education department at Alphansus Davis, guided the girls to 11th place with 38 points at Champs last year, while the boys were 39th with one point. Alphansus Davis' girls, in 2019, had their best placing when they finished 10th by garnering 54 points.

She is arguably Jamaica's top woman high school coach, accompanying several national junior teams on overseas assignments, and she looks forward to stellar performances from her athletes after good opening starts at two development meets so far.

"Like any other coach, I am burdened to ensure my athletes perform optimally. With that mindset, the results will come from the hard work and dedication of the athletes, and the management team," Wilson-Copeland shared.

She believes that with better financial support, both teams could have done much better in the past.

"The school offers limited financial assistance from its limited resources. The cost of any sporting discipline, more so track and field, requires extensive financial investment.

"Alphansus Davis track and field programme has no official sponsors where gears and other equipment are concerned. This leaves an unbearable burden on the sports department to raise funds to cover the basic expenses for both teams," said Wilson-Copeland.