Dyke happy to be back on top at Champs

GOING INTO the 2024 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs), Edwin Allen High were overwhelming favourites for the girls’ title. However, despite their very strong all-round team, the Michael Dyke-coached team had to stave off a very determined Cory Bennett-coached Hydel High to regain the title in the end, just holding on for a narrow 9.5 points victory, 335.50 to 326.

Edwin Allen led for the entire championship and on the final day had a 78-points lead at one stage and looked like running out easy winners. However, Hydel produced some outstanding performances, especially in the field events, and reduced the gap significantly going into the final three events, the 3000 metres open, the sprint medley and 4x400m. Edwin Allen led by just 11.5 points going into the final event.

“We went into the championships as clear favourites but after dropping a lot of points, especially in the field events in the latter stages of the day, it was very nerve-wracking and it brought back memories of 2013 when we had a 70-point lead over Holmwood Technical going into the final day of the Championships and we eventually lost by five points. Holmwood scored 310.5 points to our 305.5 points,” said Dyke.

“It was a similar situation to last year when it came down to the 4x400m, where we won the final event over Hydel but still lost by two points,” he shared.

“I had a serious discussion with my girls going into that final event telling them that all they had to do was to play it safe as they only had to finish the event for us to win the title. My senior girls were on the team, and I knew they would have followed my instructions well. I told them not to try and force a win and do anything stupid as any position, even finishing eighth, guaranteed an overall victory,” Dyke added,

In the end they finished second to Hydel in the 4x400m, and Dyke was very happy to regain the team title.

“It is a good feeling to be back in the winning column after last year’s loss, and we promised our fans and supporters then that we deliver this year on the 60th anniversary of the school and give them the title as a gift,” he said.

Dyke thanked all the people who made the win possible.

“I would like to thank the girls, the support staff, the school administration, the ancillary staff, coaches, the community of Frankfield, past students locally and overseas and principal Jermaine Harris for the support given because without that support, the task would not have been possible,” said the Edwin Allen coach.