Edwin Allen High and Manchester High Boys will be defending their girls’ and boys’ titles at the two-day Central Championship, which starts today at 9:15 am at the GC Foster College.

Chester McCarthy, an executive member of the organising committee, said all the top teams would be in action after registering 35 female schools and 33 male schools.

“We do expect some fireworks and as it is that Central Champs is one of the Digicel Grand Prix (events), we are expecting a lot of top performances there as well,” McCarthy told the Jamaica Observer.

“Being as it is that we have moved to a new surface, we are expecting a lot in terms of the performances. It is this close to Champs, and in terms of the Girls’ Champs, all of the top teams are performing at Central Champs,” he added.

Last year, Edwin Allen rattled up 457 points and were 122.5 ahead of Holmwood Technical with 335.5, Vere Technical 334, Hydel 222 and Manchester High 140.5. St Jago, who missed last year’s championship, are back and are expected to make their presence felt.

History has shown that the girls’ team that wins at Central Championships normally wins at the All-island ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Championships.

All the top teams – Edwin Allen High, St Jago High, Vere Technical, Holmwood Technical and Hydel High – are down to compete, but the coaches from these teams are expected to be very cautious, not wanting to show their hands too early before Champs next month.

On the boys’ side, last year Manchester High won with 185 points followed by Edwin Allen 143 points, Spalding 128, Holmwood 107 and Bellefield 100.

But with the return of the powerful St Jago boys, Manchester High will be hard pressed to retain their title.

The opening day will start with the girls 400m heats and the Class Four high jump finals followed by the Class Two triple jump final. The boys 4x100m heats for all classes will conclude activities on day one where there will be 20 finals.