Wolmer’s Girls’ School Head Coach Michael Carr says his team’s objective at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) this season is to maintain their place in the top 10.

Following a strong performance last year, in which the team finished fourth, Carr is determined to keep his squad competitive despite losing key athletes.

“Last year, we finished fifth because we had a great group of athletes, but we have lost many girls, including Mickayla Gardener,” Carr said. “Others who made small contributions are returning, so we want to remain in the top 10. If we can stay in the top 10, then I am good to go.”

Despite a smaller squad compared to some of their rivals, Carr remains optimistic about the team’s chances.

“We have a young squad,” he said. “When you look, we only have one person who will be leaving this year and to me, that is a good thing. It is not a big team in numbers, but I believe we have quality.”

Carr highlighted the challenges faced at the Corporate Area meet, where some schools had multiple competitors in each event while he struggled to fill certain events.

“The Corporate Area meet is about quantity and not necessarily quality,” he said. “But come Champs, that is when quality will come to the fore.”

Acknowledging the inevitable challenges such as injuries and minor setbacks, Carr expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform when it matters most.

“In every season, you are going to have problems here and there, little injuries to this one and that one, but whatever the problems, we are trying to work them out and we should do well come Champs,” he said.

Carr says that while they are going to be challenging for the overall title, his primary goal for his athletes is to put out some strong individual performances.

“I believe our girls are mentally ready, but we are not challenging for the overall title,” he said. “What we are aiming to do is to put out some quality performances and get girls on the podium.”

Wolmer’s will be led by Abigail Wolfe, Daneille Noble, Natrece East, Tiana Marshall and Akeelah Bell.