Hydel poses genuine threat to Edwin Allen’s Champs dominance
Published:Tuesday | February 8, 2022 | 12:09 AMRaymond Gaham/Gleaner Writer
THE 2022 track and field season is well on the way and it has been a battle royal so far among the high-school teams, especially athletes from top contending teams.
With just some eight weeks to go before the ISSA Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, fans are in store for an exciting weekend competition, especially among the girls where we could see a new champion this year.
Edwin Allen High School have been the most outstanding female team for the past nine championships, winning eight titles, seven of them coming consecutively.
Based on performances so far at the various development meets, things could change this time around, as the Hydel girls out of Ferry, St Catherine have put on some memorable performances. Hydel came close in 2019 and this could be year of the Corey Bennett-coached team.
In 2019, after being behind Edwin Allen by some 50 points on the fourth day in third position, Hydel rallied gallantly, only losing by seven points. Despite being behind so far going into the final day of competition, many thought they would have dethroned the champions based on the number of athletes they had qualifying for the finals compared to Edwin Allen’s entrants, but the champions held on in the end.
STRONG CLASS I TEAM
With their strong Class I team this year, including the likes of twin sisters Tina and Tia, along with Serena Cole and Brandy Hall, many think a ninth title is an eventuality for the Michael Dyke-coached team, but that would be a mistake.
The likes of Brianna Lyston, Oneika McAnnuf, Oneika Wilson and Daena Dyer can truly test the champions in Class I. The addition of the outstanding Lyston, who, five years ago, dominated the Clayton twins in Class IV while competing for St Jago, could be what the doctor ordered for Hydel. And Lyston has been in the form of her life this season and could dominate the twins like she did in 2017. Whatever happens, her presence in the Hydel team will make a big difference.
Alana Reid, Aaliah Baker, Kerrica Hill, Shania Myers and Taiefa Gowe make Hydel’s Class II team awesome and, all being well, will score many points. This is where the championships could be decided.
History is also in the offing for Hydel, who could win the hurdles events in all classes, including the Open 400-metre hurdles.
A year ago, the Hydel team was very weak in the middle distances, this impacting their ability to mount a credible challenge for the title. This season, there has been tremendous improvement in this area.
While Hydel seems stronger than the champions on the track, the championships could come down to the team which performs better in the field, especially in throws, and here could be the difference maker.