JC hunt fourth consecutive win

When the teams line up for the boys' 4x800 metres Championship at this Saturday's Gibson McCook Relays, defending champions Jamaica College (JC) will be looking to extend their dominance in the event.

The Old Hope Road team is aiming for a fourth consecutive victory, having registered a record-breaking performance in 2022, in 7:24.30.

However, this time they could face their toughest challenge yet.

After losing to Kingston College (KC) at the Western Relays in a tightly contested race -- where Edwin Allen led for most of the way -- Jamaica College will be eager to set the record straight on Saturday and prove that their recent loss was just a minor setback.

Their half-milers, led by Samuel Creary -- who delivered a stunning anchor leg at Western Relays, nearly snatching victory despite receiving the baton deep in the pack -- are in excellent form. Creary demonstrated his strength last Saturday at the Fervet Distance Carnival, securing a commanding win in Class One. Alongside teammates Tyrone Lawson, Rasheed Pryce and Shemar Green, JC have the firepower to go all the way.

Determined to break their rivals' stranglehold on the event, KC will rely on their top performer, Brian Kiprop -- one of the premier schoolboy runners in the event this season. Another Kenyan, Nahashon Ruto, along with Shawmal Wilson and Kamoi Tracey, will be crucial in their bid for victory.

However, two teams that could shake things up are Edwin Allen and a resurgent Calabar High School, both of whom boast strong half-milers.

At the Western Relays, the Joel Morgan-led Edwin Allen team controlled the race for most of the way, building a significant lead heading into the final leg. However, their anchor runner faded late, dropping them to third. One of their key athletes was absent due to injury, and his return could spell trouble for the other contenders.

Calabar High, the 2019 and 2020 winners, could be the dark horse in this race. Led by the likes of Dujhauntai Lewis, Justin Webb, Omarion Clarke and Kevaughn Richards, the Red Hills Road-based institution is on a mission this season. They are determined to prove they have the depth and firepower to challenge the top teams, and they are very much in the mix for the title.

In what promises to be a fiercely contested event, the defending champions will start as favourites, looking to extend their winning streak to four straight titles.