Schools’ track and field champs ready to defend 2013 titles

If any school believes that the present holders of the National Lotteries Authority primary and secondary schools’ track and field championship titles are willing to hand them over, then they should think again.{{more}}

The 2013 titles will be decided this Wednesday (primary) and Thursday (secondary) at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

When the primary schools’ championships were staged last year, the Kingstown Preparatory School secured the female title and the C.W. Prescod Primary was the male winner.

Among the heavy-weights of the secondary schools – the St Vincent Grammar School copped the 2012 male title and the Thomas Saunders Secondary – the females’ top position.

One of the coaches working out with the Kingstown Prep School, Kenroy Williams, assured SEARCHLIGHT that his young athletes would be going all out to retain their hold on the female category and fancies their chances also among the males.

Likewise, Kellisha Ashton, the teacher in charge of the preparation of the C.W. Prescod Primary athletes simply stated: “We are ready for them; we are ready for any competition”.

Meanwhile, reigning male champion, the St Vincent Grammar School’s head coach, Rawlson Morgan, is equally confident of retention.

“From what happened on Friday at the heats, I know it would be a close one, but we are confident of winning again, as we have strength in all divisions”, Morgan stated.

Morgan, however, is concerned that his team will be hamstrung by an injury to one of his top athletes, McKish Compton, who, according to him, “may not be at his best, because of an injury he aggravated in the heats”.

And, head coach of the Thomas Saunders Secondary Kamal Hunte informed SEARCHLIGHT that he does not see any reason why his team cannot be repeat winners.

“We have been training hard to defend our title; it is left to the athletes to go there on Thursday and get the job done,” Hunte remarked.

Expressing confidence, Hunte added: “We have the support of the principal, the staff and the entire student body and I think we will do it again”.

But uneasy lies the head of those who wear the crown, as others are quietly working behind the scenes to unseat the champions.

But those who cannot be there in person on Wednesday and Thursday, can follow the proceedings via live streaming at www.gov.vc , which would provide a link on its front page.

The trilogy of the track and field events would be completed on Friday, with the staging of the inter-collegiate championships, also at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. (RT)