Corey Bennett - file

Hydel's coach, Corey Bennett, has warned opponents that his team will not be there to make up numbers and will once again make their presence felt when the five-day competition gets started next Tuesday.

Hydel have been the most improved girls team over the past few years, and with major success at the various development meets so far this season Bennett believes his team should once again make their presence felt.

" We are not just coming to make up numbers as we will be competitive once again and although we are not expected to top the Championships we will continue to make a big impact," said Bennett.

not giving up

This will be Hydel's sixth year at the Championships and after a fifth-place finish for the past two years, Bennett is confident that they can at the very least remain there.

"It is very hard to catch up on the teams ahead of us, but at the same time we are not giving up. We are also hoping that those teams that finished below us will not pass us," he continued.

Hydel have been strong over the years in the lower classes where they have outperformed the big-name schools and the coach expects them to do well in those classes once again.

"We are not that strong in the technical events in Class IV this time around, but we will still do well in other areas," said Bennett.

"Definetely our strength is in Class II as we have the likes of National junior representatives Britney Kerr, who should score well in the long and triple jumps, and the heptathlon and there is also Samara Spencer in the high jump," he said.

Bennett also thinks his team will score more points than previous years in Class II, while for the first time they will have some quality athletes in Class I.

"We are a little bit strong in the throws in Class I as we expect Devia Brown and Shadae Lawrence to score quality points there," concluded Bennett.

Taqece Duggan of Hydel (left) celebrates with teammate Yanique Dayle after winning the Girls Class Three 200 metres at last year's Boys and Girls' Championships. - Ricardo Makyn