Two-time defending champions Calabar High are eyeing an unprecedented hat-trick of titles in the Jamaica Taekwondo McKay Security High School League after stopping Kingston College at the year's first tournament.

The Red Hills Road lads got past former champions KC and third-place Wolmer's Boys' in the high schools' division final at the recent Jamaica Superstars Invitational Martial Arts Open, hosted by Olympian Kenneth Edwards, at the University of Technology auditorium.

Coach Jermaine Lue said Calabar are on target for an outright claim on the trophy, which was recently handed over to captain Christopher Campbell during a presentation at the school's auditorium.

Lue said his team was not yet at its sharpest due to the boys' focus on exams.

"Everybody's focused on exams now, so they're not training much. However, before mid-year, they should be on form, especially with Jamaica hosting the International Taekwon-do Federation World Cup, a tournament at which the juniors will be out in full force, taking on their counterparts from all over the world," he pointed out.

six tournaments

Calabar had a near-perfect season last year, outclassing Kingston College, Wolmer's Boys', Cornwall and Jamaica College in six tournaments before falling to a combined schools' team in semi-final action of December's Jamaica Taekwondo Academy Open, held at Jamaica College.

Having secured the league title with victories at the Sidekicks Taekwondo Open, Jamaica Taekwondo Open, Ningen Martial Arts Academy Open, Seido Open, First Jamaica Zendo Open and Jamaica Taekwondo Junior Championships, sponsor Jason McKay extended a sporting gesture for Calabar to face a combined team at the Jamaica Taekwondo Academy Open.

They were beaten by Excelsior's Delano Francis, Wolmer's Boys' Akino Lindsay and St George's Akeel Andrews.

"It was all good fun and great sportsmanlike conduct," said McKay, commenting on the defending champions' winning streak being broken by a combined team.

McKay credited the league with replenishing Jamaica's combined martial arts team with a never-ending stream of fighters.

"It was fantastic in its eighth season. The league and high-school programme are both flourishing," he said.