Paul Reid

Sports journalist

“Hydel’s reign as ISSA Girls’ champions should for all intents and purposes end after just one year, but it won’t be from a lack of effort or planning. Underestimating any team coached by Corey Bennett would be a big mistake but this Hydel team does not have the depth they had last year when they ended Edwin Allen’s eight-year run. Losing quality such as Alana Reid, Kerrica Hill, Sherika Christie and Oneika McAnnuff is not easy to replace, but Hydel is expected to be in the race for one of the top runners-up spots.”

Donald Smith

International athletics commentator

“Hydel High and lady luck were in sweet consort in 2023. A maiden Girls’ Champs title saw the Ferry-based school dethroning multiple-time winners Edwin Allen, who were on the verge of equalling the second-longest Girls’ Champs win streak of nine (held by Holmwood Technical). Hydel were able to capitalise on a number of mishaps, which plagued the Frankfield-based Edwin Allen team. However, for Champs 2024, Hydel will definitely feel the absences of Alana Reid, who became the first high school girl to run sub-11s at Champs and Oneika McAnnuff, who the late great Hubert Lawrence named Captain Fantastic, both of whom contributed significant points to the school’s title chase. Hydel will, in my opinion, require some more journeying with lady luck to take the top spot this year and may come up short in that regard this time around. With St Jago finishing ahead of them for second overall at Central Champs, Hydel knows that they will need to work even harder if they are to finish in the top two at Champs. Nonetheless, I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing the performances of Alliah Baker, who will likely be in the shorter sprints; Abigail Campbell, who gets her first run in the Hydel blue, having sat out the previous year due to her transfer from Ferncourt High; Kaydeen Johnson, who copped double gold over 3,000m and 2,000m steeple chase last year; and Nastassia Fletcher, now in Class two, but who was in a class of her own last year in winning the girls’ Class Three 400m.

Trishana McGowan

Sports journalist

“The reigning champions have found the going tough following their success in 2023. They also lost senior athletes who were crucial to last year’s victory. Nevertheless, with their talent pool, they are still very competitive and will be pushing over the five days. Will they retain their title? This is a tough task and would require an Edwin Allen disaster.