TODAY IS THE FIRST of five in the making of champions in the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships (BSSAC).
They have become the most highly anticipated days in what is the island’s premier track and field event.
And even if in recent years Queen’s College have dominated the boys and Springer Memorial the girls, there’s always talk this time of the season about who are the contenders that can possibly dethrone them.
In the case of Springer, I get the feeling that some people just want to see them beaten only because they have won so many times.
In other words, their detractors throw objectivity through the window without giving them credit for having the talent, efficient planning and virtually perfecting the formula of how to win.
This argument about being the only all-girls school and having the numbers was never brought into the equation when they were not winning, so I regard it as a proverbial red herring.
Still, the question is: Will they retain the title and if they don’t, who is most likely to dethrone them?
I believe they can, although it doesn’t appear at first glance that they will be as dominant on the track as they used to be. I mean in years gone by it was a formality that Sade Greene would sweep the sprints and in more recent times a Tristan Evelyn (below) would do the same. It was very intimidating for the others. They were beaten before they got into the blocks.
I don’t see that type of individual this year even with Evelyn still around. I think she will win the Under 20 Girls 100 metres and the 100-metre hurdles but will have a much harder time in the 200 metres against Coleridge-Parry’s star Sada Williams, who has won their duels over the distance so far.
However, I duly expect that she has another good shot at topping the charts in the long jump. So she’s still good for a possible 38 points, which could make a big difference in the end.
The numbers always add up for Springer. They have the perfect combinations and in most finals they will have two of the eight competitors. When we do the maths, we see that every point counts. In simple arithmetic terms one plus one equals two.
Evenso, the Government Hill queens have never won the championship with track dominance alone; unlike most they also have a very strong and consistent game in the field events. They could never prevail for so long without great success “on the green”.
Their rivals will also have to match them in this department to have a good chance of dethroning them. On the face of it, for example, someone like a Shonte Seale can win gold in the high jump, long jump and triple jump and as a bonus be in the top three in the hurdles in her division.
You can only beat Springer if you have an all-round game and only the schools that have similar resources and are prepared to work hard can ruffle their feathers.
However, I expect The St Michael School to continue making ground and if they are at the top or close to it by the end of day three when several field events would be completed, their presence on track could be very telling on the final two days of exchanges.
Positioning themselves to be enforcers in the homestretch will be the art of gunnery for the Gabriel Burnett-coached school. They have had this long-term plan and it is close to fruition based on what I saw at their inter-house sports but how and if they execute will be important and could be a game changer if they do what they are capable of.
Jaria Hoyte (left) and Ayanna Morgan will be two strong forces for The St Michael School.
In-form athletes like Jaria Hoyte, Rhea Hoyte and the versatile Ayana Morgan must do enough to inspire the rank and file because a lot of what Springer has achieved has been derived from their competitiveness as well.
Foundation are more optimistic than they have been in recent years, and this may well be so because they have added some quality to their ranks at the beginning of the school term. They will definitely be in your face on the track, but how strong are they in the field?
Coaching veterans Seibert Straughn and Ricky Carter are quietly confident they are ready to contend for the top spot, but how they formulate their combinations in the respective events will be vital in supporting their optimism. They will definitely turn up in the relays but the foundation must be built way ahead of this juncture. The Christ Church team must keep close to their main rivals throughout to be serious title contenders.
Queen’s College boys have followed a similar winning formula to Springer, hence their success. They have been able to balance the scales immaculately and smart strategist that he is, coach Brian Holder hasn’t been one to expose his cards fully in the lead-up to the championships. Instead he impresses on his charges the need to work as a team and to pull their weight in time of need.
The talent always has to be factored in but unless you know your role and what is expected of you, then you can fall short. There’s good psychology in the way the defending champions approach their work and I expect nothing less this year. Should they lose their crown they will go down fighting.
Don’t expect any white flags! Who is prepared to dangle a red one in front of them should be prepared for a fierce response.
Carifta medallist Rivaldo Leacock will lead a strong challenge from Lester Vaughan Secondary.
Some observers believe that this is Lester Vaughan’s best chance to claim a title, but like everything else they will have to earn it. They have the mix that can achieve glory but it must be understood you don’t just turn up and win big championships. You have to be purposeful, focused and industrious. Complacency is not an option.
I know they are oozing with confidence but they should guard against over-confidence becoming their Achilles heel. This year they seem to have riches in every aspect so they should be short on excuses if they don’t mount a suitable challenge.
Honestly, though, when you consider the strength in the hurdles with stars like Stephen Griffith, Rivaldo Leacock and Michael Nicholls; top high jumpers like Antonio Farrell, Brandon Hope, Hasson Ward and Kevin Briggs, who will also sprint; outstanding throwers like Hosani Lowe and Kalvin Marcus, you can understand why the mood is upbeat in the Lester Vaughan camp.
Lodge is always a title challenger even if they tend to start slowly because they have that extraordinary quality to dig deep and fight from the trenches. Their “Fighting Back” brand reinforces their mentality to pull out the stops in adverse times. I get the feeling that’s what they have to bring to succeed in returning to the top of the ladder.
With warlords like Wade Garner, Kyle Farrell, Tremaine Smith, Akeem “Psycho” McCollin and the Marshall twins leading their charge, Lodge won’t lie down and play dead on the battlefield. Every soldier will put up his hands and be counted.
In both girls and boys divisions I expect Coleridge-Parry and Combermere to play meaningful roles even if they don’t win it themselves. I am also looking forward to the return of the sport’s prodigal daughter Mary Fraser who will be wearing the colours of Daryl Jordan Secondary.
• Andi Thornhill is an experienced, award-winning sports journalist.
