Will Edwin Allen regain their title at Champs 2024?
DONALD SMITH
Athletics commentator
Edwin Allen High School would want to vanquish the ghosts of 2023 which saw them losing their crown to Hydel High by a mere two points. At the end of the five-day athletics carnival Edwin Allen fell agonisingly short with a points total of 277, to Hydel’s 279. It was tough to watch that loss for Edwin Allen supporters as the school was picked by pundits to equal the second-longest consecutive win streak at Girls’ Champs (Holmwood Technical won nine straight). Fastforward to 2024 and yet again the blue-clad, Frankfield-based team is being touted as firm favourites to return to the summit of schoolgirls’ athletics supremacy. But victory won’t come easy! No team, including defending champions Hydel, is going to roll over and hand the title back to the Edwin Allen. However, the talent pool seen so far this season suggests there is a very high possibility of them finishing on top.
Just a few weeks ago, Edwin Allen served a warning to their opponents on their way to winning the Central Championships title with 393.25 points, ahead of St Jago High’s 273.50 — that is almost a 120-point gap between the teams. With this showing, I think that Edwin Allen’s Champs 2024 destiny is in their own hands.
PAUL REID
Sports journalist
After losing last year for only the second time in over a decade, when Hydel High snatched a two-point win, Edwin Allen are expected to respond in the only way they know how — by dominating the competition this year. The Michael Dyke-coached team has swept all before it this season. All signs are pointing to Edwin Allen winning title number 10.
TRISHANA MCGOWAN Sports journalist
Edwin Allen’s greatest desire at the end of Saturday night is to reclaim their hold on the Girls title after losing last year to Hydel High.
Since January, Coach Michael Dyke and his team have sent out strong warning that they are no longer complacent and the title is needed back in Frankfield, Clarendon.
They have enough ammunition on the track throughout the various classes to ensure they get the job done.