OOPS, I almost got both calls right!
However, nobody should begrudge either repeat girls’ queens Christ Church Foundation nor new boys’ kings The St Michael School their respective accolades at the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships (BSSAC).
Both schools showed the two-handed concept and overall depth to which I referred in my last column.
Indeed, the Foundation girls were very businesslike and professional, as I urged them to be to minimise unforced errors that could cause a hiccup in the drive for the championship.
In team efforts, I usually restrain myself from picking out individuals, but I liked the way Hannah Connell and Tiana Bowen went about their work. They provided the quality leadership you expect from top athletes at any level. If they take the same attitude and industry to the Carifta Games they have a good chance to be among the medals.
Had title secured
Judging from their output in the zone meet, it was clear that the queens had the resources and talent to shift gears at will, and similar to what happened in the prelims, they had the title secured midway on the final day.
The Under-20 track team replicated their work and Under-17 star Jaliyah Denny played her role in sprint duels with Harrison College’s Akayla Morris.
As expected, Romancia Odwin and Yuriko Harewood helped to pile up the points in the field. The Church Hill girls fittingly put the icing on the cake by crushing the field in the 4×400 metres.
Back-to-back victories suggest that they intend to build a dynasty similar to that of Springer Memorial, who earned 15 titles in succession. It seems as if they will have the majority, if not all, of the same squad next year, so they should be hard to beat again.
The outcome in the girls show that the gap is getting closer following Springer’s dethronement last year. The points margin isn’t as wide as when Springer won, and this could be an indication that schools are more strategic in their planning and hence more competitive.
What used to be Springer’s strength has been their Achilles heel in the past two years. In former times, Springer had track athletes like Sade Green, Akela Jones, Tristan Evelyn and Sagirah Craigg, among others, who would give them over 30 points.
This is where they have been short, but they will have to find a way to make up for it in a time of transition when they can still be competitive and have plenty to be proud about.
Can compete
Both Harrison College and The St Michael School have shown that they can compete as well and are also in a situation where their top performers should be in the arena next season, so they will more than likely continue to show intent and be even stronger contenders for the title.
No big surprise that The St Michael boys won their first title.They can now boast with the girls who triumphed in 1984, the last year before sports was amalgamated.
They declared their hand from the zone meets and on form it was theirs to lose. Many said if they couldn’t win it this year, then it wasn’t destined to be anytime soon. It must have been a lot of pressure on them, given the huge expectations, but they handled it well.
Character tested
Their character was tested up to about 95 per cent of the last day and they stood firm against stiff challenges from defending champions Lester Vaughan and Harrison College.
Both of their closest rivals just didn’t have the all-round game to deny them their maiden title.
I’m happy, too, for head coach Gabriel Burnett who has persevered despite previous disappointments over the years.
He will know that they have to start planning from now to keep the crown because they will be targeted even more than before. Then again, what’s the bother if you have the ammunition to guard coveted silverware!
Honourable mention must go to the Alleyne School who provided plenty of evidence that they have a sound developmental programme in place and could possibly unleash more surprises as early as next year.
Mary Fraser showed signs of being back to where she was two years ago when she captured the Austin Sealy Award at Carifta. A source very close to the matter told me that steps are being taken to get her the Barbados passport. Her opportunities will be limited in athletics and boxing if she cannot travel outside the region.
Tiny Layla Haynes of Harrison College reminds me so much of Fraser at the corresponding age. As an Under-13, Fraser announced herself on the national stage by winning the 3 000 metres open. Haynes placed second to Fraser in this event and also won the 800 and 1500 comfortably from her peers.
Chants of “we want a stadium” from sections of the crowd when Minister of Sports Stephen Lashley was speaking at the closing ceremony, was indicative of the fact that several Bajans believe we need better accommodation for an event as big and as prestigious as school sports.
• Andi Thornhill is a veteran sports journalist. Email andithornhill1@gmail.com
