Hydel Look To Retain Crown

The 34th staging of the three-day JISA/CapriSun Prep Schools Track and Field Championships will run off today at the National Stadium today, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Logan's Preparatory and One Way Preparatory are the two new schools, which will bring the total number of competitors to 47, with the number of athletes exceeding 1,700.

Two finals will be contested on today's opening day, the girls' Class Two long jump and the boys' Class Two high jump.

Defending champions Hydel, who won a title by a mere one point last year, will be aiming for their seventh consecutive hold on the trophy.

Corey Bennett, head coach of Hydel, is confident of victory.

"We stand a good chance of winning the title," said Bennett.

"However, we won the championships by one point last year and so we expect it to be close again."

Bennett added: "We are hoping to put on a strong showing so that we will be able to maintain our dominance."

Dejour Russell, Tyest Bryan, Jamani Richards and Jaise Foster are among some of the top athletes who will be on show for the Hydel.

The participating schools will for the first time contest the ball throw, as the organisers seek to expose the youngsters to techniques needed for the javelin. The ball throw will, however, not contribute to the final points standings.

Additional events include four Special Olympics races, Invitational Primary 4x100m for boys and girls, a private high school 4x100m for boys and girls and coaches and teachers races, to bring the total number of events to 42, all of which are sponsored.

There will be 34 championship events, including the shuttle relay, which will be contested at the championships for the last time, as the Jamaica Independent Schools' Association contemplates discontinuing the event.

- R.B