Wilson

Maurice Wilson, outgoing coach of Holmwood Technical, says his team was always quietly confident of claiming the ISSA/Grace-Kennedy Boys and Girls' Championship title, despite being written off by the majority.

Edwin Allen were expected to pull off another comfortable victory similar to what they did last year when they claimed their first title and won by 131 points. In fact, they came into the final day with a 39-point advantage, but when the dust had settled it was the Manchester-based Holmwood that emerged with their 10th girls' crown by a five-point margin.

Wilson believes the school's spectacular come-from-behind triumph at the 103rd staging of the event was due to the fighting spirit possessed by his young charges, and their history of success. Holmwood tallied 310.5 points to leave Edwin Allen in second on 305.5 points, wondering where it all went wrong.

"The reason why we are successful is not because I can coach, but we respect the sport and know that the sport is about unpredictability, so if you are getting involved in the sport, and you think you don't stand a chance then it doesn't make sense," Wilson said.

"Yes, Edwin Allen had the better all-round team but you can never discount a champion, and I always quietly believed we could have won."

In the boys section, Calabar started Saturday's final day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships in third place, but as assistant coach Omar Hawes revealed, the team's 23rd hold on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy was the work of determination, and a gripping team meeting.

Hawes, himself a product of head coach Michael Clark, bore witness to a rallying cry on the eve of the Champs finale, from the coaches and senior team members; fuel that drove the Red Hills Road team to a commanding Saturday afternoon, as Calabar outdid even their own expectations.

"It went very well for us, I spoke to you last week and told you that it will be close, but it turned out even better for us than we planned in terms of the points that we scored, but I think God was on our side, we managed well and this was just our year," said Hawes amid jubilant Calabar athletes and support staff, shortly after confirming their victory over rivals Jamaica College (JC) and Kingston College (KC).

In the end, on the back of their usual field events dominance, middle distance fortitude and a number of eye-opening displays in the sprints and relays, Calabar racked up 299 points with JC (258.5), KC (247.5), Wolmer's (121), St Jago (107) and Munro (98) rounding off the top six teams at one of the most exciting Champs in its 103 year history, with 30 records falling victim.

Holmwood Technical girls celebrate with the championship trophy at the National Stadium on Saturday night. - Ricardo Makyn

Holmwood Technical girls celebrate with the championship trophy at the National Stadium on Saturday night. - Ricardo Makyn