Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

A two-horse race is expected between defending champions Morant Bay High and Oberlin High schools for the Jamaica National (JN)/Eastern Secondary Schools Sports Association (ESSSA) Eastern Athletic Championships, which begins at 9:00 a.m. this morning at the National Stadium East Complex.The meet, funded with over $3 million by title sponsors JN along with the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited and the Jamaica Citrus Growers Limited under its Juciful brand name, will be run over two days with the second and final slated for tomorrow inside the National Stadium.

Oberlin, who are among the 17 teams, are hell-bent to take back from Morant Bay the title which they believe is rightfully theirs, who have won for the past three years.

Morant Bay's coach Rohan Bryan agreed that this year's championships is going to be very close.

"It will be one of the more keenly contested in recent times," he said.

Scholarships

"We won't win as easy as we normally do. The team is weaker this year," he said, while making reference to the fact that most of his girls have left early to take up scholarships.

However, he is positive about his boys' team.

"The boys should take care of business as usual. We have all-round strength from Class Three to Class One."

Oberlin's coach, Everton Leslie, who has a very good record at this level over the years, said he expects to win.

"I am very optimistic where that (winning) is concerned," he said.

He said his team's strength lies with the Class One boys, but noted that the talent spread is all-round.

"I intend to score in all classes, especially in the sprints and distances. However, where the Classes Three and Two boys are concerned, in mostly in the sprints," he pointed out.

Speakingt about his girls' team, Leslie said: "This is a balanced team. We expect to have a finalist in all the finals," he said.

Set to lead the charge for Oberlin, who have won 10 titles, are Shawn King and Shavar Williams in the Class One sprints and quarter-mile respectively; Delroy Grant in the Class Three throws; sprinter Horane Burton, along with Kerrie Lamb in the girls' 400m hurdles open; Alecia Yates in the 400m; and, Jody Waldron in the 800m and 1500m for Class Two girls.

Leading the charge

For Morant Bay, Adain Ewart and Omar Mason in the boys' sprints should lead the charge. They should be backed up by Juwayne Moore in the Class Three sprints and hurdles and Horabe Holgate in the Class Two jumps.

Janeane Jones and Tonique Sobah are expected to shine in the Class Four and three sprints and jumps respectively, while Oreith Powell should be in the mix for the sprints and jumps.

Yallahs should not be counted out, especially with the likes of Lorraine Daley, Anthony McFarlane and Kirk Patterson.

The events are slated to get under way at 9:00 a.m. each day and end at 5:00 p.m. on Monday before concluding the following day with the 4x400 metres boys' and girls' Open relays at about 4:30 p.m. All events are sponsored.

Coach of the winning school will earn $20,000, second place $15,000 and third $10,000.

Feedback: anthony.foster@ gleanerjm.com