AFTER ending the 54-year drought by winning the 2010 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ & Girls’ Athletics Championships, the maroon and gold-clad boys from Heroes’ Circle are keen on proving that last year’s win wasn’t a fluke.

Head coach David Riley said that this year’s team is a little different than last’s.

“Where we were heavier in Class One last year, we are heavier and better in Class Three this year,” Riley said. The Wolmer’s Boys’ team has 11 national representatives, including the likes of Youth Olympics 100-metre gold medallist Odean Skeene, Raheem Robinson and Ramone Bailey.

While last-minute preparations are still taking place, when TEENage visited the school last Friday, the defending champions believed they had as good a chance as any other team at retaining their crown.

The Wolmerians refuse to include arrogance in their camp as they know that teams from Jamaica College, Calabar and Kingston College (KC) are strong contenders and will be coming for the title, as well.

The 12-time champions of the Mortimer Geddes Trophy are refuting claims made by others that they sneaked in and won Champs last year. Coach Riley is adamant that Wolmer’s always had a good team but were simply underrated.

“Traditionally, if Wolmer’s have a strong field events team, teams like KC could not win Champs,” Riley said. The Wolmer’s coach said that they have been developing quality athletes and will continue to do so.

Although they may have a better team, Riley does not believe that this gives guarantees his team winning Champs.

“This year’s competition will definitely be better so it means that we have to come better if we intend to win. Rest assured this Wolmer’s team plans precisely and this year we have a lot of surprises,” Riley concluded.

Text & Photos: Chieftin Campbell