Members of the Holmwood Technical team celebrate with their trophy after winning the Milo-sponsored Central Athletic Championships which ended at G.C. Foster College yesterday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

IN A preview of what to expect at Champs, Holmwood Technical defeated Edwin Allen, Vere Technical and Manchester to win the Milo-sponsored Central Athletic Championships at G.C. Foster College yesterday.

It is often said that the winners of Central Champs are a sure bet for the national title and, after all is said and done, things are shaping up for another Holmwood win.

Though Holmwood, along with Vere, Edwin Allen and Manchester, experimented a lot by entering athletes in unusual events and keeping top athletes from doubling up, the championships were successful.

Topped section

Holmwood topped the girls' section with 347 points, ahead of Edwin Allen, 325, dethroned champions Vere, 299, Man-chester, 260, and Glenmuir, 30.

On the boys' side, many believe Central will not provide any teams in the top five at Champs, which means Edwin Allen could consider yesterday's victory the biggest of 2007.

They finished with 119 points - ahead of Holmwood, 112, Claude McKay, 108, Bog Walk, 68, and Manchester, 66.

National representative Jair Francis of Manchester High led five double winners.

Francis won yesterday's Class One 200m in 21.67 to add to his 400m win in 47.64. Old Harbour High's Jamie Wilson won the Class Three 200m in 23.61 and the 100m (11.61), Brandon Tomlinson took the 200m Class Two event in 22.69 and also the 100m (11.07).

Girls victorious

Vere's Deandra Whitehorne won the Class Three 200min 24.49 and the 100m in 12.05 while Jermaine Christie took the Class One 110m hurdles in 14.73 and the 400m hurdles in 55.20.

Manchester High's Shana-Gaye Tracey ran 58.90, improving on her previous personal best of 59.71 in the girls' 400m hurdles.

Holmwood's Andrea Reid was second in 59.20 and Edwin Allen's Andrea Sutherland was third in 59.70.

Anastasia Le-Roy won the girls' Class One 200m in 23.69, Vere's Jura Levy (24.29) took Class Two; Francine Russell of Holmwood (26.19) won Class Four.

Holmwood, with Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (4:54.76) and Petrene Plummer (4:55.30), won the 1,500m for Classes One and Three girls.

Janeve Russell of Holmwood (5.47m) won the girls' Class Four long jump. Vere's Shanika Thomas (5.26m) took Class Three while teammate Kimberly Williams took the triple jump with a leap of 13.50m.

Feedback: anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com