KC face dogfight from JC to retain Mortimer Geddes Trophy

KINGSTON College (KC) will face the sternest of tests from Jamaica College (JC) as they attempt to defend the Mortimer Geddes Trophy when the Intersecondary Schools Sports Association (Issa)/gracekennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships gets under way today.

KC secured the trophy two years ago on a canter, romping to victory as they ended the seven-year reign of their other main rivals Calabar High School. But after Champs 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19, they will now begin their protracted title defence against a JC team that is stacked for a major title push.

The boys from Old Hope Road will be brimming with confidence and filled with hope after very good and consistent performances at the various development meets leading up to Champs.

While KC have shipped over 20 boys from their title-winning team to colleges overseas on scholarship since they won in 2019, JC have spent the time strengthening and are ready to unseat the champions with a powerhouse squad that is especially strong in the middle distances.

Former champions Calabar are a shadow of themselves and are now in a period of rebuilding and are not expected to feature in a title push, but they do possess talented athletes who could help in determining where the trophy ends up on Saturday.

There is an old cliché in sport – there is no margin for error – and if ever there was such a case, Champs 2021 is it!

The rule changes implemented by ISSA for this special edition of the championships have made all field events and races 1,500m or longer, straight finals. This means that there is no chance for recovery from a bad day, athletes will have to report mentally and physically ready and must deliver the expected points for their schools.

There are usually very few points earned on day one of Champs, but not this year. This year there will be six finals on the first day including the steeplechase Open, first up at 9:15 am, the javelin Open at 10:30 am, the long jump Class One at 3:00 pm, 100m hurdles Class Three at 4:10 pm, 110m hurdles Class Two at 4:20 pm while the 110m hurdles Class One, will close the show at 4:30 pm.

KC will be looking to their experienced