RAYMOND GRAHAM, STAR Writer

THE highly anticipated athletics season will get under way tomorrow with the Pure Water Invitational Meet at Jamaica College, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Though this is only the first meet on the Jamaica Administration Athletics Association 2015 calendar, fans can expect fireworks.

All eyes will be on defending Inter-Secondary School Sports Association Girls champion, Edwin Allen High, which has suffered the biggest loss of athletes during the off-season. Many think their reign could be close to an end as St Catherine-based teams St Jago and Hydel are true contenders for the Girls Championships title in March.

Powerful class

Not only has the Michael Dyke-coached team lost most members of its powerful class one team from last year, they have also lost top throwing coach, Marlon Gayle, who is now a part of the St Jago High coaching staff.

Nevertheless, Dyke is not worried about his opposition, and come tomorrow, is hoping to send out a strong message to his main rivals.

"We will be coming out with most of our girls as we want them, especially the new ones, to achieve qualifying standards early, and the public will get a glimpse of what will happen for the remainder of the season as we still have a strong unit," said Dyke.

Dyke gave a lot of credit to Gayle for his work with the team over the years, but does not think the coach's departure will stop the Edwin Allen train.

"Marlon (Gayle) has done well over the years with the team but most of the girls he worked with are in class one and we are very strong in the other classes as plans were put in place. The team is more united now than before, the girls are more motivated, and they want to prove a point," he stated.