Having won 10 of the last 11 Girls Championships, Holmwood Technical High are expected to be in the thick of things in the defence of their crown.

In contrast, the boys who have never tasted success at the ISSA Boys’ Championship are expecting an improved performance that could propel them into the top-five.

Dave Anderson, one of the girls coaches, believes that contrary to popular belief that Edwin Allen will be easy winner this year, that will not be so.

“Based on the composition of my team, I am expecting it to be a very close championship and it could go all the way. Contrary to what pundits might think, it’s a run away for Edwin Allen, they might be very much surprised come the 25th to the 29th of March,” said Anderson.

“As defending champions, we are in good spirits… (we have) some minor injuries but we are raring to go to defend our championship and as usual, you can look forward to all the Holmwood girls to perform at their best at the championship,” he noted.

The school — which was started in 1936 as a practical training centre with 50 young men, became a co-ed institution in 1960 and changed to a technical high school — first won the Girls Championship in 2003 and went on to dominate for nine straight years.

Edwin Allen interrupted that winning streak in 2012, but they returned to winning ways in 2013.

But despite the success of the girls, the boys have not had such luck. Last year they finished eighth with 48 points, but team captain Ibo Kelly believes a top-five placing is very much within their grasp.

“We are a no foolishness school, the grades come first and track and field comes second,” said Kelly, who is also the president of the school’s student council.

“Every year, over the past 10 years, the girls have been victorious while the boys, we have done our endeavour best and for 15 years we have been in the top-10 and this year we want to lower that,” said Kelly.

“Last year we went to Champs with 15 boys and those 15 boys brought us to seventh position. This year the team is much larger, so we are looking to finish in the top five,” he noted.

Meanwhile, World Youth 100m hurdles world record holder, Yanique Thompson, will again lead the Holmwood Technical charge in their bid to defend their title.

She will be running in the 100m hurdles and 100m events and is expected to do very well.

“I am always confident in my team, I have 100 per cent confidence, is just for us to go out there on the day and perform to the best of our ability,” said Thompson.

Long and triple jump specialist Tamara Moncrieffe is another that crucial points are expected from. She said she is aiming to improve on her personal bests of 12.97m for the triple jump and 6.2m for the long jump.