Danny Hawthorne.file

Head coach of St Jago High boys' team, Danny Hawthorne, is eyeing a top two spot at this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships.

St Jago have been hit by the sudden death of distance runner Cavahn McKenzie in Tobago but Hawthorne said this will serve to motivate the boys and push them to greater levels at the championships.

"It was very unfortunate .... the sudden passing of Cavahn as he was a very integral member of the team who would have scored in the middle and long distance events, including the steeplechase, but the guys will use this to motivate them and every time we have a team meeting his name comes up and they want to perform for him over the five days of the championships," said Hawthorne.

Since taking over as coach of the boys team some 10 years ago, Hawthorne has proven that he is one of, if not, the best sprint coaches in the island. He has aided in the development of top national athletes such as Yohan Blake, Nickel Ashmeade and Riker Hylton.

strong Under-18 field

"What we all saw at the Carifta Trials was a dress rehearsal. Come Champs we will see even better performances," Hawthorne said.

At the Carifta Trials, St Jago was led by Class Two athlete Raheem Chambers who turned back a strong Under-18 field to win the 100 metres in an impressive 10.28 seconds. Others who shone brightly at the trials were Jordan Chin in the 100m and 400m runners Ivan Henry, Martin Manley and their 'new dynamite', the smooth Nathon Allen.

Despite the many outstanding individual performances, Hawthorne is not singling out any individual for Champs.

"I do not like to name individual athletes as I am looking on the broader picture. I am a team person and once they are well prepared they will do well on the day," he said.

Hawthorne said his field events are not as strong but the athletes have been improving.

"We are not where we want to be in the field events but over the past year there has been improvement and come next year it will be much better."

Raheem Chambers (right) winning the Under-18 100 metres in 10.28 seconds at the National Stadium on March 8. Akeem Bloomfield (left) of Kingston College was second in 10.42 while Chad Walker (centre) of St Jago was third in 10.45. - file