ANY SCHOOL that wants to win the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships (BSSAC) must have two hands and then some backup.
None, male nor female, perfected this formula better than Springer Memorial, whose reign of 15 consecutive years came to an end last year when they had the formula, but not enough resources to stay on the throne.
If there was any consolation for them it was that their conquerors, Christ Church Foundation, replicated their formula to claim their inaugural crown.
Lester Vaughan also had adequate resources to retain the boys’ title, so they know how the game is played.
So coming out of the zone meets this year, the question is which schools in the respective genders have winning hands, at least on paper, because ability without performance leaves you as a lame duck.
Perhaps it’s not necessary to have a hand full of aces because other leading contenders will take points off each other and that will help tip the scales in favour of the eventual winner.
Arguably, Springer were the lone exceptions to this rule until last year when their stocks were somewhat depleted and their response to the palace coup was not at full force, but they showed they wouldn’t be lambs to the slaughter either. To have lost by a mere 69 points to new rulers was a very commendable performance in a year of transition.
The trademark of the Government Hill girls was to leave their rivals badly wounded and demoralised, caning them most times by more than 200 points and audacious enough to clinch the championship with a day to spare.
Ironically, that helped the pretenders to the crown who went back to the drawing board year after year to find the right strategy and the right mix for both track and field to first challenge, then match and eventually dethrone them.
They might never want to admit it but the empirical evidence is there to prove it. And there’s nothing wrong with that because to be the best you have to learn from the best.
The major factor is to have the tools and the numbers to compete efficiently.
Foundation have that, so here comes trouble again for anyone who wants to take their crown. Since last year they have strengthened their troops with the talents of stars like Sarah Belle, Romancia Odwin and Yurika Harewood, who by their showing in their respective events in the Esther Maynard Zone prove that their input will make a big difference.
Tiana Bowen and Hannah Connell will give them big top-ups in the Under-20s too, so they will be more than a handful to deal with. Jaliyah Denny and Lelani Haddock will keep the fire burning in what is always a very competitive Under-17 division.
I don’t think they are as strong in the junior divisions, but some people can rise to the occasion when there is a lot at stake.They won’t need to dominate the field, but pick up enough points to keep a balance. In the zone, they showed they had the ability to shift gears on the second day and by mid-afternoon virtually had it sewn up.
Foundation’s to lose
I think the championship is Foundation’s to lose based on their overall resources. However, they must avoid being too cocky and overconfident. I believe that combination may have been at fault for their disqualification in the Under-17 4 x 100 metres relay. The job isn’t over until it’s over. So just be professional and stay focused until the last event is completed.
Springer is Springer and they will always be competitive and fight hard to defend the school’s rich, winning tradition. To regain the title they will have to be exceedingly good in the field, as is their custom, and produce a lot more than they did in the zone meet in the Under-17 and Under-20 divisions on the track.
When you consider again that they weren’t blown away by Foundation in the zone, it is not a school you can underestimate. They have the DNA to confound critics and haters.
Yes, The St Michael School also have plenty of depth and enough qualifiers all-round to be considered as leading contenders for the crown. They showed intent by running away with the Frank Blackman Zone. Open competition will be much more testing, but they have absolutely nothing to lose, so they should come prepared to stand up and face the heat from all comers.
I think that in former years they limited their championship reach and credentials by allowing themselves to be intimidated, but with greater resources now they should make that a thing of the past. They were the most impressive school in the relays and this could work to their advantage if the competition comes down to the wire.
I don’t believe Harrison College will win, but they have some outstanding athletes who could factor in crucial events and cause the eventual winners to lift the trophy. Nobody is going to refuse a little help from their friends.
Long before the season began there were loud whispers that St Michael could be the school to beat in the boys’ championship. To many, they reinforced that billing with an impressive performance in taking the Frank Blackman Zone. They have the goods to do it.
In athletes like Matthew Clarke, Darian Clarke and Antonio Hoyte-Small you have field leaders who can inspire and rally the rest of the troops to do better once the stakes are raised.
I believe the relays will be decisive in who reigns as champions and this is one department for sure where the St Michael lads have enormous strength.
Alas, nobody was really raving about Harrison College, including me, until we saw what they had to offer in the zone meet. Goodness gracious! Talk about depth and having emergency stores in stock just in case they are needed. The Collegians have it.
I’m not sure that Harrison College team intended to show their hand, but now everyone knows what they have. They will be dangerous. I expect the middle-distance battles between Harrisonians Jonathan Jones and Rio Williams and Renaldo Rock of St George to be among the highlights of the meet.
College are aiming for much more than bragging rights in individual events. They want the whole hog and I think they are good enough to get it.
Foundation are hoping to win, but I don’t think their credentials are as strong as the girls’. There’s depth among the seniors, but they will be matched by other leading contenders.
There are no free points on offer and I wonder how they will handle the pressure when it is turned on.
Last year, with plenty at stake, they messed up a relay which virtually ended their chase for the big prize. In this year’s zone meet they were disqualified in the Under-20 Boys’ 4 x 100 metres relay. So even before the big dance they may have compromised their chances because, without a presence in a race of this magnitude, those points they may have gained could come back to haunt them.
Passion and desire
This squad has the passion and desire to make the school’s dreams come true, but should keep things in perspective.For sure, Foundation, both boys and girls, have plenty naysayers and it could prove to be productive or counterproductive, depending on how the athletes handle the pressure.
They can take a leaf out of Springer’s books on this subject. No school has had to put up with more personal abuse than Springer, but they managed to turn it into positive energy. I believe that in sports success or failure depends very much on mental strength or lack of it.
So what about the prospects of the defending champions Lester Vaughan? Can they do a three-peat? They trailed St Michael in the zone meet, and some may regard that as reflective of how they will perform at the finals. I don’t think they were pleased with themselves.
In this regard, expect a backlash, anticipate a response that will be robust and purposeful. After all, true champions don’t just turn up and put up a white flag and surrender meekly. Don’t expect Lester Vaughan to do it either.
They may have lost a couple of key athletes but that shouldn’t get in the way of their purpose for being at the stadium Thursday and Friday. I honestly didn’t think that they gave it their all in the prelims.They didn’t even look as solid nor as smooth as they usually are in the hurdles which is their marquee event.
The champions can only get better now that the demand will be there. Lester Vaughan have the material, but they must come out and work hard to achieve their goals.
Alleyne could be power brokers in both categories. They seem to be a team that will be in the running in a couple of years. The Lodge and Queen’s College have a few spoilers in their ranks and some of the other schools can produce surprises.
I’ve never been known to sit on the fence. My provisional winners are Foundation in the girls and Harrison College in the boys.
• Andi Thornhill is a veteran sports journalist. Email andithornhill1@gmail.com