Bridgeport High School's ace shot putter Odaine Chisholm, and sprint sensation Jazeel Murphy, are the two main medal hopefuls for Portmore schools at this year's ISSA Grace Boys and Girls Athletic Championships at the National Stadium from Wednesday, March 12-Saturday, March 15.

Chisholm, winner at last Saturday's CARIFTA Trials with a personal-best 16.77 metres, is the overwhelming favourite for the gold in the Class One boys shot put. His only competition lies with Calabar's Noel Facey, who threw 15.82m for second in that same event. "I'm going to Champs to beat my personal best and also try and break Camoi Hood's (formerly of Bridgeport High) record," said Chisholm, who is conditioned by Carl Page.

Chisholm is also down for the discus event, a discipline in which he is not as strong. Former Bridgeport Primary star, Jazeel Murphy, who has been lighting up the track this season, is a tipped for the Class Three sprint double. His main rival is Monroe's Adam Cummings. Murphy, who turned 14 on February 27, ran 11.01 seconds at the CARIFTA Trials for fourth in the 100m boys U-17 final and 23.16 seconds at Douglas Forrest meet, the fastest time in the class this season.

Another medal hopeful is last year's gold medallist in the Class Three boys' High jump, Jamiel Cunningham. Cunningham is not considered to be a medal hopeful in the Class Two High Jump, but a medal should be up for grabs in the discus in which he placed third in the U-17 CARIFTA Trials last Saturday.

Bridgeport's Track Coach, Marlon Walker, said the school's Class One 4x100m team is expected to make the final, while Class Three athlete Romario Campbell is a good young prospect as he has ran 53.99 seconds for the the 400m.

Greater Portmore's coach, Shawn Cunningham, said that his best chance of a medal is with Class two boy Kareem Howell, who has ran 49.8 seconds for the 400m this season. Next in line is another Class Two runner, Rando Gunn, who is the school's best middle distance runner. Gunn has done 2:01, and 4:28 for the 800m and 1500m respectively.

Coach, Cunningham admitted that he has a young team this year since all his class one athletes left last season.

Ascot High School's coach, Everton Samuels, said his team is in the rebuilding process and next year they will have a stronger impact on the championships. The school from One North, Greater Portmore, is carrying twelve athletes (nine boys, three girls) to champs.