WITH the disappointment of losing last year’s Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Girls’ Championships to first-time winners Hydel High fresh in their minds, Edwin Allen High Head Coach Michael Dyke says no stone will be left unturned as his charges aim to wrest the title back from them.

The championships is set for March 19-23 at the National Stadium.

Edwin Allen suffered massive heartbreak last season when they were dethroned as champions, narrowly outscored 277 to 279 by their rivals over an intense five days of gruelling competition at the National Stadium.

The Frankfield, Clarendon-based institution, one of the most dominant schools in the championships, has clinched nine girls’ titles in the last 12 years.

Edwin Allen are huge favourites to reclaim this year’s championships, and Dyke is extremely confident that his team will live up to the tag.

“We are very confident because the team has been making steady progress and, based on our performances so far, I am very confident that we will win the title,” said Dyke. “I would be very disappointed if we don’t win the title because my girls are very upbeat and raring to go.”

Dyke pointed out that last year’s two-point defeat to Hydel has fired up his team heading into this edition, and therefore they will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that they emerge victorious. According to the veteran coach, he would be very taken aback if they score less than 300 points at the championships.

“I must tell you, last year’s defeat serves as motivation for them because I have seen a lot of difference in terms of their approach and discipline this season — and I know that it is a result of the defeat that they suffered last year.

“It has changed the whole mentality of the team and they are a lot more focused this time around and determined to reclaim their title. I would be very disappointed if we don’t score over 350 points, to be honest, and I believe that the team that scores over 300 points will win,” Dyke asserted.

However, he highlighted that all the teams in the championships have been steadily improving, and therefore they will not underestimate their rivals.

“All the teams are good teams with good coaches so I don’t expect anybody to lie down and die. I expect everybody to be competitive but it is the team that holds their nerves and manages the five days of competition better that will come out on top,” Dyke said.

Edwin Allen will be led by their captains Tonni-Ann Beckford, who is the favorite for the Girls’ Class One 400m hurdles, and Class One steeplechaser Monique Stewart. They will also have the outstanding Class Two sprinter Thieanna Lee Terrelonge who is the massive favorite for the sprint double in that section.

Dyke said his team has overcome a few early season injuries and that everyone is fit and ready to go.

“Our preparations have gone very well this season but we would have had a few injury concerns here and there. But, currently the team is in good physical condition, and there are no injury concerns at this moment, and we are ready. The team is strong overall… we will be very competitive in all the areas,” he pointed out.