Davian Clarke of Kingston College in the 4x400m relay at Boys Championships 1992 is my Champs Moment. Receiving the baton almost last, I watched in awe as the slender athlete, clad in purple, closed a gap of 80 metres to finish second, just 10 metres behind Jamaica College's anchorman Carl McPherson. - Milford Williams

by Richard Bryan, Freelance Writer

While the Holmwood Technical female team appears a cinch for a sixth consecutive victory at next week's GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys and Girls Athletic Championships, indications are that the male team will find it difficult to even record a single-event victory.

When Star Sports caught up with Edward Hector, the man responsible for the male programme at Holmwood, he was more than frank about the state of his team.

"We're just going out there to win a few points, just to give a few knocks here and there."

Last year, the team garnered just 21 points, falling out of the top-10 placing for the first time in almost a decade. Things are pretty rough in the organisation of a potent boys' team according to Hector.

"For one thing, the school can't afford two championship teams," said Hector, conceding that the priority was on the girls and was also indicative of where the current coaching staff members had their interest. "Boys," he argued "take a whole lot more."

Recruiting for male talent had fallen off considerably and he thinks a whole new development plan would have to be put in place to rekindle an ascendancy. Even then, he believes the top boys' school exponents like Calabar High, Jamaica College, Kingston College and St Jago, are so far ahead, it would take for example, significant cash injections to remotely approach their aggressive recruiting and strong feeding programmes. Expect, Holmwood, however, to pick off valuable points, especially in Class One.

sprint events

The plan is to take about 21 athletes to the championships. There will be only one athlete in Class Three, with seven or eight in Class Two, and thirteen in Class One. Miguel Keldo will lead the charge in Class Two, having placed in the top five of the sprint events at the JC, Kirkvine and STETHS development meets.

Class One is where they expect to secure most of their points. At the centre of that charge is the middle-distance pair of Lorenzo Weatherman and Wayne McKenzie. Weatherman was second in the 5000m last year behind Kemoy Campbell and along with Wayne McIntyre, should be among those considered to provide overwhelming favourite Campbell with good competition.

Renardo Pierson, who reached the semi-finals in the sprints last year, is expected to improve and there could be a good showing by first-year Class One athlete Jovan Whyte, also in the 100m. Pierson began the season well with a 10.60 seconds clocking at the JC meet but has been hampered by injury. Hector thinks highly of another athlete just emerging from injury, Chea Notice, and believes his 4x100m team of Pierson, Whyte, Sheldon Williams and Vaughn McKenzie is going to create problems for the more fancied schools at this stage.

Williams was their best male performer at Central Championships, winning the 400m hurdles, and he also is being pencilled in for the 200m. McKenzie could fare well having gained some confidence by finishing third at last weekend's Carifta Trials where he placed third behind Darrion Bent while posting 48.01.

Contributed

Edward Hector (left) with the Holmwood Technical boys quartet which won the championship 4x100m in 40.82 seconds at the Penn Relays in 2005.

Cameron vs Stapleton

Boys Championships 1979 and the 400m battle between Bert Cameron of St Jago and Kingston College's Ian Stapleton is my Champs Moment.

- Keith Smith

Davian's great run