With a month to go before the ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships, the top high school team will look to get into gear when this year's staging of the popular Gibson Relays gets under way in two weeks' time. In the run-up to the event Star Sports will feature some of the teams and athletes expected to do well at the popular relay meet.

Last year Edwin Allen were the favourites to win the event, but despite being the best local team, they had to settle for second as the overseas-based team Bickle, which comprised the top high school half-milers from the United States, sprinted to a record win with a new mark of 8:41.82. Michael Dyke's Edwin Allen had to settle for second in 8:51.57.

With no Bickle team to contend with this time around, it is going to take something special for any team to deny Edwin Allen this time around. Their athletes have been on fire this season, and with the relay meet so close to Champs and with their athletes in hot form, they could go near the record time done last year by team Bickle.

Their team has been unbeaten so far this season in the event, and have been head and shoulders over their rivals, including Penn Relay champions Holmwood Technical. Their best performance so far was at the Western Relays in Montego Bay, where led by the impressive Ristananna Tracey, they raced to an easy win in 8:58.73. They are the only team to have gone under the nine-minute barrier so far. Since that victory, Tracey has been burning up the track over the two-lap event and with teammate Dezrine Montigue also in the best form of her career, Marleena Eubanks looking much better this season and young veteran Carla Thompson complementing the team, it is going to take a brave man to bet against the Dyke-coached team.

While Edwin Allen are big favourites to win, they should not take things for granted, as their main rivals Holmwood Technical normally reserve their best performance for the big day, like they did at the Penn Relays last year when they surprised Edwin Allen despite playing second fiddle to their opponents all through the season.

The Maurice Wilson-coached team is blessed with half-milers and could steal an early march on Edwin Allen. However, they are yet to break the nine-minute barrier so far this season and will have to show great improvement if they are to deny Edwin.

The likes of Monique Thompson, Chatalia Watson, the talented Chris-Ann Gordon and big-day performer Petrine Plummer should not be taken for granted and could spring a surprise.

Although being blessed with most of the talented half-milers of all the high school teams, St Jago have failed miserably to be competitive in this form of relays, but could surprise. However, the likes of Shevel McDonald, Shana Kay South, Roshae Burrell and Jhevere Hall will have to produce career bests if they hope to put a stop to the Edwin's stranglehold.