Left: Calabar's coach Michael Clarke. Right: Edwin Allen's coach Michael Dyke.

The wait is over. After months of extensive preparations, the moment is here. Starting today, and over the next four days, the country's leading junior athletes will be in action at the National Stadium as they seek glory at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls' Championships.

Today's action begins at 2 p.m with the boys javelin and Class One boys long jump. No finals are scheduled for today.

Also on today are the heats of the sprint hurdles in all classes for boys and girls with the final event, the boys 2000 metres steeplechase open, set to begin at 7:20 p.m.

Defending boys champions, Calabar High, and 2012 queens, Edwin Allen High, are overwhelming favourites for the overall titles.

ready to defend

Head coach of Calabar, Michael Clarke, said his boys are well prepared and ready to defend their title.

I don't like to make predictions but all I know is that the boys have been well prepared and are ready to give of their best. Nothing has changed, our plan from day one is to win the title," said Clarke.

Clarke also spoke highly of his Class Three team which has been creating waves all season.

"I am extremely pleased with how these young guys have been performing all season and they are a special group," said Clarke. The Class Three group includes Tyreke Wilson and Christopher Taylor who have posted sensational times over the 100 and 400 metres, respectively. Calabar also have in their squad the outstanding Class One duo, sprinter/hurdler Michael O'Hara and World Championships 4x400m hero, Javon Francis, who is expected to run the 200m/400m double at the meet.

Calabar's biggest threat is expected to come from many-time champions Kingston College, especially from their powerful Class Two team led by the likes of Nathaniel Bann, Akeem Bloomfield and Jhevaughn Matherson.

St Jago High and 'dark horse' team Jamaica College also have a number of quality athletes in their squads.

St Jago are strong in Classes One and Two. They will be banking on Raheem Chambers to score a sprint double in Class Two, while in Class One they will be banking on the likes of 400 metres specialists Nathon Allen and Martin Manley.

JC have not shown a lot on the track this season but are extremely strong in the field especially in the jumps with the likes of Clayton Brown and O'brien Waysome in the triple jump open and Christopher Mitchell and Akeem Kerr in the pole vault.

Edwin Allen were overwhelming favourites for the girls' title a year ago but ran out of steam on the final day after holding a sizeable lead.

Head coach, Michael Dyke, is, however, very confident that his team will prevail this year.

"Our team this year is much stronger than last year and the girls are better prepared. There are no injury concerns and the coaching staff is extremely confident. We can score over 350 points and we do not see any other team scoring this number," said Dyke in a recent interview.

Despite a low-key season, defending champions, Holmwood Technical, under new head coach, Kirk Brown, cannot be written off as his girls are 'warriors' and know what it takes to emerge championships.

Holmwood's top girl should be Yanique Thompson who is the hot favourite for the Class One 100 metres hurdles.

Four-time champions St Jago High have had a good build-up and their head coach, Keilando Goburn, is quietly confident that they can win their fifth title.

"St Jago will not play dead as we have a very strong team and are coming to put on a show as the team is well prepared. We have a strong all-round team and we will be very competitive over the five days," said Goburn. Kimone Shaw in Class Three should win many points for St Jago.

CHAMPS SCHEDULE

TUESDAY MARCH 25, 2014

2:00 P.M. Boys 14-19 Javelin OPEN Prelims

2:00 P.M. Boys 16-19 Long Jump CLASS 1 Prelims

2:15 P.M. Girls 10-12 70 Metres Hurdles CLASS 4 Prelims

2:30 P.M. Girls 15-16 Shot Put CLASS 2 Prelims

2:35 P.M. Girls 13-14 80 Metres Hurdles CLASS 3 Prelims

2:40 P.M. Girls 17-18 High Jump CLASS 1 Prelims

3:05 P.M. Girls 15-16 100 Metres Hurdles CLASS 2 Prelims

3:15 P.M. Girls 17-18 100 Metres Hurdles CLASS 1 Prelims

3:25 P.M. Boys 10-13 100 Metres Hurdles CLASS 3 Prelims

3:50 P.M. Boys 14-15 110 Metres Hurdles CLASS 2 Prelims

4:15 P.M. Boys 16-19 110 Metres Hurdles CLASS 1 Prelims

4:15 P.M. Girls 15-16 Long Jump CLASS 2 Prelims

4:35 P.M. Girls 13-14 400 Metres CLASS 3 Prelims

4:40 P.M. Girls 17-18 Discus CLASS 1 Prelims

5:00 P.M. Boys 10-13 400 Metres CLASS 3 Prelims

5:30 P.M. Girls 15-16 400 Metres CLASS 2 Prelims

5:55 P.M. Boys 14-15 400 Metres CLASS 2 Prelims

6:00 P.M. Boys 14-15 Long Jump CLASS 2 Prelims

6:30 P.M. Girls 17-18 400 Metres CLASS 1 Prelims

6:45 P.M. Boys 16-19 400 Metres CLASS 1 Prelims

7:20 P.M. Boys 14-19 2000 Metres Steeplechase Prelims

WEDNESDAY MARCH 26, 2014

8:30 A.M. Girls 10-12 Long Jump CLASS 4 Prelims

8:30 A.M. Girls 17-18 Shot Put CLASS 1 Prelims

8:30 A.M. Boys 16-19 Discus CLASS 1 Prelims

8:30 A.M. Decathlon: #1 Boys 14-19 100 Metres Finals

8:35 A.M. Girls 13-14 High Jump CLASS 3 Prelims

8:45 A.M. Girls 13-14 800 Metres CLASS 3 Prelims

9:15 A.M. Boys 10-13 800 Metres CLASS 3 Prelims

9:55 A.M. Girls 15-16 800 Metres CLASS 2 Prelims

10:20 A.M. Boys 14-15 800 Metres CLASS 2 Prelims

10:30 A.M. Decathlon: #2 Boys 14-19 Long Jump Finals

11:00 A.M. Girls 17-18 800 Metres Run CLASS 1 Prelims

11:15 A.M. Boys 16-19 800 Metres Run CLASS 1 Prelims

1:30 P.M. Girls 13-14 Discus Throw CLASS 3 Prelims

1:30 P.M. Girls 15-16 High Jump CLASS 2 Prelims

1:35 P.M. Girls 10-12 200 Metres CLASS 4 Prelims

2:10 P.M. Girls 13-14 200 Metres CLASS 3 Prelims

2:45 P.M. Decathlon: #3 Boys 14-19 Shot Put Finals

2:50 P.M. Boys 10-13 200 Metres CLASS 3 Prelims

3:25 P.M. Girls 15-16 200 Metres CLASS 2 Prelims

3:35 P.M. Boys 10-13 High Jump CLASS 3 Prelims

3:35 P.M. Boys 14-15 Long Jump CLASS 2 Finals

4:10 P.M. Boys 14-15 200 Metres CLASS 2 Prelims

4:45 P.M. Girls 17-18 200 Metres CLASS 1 Prelims

5:05 P.M. Girls 17-18 Discus CLASS 1 Finals

5:10 P.M. Boys 16-19 200 Metres CLASS 1 Prelims

5:30 P.M. Girls 15-16 Shot Put CLASS 2 Finals

5:40 P.M. Decathlon: #4 Boys 14-19 High Jump Finals

5:45 P.M. Girls 13-19 400 Metres Hurdles OPEN Prelims

5:55 P.M. Boys 16-19 Long Jump CLASS 1 Finals

6:00 P.M. Boys 14-19 400 Metres Hurdles OPEN Prelims

6:20 P.M. Girls 10-12 4x100 Metres Relay CLASS 4 Prelims

6:50 P.M. Girls 13-14 4x100 Metres Relay CLASS 3 Prelims

7:15 P.M. Boys 10-13 4x100 Metres Relay CLASS 3 Prelims

7:45 P.M. Girls 15-16 4x100 Metres Relay CLASS 2 Prelims

8:10 P.M. Boys 14-15 4x100 Metres Relay CLASS 2 Prelims

8:35 P.M. Girls 17-18 4x100 Metres Relay CLASS 1 Prelims

8:50 P.M. Boys 16-19 4x100 Metres Relay CLASS 1 Prelims

9:15 P.M. Decathlon: #5 Boys 14-19 400 Metres Finals

9:25 P.M. Girls 13-19 2000 Metres Steeplechase OPEN Finals

9:40 P.M. Boys 14-19 2000 Metres Steeplechase OPEN Finals