Tapper targets the future for St Andrew

Mathue Tapper, in his first season as the head coach of St Andrew High For Girls' track and field programme, is expecting an improvement from his girls at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs).

Tapper, who spent four years as an assistant coach at Immaculate Conception High, thinks that experience has done good for him. He hopes that St Andrew improve on last year's finish at Champs, where they failed to score a point. He is philosophical about the switch.

"Going to St Andrew High, I knew it would be a challenge, but I had no problem with this, as I like challenges. Being the head coach is a way of making my name in coaching in Jamaica," said Tapper.

Tapper is pleased with the programme and is optimistic about their performance at Champs, which is approximately one week away.

"I was encouraged by the performances at the Corporate Area Championships, as I am very confident the team will score some points this year," he said.

Jowanna Pennant had the best performance after winning the Class Four girls' 100 metres, but Tapper had praises for another athlete who impressed him.

"Otavia Thompson has been the athlete who has shown the biggest improvement for me, as coming from 16 seconds at the start of the season to run a big personal best of 13.89 seconds for fourth in the Class Two girls' 100 metres hurdles final at the Corporate Area Championships is very special," said Tapper.

He expects his best performers at Champs to come from Class Four.

"The team is rebuilding, and the signs in Class Four are encouraging. I expect Cheyenne Reid and Nailah Grant to perform in the Class Four girls' 70 metres hurdle. Reid was fourth at the Corporate Area Championships in a personal-best 11.07 seconds, and Grant was seventh in 11.48," said Tapper, who is very confident that the former will be in the final.

"It will be tough competing with the top teams, especially my Corporate Area compatriots at Champs. My team is still rebuilding, but we will score some good points in the lower classes, which will be good going forward.

"I think eyes are starting to turn towards the sport, seeing how the girls are participating, as the morale is quite good," said Tapper.