HOLMWOOD Technical High School Head Coach Dave Anderson is pinning his hopes on the middle and long-distance runners, along with the long-distance relay teams, to contribute over 80 points for the school at this year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

Anderson noted the impressive performance of his long-distance runners in the development meets this season, and he is expressing confidence in their ability to secure substantial points for the Christiana-based institution.

“We are aiming for about 80 points because we have a lot of quality in our distance runners — and all of them are potential medallists at Champs this year,” he said.

“We have the Ugandan athlete Florence Nafamba, Jovi Rose, Andrene Peart, Cindy Rose, Terrica Clarke, and these persons have been performing very well for us in the build-up to Champs this year and so I am expecting some great performances from them at Champs.

“Clarke was a double silver medallist at Champs last year in the 3000m and 2000m steeplechase, and she has been running even faster this year. Cindy was a double silver medallist last year in Class Two and she is running faster this year. All of these individuals were medallists last year and they are back for this championships.”

While acknowledging that the target of 80 points is ambitious, Anderson says that the focus on scoring heavily in the middle and long-distance events has historically been their strength, and he expects no difference this year.

“We have done well in the long distance and so I am expecting that to continue at Champs this year,” he said.

Holmwood secured a third-place finish at last year’s championships with 202 points, trailing behind first-time winners Hydel (297 points) and second-place Edwin Allen (227 points).

Anderson says it is going to be difficult to win this year’s title because his team is still in the rebuilding phase, but he is still expecting strong performances from his athletes this year.

“These are very confident individuals, focused and determined to make us proud this year,” he said. “The entire school community is looking forward to these individuals putting on a great showing for us at the championships, and they have our full support. I expect them to carry the flag very high for us.”