FIFTEEN years ago the Intersecondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) brilliantly merged the Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships into one and that was the last time St Jago High girls put their hands on the trophy.

That year, one Class Two athlete, Melaine Walker, was the star with three victories, two of which came over Veronica Campbell Brown in the 100m and 200m. She completed her third gold in the 100m hurdles.

The rest is history, as nine years later she became the 2008 Olympic 400m hurdles champion in an Olympic record time of 52.64 seconds, and a year later became the second fastest woman in history with 52.42 seconds at the Berlin World Championships.

Walker was among a host of athletes that led St Jago to four titles between 1996 and 1999 with the likes of Michelle Burgher, Peta-Gay Dowdie, Keisha Downer, and Tameica Brown.

The Monk Streetbased school is not short on talent, and in one Kimone Shaw, their Class Three sprinter, St Jago certainly has one for the future. But Shaw alone cannot win Girls’ Champs and the Keilando Goburncoached girls are a little shallow in depth.

Last year they finished third, 102 points behind Holmwood Technical, and 97 adrift of this year’s favourites Edwin Allen. That’s a lot to make up in one year, but Goburn is taking it day by day in their quest for their fifth title.

“Well basically we are just going through the physical preparation right now. We are trying not to put them under too much pressure…mental pressure to perform.

We are just taking it one day at a time, and we hope to do the same thing when we go to Champs. One day, one round at a time,” said Goburn.

At this year’s Central Championship, St Jago were a distant sixth with 165 points, behind winners Edwin Allen High with 378. However, based on previous years, the coaches normally hold back for the major games, which is the Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. Nevertheless, St Jago will have a lot of work to do and a top-four finish must be their ambition.

“Look out for the entire team, because the entire team is ready and raring to go. They have been working hard from August, some as far back as July, and we think that we will give a good account of ourselves, irrespective of what others might think or say,” said Goburn.

“Preparations have been going on quite fine, we have our challenges just like everybody, but we are working through it, and we are trying to put everything in place to ensure that we are at our best come March 25-29,” he added. Sprinting sensation Kimone Shaw is expected to gather at least 30 points for St Jago in the 100m, 200m and long jump, plus the 4×100 relay, and she is training really hard for her firstyear Class Three exploits.

“Well I train hard. I try to do my best at every track meet that I attend, especially in the season before Champs,” she said.

“I just want to continue to try to get out fast out of the blocks and I think I will do better,” said Shaw, who last week ran 11.55 seconds at the Carifta Trials as a 14-year-old.

Meanwhile, Lotoya Gilding is expected to garner points in the Class One discus and shot put, and although competition will be stiff, she is hoping to improve on her performances. “My personal best in the discus is 45.96m, and I am hoping to improve that at Champs.

My personal best in the shot put is 11.76m, and I am also hoping to improve that,” said noted. Gilding was fifth at the Central Champs in the discus with a throw of 42.70m and was some distance behind winner Rochelle Frazer with 48.14 and will have to improve significantly.

“Well I have been increasing in weights. I am snatching 120 pounds, clinging 120 pounds, bench pressing 170 pounds, squatting more also, and I hope to get a good throw at Champs,” said Gilding. However, she has sent out a strong warning not to take her school lightly at Champs.

“I think that Edwin Allen and Holmwood should look out for us.” Meanwhile, 12-year-old Class Four athlete Kayla Bonnick believes her school’s chance is as good as anyone’s.

“I think that St Jago has a 95 per cent chance of winning champs this year. Edwin Allen is our biggest competition and I hope we can get the better of them.”