The National Stadium in Kingston will be buzzing with excitement over the next five days as the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championship kicks off in what early markers are projecting to be a relatively straightforward title charge for two familiar names — Kingston College (KC) and Edwin Allen.

While overwhelming favourites and defending boys’ champions KC are expected to be kept honest by a talented but hamstrung Jamaica College (JC) unit, Edwin Allen, whose eight-year reign was broken last season by Hydel, should march comfortably to victory this time around and return to the top of the heap in the climb for top honours among the girls.

The championships, which is one of most esteemed track and field events across the globe, will witness the country’s top junior athletes battling it out for their schools in what promises to be a gruelling five-day competition.

KC, located at 2A North Street, will be vying for their 35th hold on the Mortimer Geddes trophy, and based on their performances throughout the development season, it appears unlikely that any team will be able to stop the purple and white train at this year’s event.

The Leaford Grant-coached outfit delivered an excellent performance to clinch this year’s Corporate Area Championships, amassing 461 points to secure the title. Calabar was a distant second with 382.5 points, followed by Jamaica College with 321.5.

“The boys are quite confident because we have prepared well, and hopefully, we will be able to defend the title this year with the will of God. You know that we have to bring God into everything, so we are quite confident,” Grant told the Jamaica Observer.

“I think we have enough depth; I think we might be short in a couple of events. The boys are also improving in those events, so in terms of depth, I think we are fine and we should be able to score points. We don’t have a lot of winners, but we have scorers,” he added.

KC’s 70-plus strong machine will be led by team captains Yourie Lawrence-Clarke, a favourite for the Class One 100m title, and Class One discus thrower Antwon Watkin. Other medal prospects for KC include Antonio Forbes and Shamar Jennings in the boys’ Class One 400m hurdles, Nyron Wade in the Class Two 100m and 200m events, and Zachary Merchant in the Class Two high jump.

JC have been building up to a close challenge but have endured a few setbacks throughout the season and seem to lack the required depth to challenge their rivals. They are, however, expected to score heavily in several areas, particularly the middle distances, while another perennial challenger, Calabar, continues its rebuilding, with matriculation not expected for another season or two, meaning the top three from last year should return in the same order this time around.

On the girls’ side, Edwin Allen experienced massive heartbreak last season when they were dethroned as champions, narrowly outscored 277 to 279 by Hydel in a gripping title race.

However, the Frankfield-based school is the huge favourite to reclaim this year’s honours based on their excellent showing this season. In fact, the Michael Dyke-coached team showcased their might at this year’s Central Championships with a comfortable victory, amassing 393.25 points over the two-day event. St Jago High was second with 273.50 points, while Hydel finished third with 254.25 points. While not all cards were shown there, it is a good indicator of what should happen this week at Champs.

“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, never one to shy away from declaring his hand. “I would be very disappointed if we don’t win the title because my girls are very upbeat and raring to go.”

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

Rasheeda Samuels in the Girls Class One high jump, Rickeisha Simms in the 800m and 1500m, and Shandre Brown in the Girls’ Class Three discus are the other main medal prospects for Edwin Allen at the championships.

Dyke added that last year’s two-point defeat to Hydel has fired up his team heading into this edition, and they will be pulling out all the stops to ensure they emerge victorious.

“It [defeat] 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,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hydel has had a very quiet build-up to their campaign, but according to their principal, Dr Walton Small, they are looking to produce some good performances at the championships.

“We are very comfortable with them at this stage. They are fit and ready to go out there and achieve some serious personal best times at this championship,” Small said.

Hydel fans will be looking to the likes of Abigail Campbell in the 400m and Alliah Baker in the 100m and 200m to score maximum points and push their challenge as close as possible.