If anybody knows how to win a championship, it is Andre Wellington.

The former influential Kingston College (KC) sprinter helped to guide the ‘Purples’ to six straight ISSA/Boys’ Championship titles from 2001 to 2006 during a medal-laden high school career.

In fact Wellington, who has a personal best time of 10.37 seconds in the 100 metres during his high school career, captained KC to victory at the 2006 installment of the marquee championships.

The 37-year-old Wellington is currently a member of the KC’s coaching team and is in charge of all class one sprinters in the programme, including World Under-20 100m silver medalist Bouwahjgie Nkrumie. Adrian Kerr, Nicholas Francis, Marvin Patterson, Amonte Wray and Yourie Lawrence Clarke are also expected to figure prominently as the North Street-based school launches their bid for a 34th hold on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy this year.

Wellington believes that the defending champions will arrive at Champs with a well-rounded team but expects the senior athletes to lead their charge to victory.

“I think when you look at the sprints holistically, I think we are looking good. Bouwahgie is Bouwahgie, he is in the papers every week. Adrian Kerr, unfortunately I am not his coach but every day I get updates from his coach on what is happening, and I was told that he is looking good. And for other sprinters, we are looking okay,” said Wellington.

“I am expecting our senior athletes to put on some top-class performances for us at this championships because they have shown a lot of quality on the track this season and so I am expecting the same from them at Boys’ Champs,” he said.

However, there have been some question marks over KC’s recent performances at the Corporate Area Championships where they barely won the title after scoring 427 points ahead of rivals Calabar 415.

But according to Wellington their Boys’ Championships team is a much different side from the one which competed at the Corporate Area event, and therefore he is quietly confident that they will retain their title this year.

“Well I am confident based on the work that we have done so far this season,” said Wellington.

“Yes we have a very strong unit because when you look at the complexion of the team, I believe that we are strong going into the championships — even though our rivals are also strong — and so whoever makes the least mistakes will win,” he said.

“There is no pressure on these boys because we have an excellent management team and the focus is to win Champs a day at a time. The boys are excited and ready to compete over the five days of the championships,” Wellington stated.