THESE CHAMPS COULD BE THE CLOSEST YET

In 1913 Jamaica College eked out a win at Boys Championships amassing 27 and a half points. It was perhaps the closest ‘Champs’ ever contested as St. George’s College and Wolmer’s also ended those championships on 27 and a half points. In real terms it was a three-way tie!
JC was awarded the win because they recorded five and a half first place finishes, followed by St.George’s with five wins and Wolmers with two wins.
This year, I don’t know if a three-way tie is on the cards but a close contest certainly seems to be in the offing. Defending champions Wolmer’s Boys are going to be starting out with two of their main stars Odean Skeen and Julian Forte at less than 100 per cent. The pair has been nursing injuries all season long but Coach David Riley say they will compete, if only to secure critical points.
But Wolmer’s is not the only team starting off with a deficit. Rohan Walker of Jamaica College who was expected to dominate the Class II sprints has been ruled academically ineligible and Calabar has lost valuable points because one of their throwers Stefan McDonald wont be able to participate because he was not registered in time. Decathlete Rojay Dacres is also out (hand injury).
Kingston College then, it seems, should start with a significant advantage but their team is smaller than in previous years; smaller but more rounded according to coach Michael Russell. He believes KC has a very good shot at winning it all this year because his team has more depth in more events than in previous years.
However, the same can be said for Wolmer’s, Calabar and Jamaica College. Calabar has its throwers, JC has it’s middle distance runners and field events and relay teams, KC has its Class III and Class II all-rounders.

Whichever team wins will have to depend on which can keep its athletes healthy and manage injuries the best they can.
Each of these teams feel they have what it takes to win it all but only one can win or maybe, just maybe, it could be 1913 all over again.