After disappointment at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships last year, when they failed to secure any point, Papine High School is determined to make its presence felt this time around.

Head Coach Devon Grant is confident that his athletes will “ruffle some feathers” at ‘Champs’ this year as they push towards becoming a competitive force.

“Last year, we didn’t get any points because we started training very late in January and so we just pushed with a development programme to get things going,” Grant explained.

“But we are coming for some points this year. Our team is really programmed to blossom in 2026, but we are coming to ruffle some feathers and get some points this year at Champs.”

Grant says that the team is filled with promising young athletes across all classes, and with many of them set to remain with the squad in the coming years, the major focus is to lay the foundation for a strong team in 2026.

“We have a lot of good kids from Class Four up to Class One and all of these will remain with us for next year. We are going to have a strong team in 2026,” he said.

While the long-term vision is clear, Grant remains focused on the present and is optimistic about his team’s chances of picking up points in several events at Champs this year.

“I am expecting to get some points in most of the events that we will enter at Champs this year, especially in the middle distances for the girls,” he said.

Grant says that although his team is still developing, he believes the enthusiasm and commitment of his young athletes will carry them through.

“This is a very rounded team but not a strong team as yet because most of them are very talented but inexperienced and so we are working on that to get them to understand the ins and outs of track and field. But they are very excited, and they are looking forward to competing at Champs,” he noted.

One athlete in particular that has caught Grant’s eye is Class One 800m runner Sabrina McDonald. He said McDonald has what it takes to claim victory at Champs, despite tough competition.

McDonald, who will be one of the favourites for a medal in the event at Champs, clocked a personal best time of two minutes 18.87 seconds to win the gold medal at the Corporate Area Championships earlier this month.

“I am expecting Sabrina McDonald to win the 800m Class One, but I know the competition is going to come from Holmwood Technical and Edwin Allen High. She has been doing well, and if she can continue to work hard, stay focused, and keep her composure at the right moment, then she can win at Champs,” he said.

Grant noted that Papine’s track and field programme is being supported by a strong network of past students, a dedicated principal and corporate sponsors who are backing the team to do well.

He said that given his athletes’ promising performances at development meets, he is confident they will rise to the occasion at ‘Champs’.

“Our kids did wonderfully well at the development meets and so I am feeling good about the team. I know that they will give some good performances at Champs this year,” Grant pointed out.

— Robert Bailey