ST. JAGO'S long-time coach Raymond 'KC' Graham struck a confident note on Monday as he looked towards the 2004 VMBS Boys and Girls Championships.
"This is my 11th year at St. Jago and this 2004 team is just as competitive as any other team," he said.
"My only problem is that these girls are not as strong mentally as the girls of previous years. I am a bit concerned that if it comes down to the wire, champions Holmwood Technical and Vere Technical will outdo them as we lack leaders this year like Michelle Burgher, Keasha Downer and Kerron Stewart.
"However, we have the team on paper to win. We won the field events championships and reached all the relay finals at the Gibson Relays," Graham said.
The successful national junior and senior coach, who has won the championships four consecutive years for St. Jago (1996, '97, '98 and '99) respects the chances of defending champions Holmwood and their outstanding coach Maurice Wilson but deep in his heart he fears Vere Technical most.
"Vere are a championship team, they are fighters with lots of guts. They are a professional outfit and know what winning is about. Last year they did not do very well but the experienced Dwayne Jarrett is back and they have stepped up with solid performances at the hurdles and field events championships and at the Gibson Relays."
St. Jago are strong all round.
In Class 1 Graham expects many points from national junior representative Nadina Marsh. She is the defending heptathlon champion and is in fact going for her third straight title.
She will also compete in the high jump where she has a 2004 best of 1.75m and the sprint hurdles. Marsh, who has a heavy load, could also be seen in either the long jump or javelin.
In the Class 1 sprints the Spanish Town-based school will be banking on Sudian Davis.
"Davis is slightly injured at this time. The field is strong in the sprints but if she recovers well in time she will score points in the 100m and 200m as well as the long jump. There is also Andrea Linton who did 5.88m in the long jump at the Youngster Goldsmith meet. Linton will also compete in the triple jump and 4x400m."
Middle distance runner Dorraine Samuels has matured well and Graham expects her to be among the top contenders in the Class 2 800m and 1,500m.
"Tamara Francis is also the best Class 2 long jumper while high jumpers Marsha Mattis and Suelyn Pilliner are improving rapidly."
In the Class 2 sprints Graham will be looking to Nicola Patterson and Kadene Mason in the 10 and 200m.
Graham expects Natasha Ruddock to really set the National Stadium alight this year in Class 3.
MY STRONGEST CLASS
"This is my strongest class. Ruddock, the Class 4 champion two years ago with four gold medals, will compete in the 100m, 200m and 80m hurdles. Last year she fell in the hurdles but is the CARIFTA Games defending champion in this event. She has done some fantastic times this year including 25.2 for 200m at the Queen's meet. There are also last year's Class 4 long jump champion Kadian Samuels, who won at the field events championships and Sasha Kaye Mattis, who has done 5.54m in this event this year.
"Yannique Haye is also one of the favourites for the 800m and she will also run in the 80m hurdles where she was fourth at the field events championships."
In Class 4 St. Jago's two top girls are Tashana Francis and Kayon Beckford who will both go in the 100m and 200m.
Graham also expects his team to score well in the open events.
"There is Marsh in the heptathlon and she may also do the javelin while Kashain Page should be among the medals. We should also be in the top four in the 4x400m as long as the girls remain injury-free.
E. Tucker
Marsh... to compete in heptathlon and long jump.
