DEFENDING champions Edwin Allen High Girls and Hydel High Boys will be hoping to retain their respective crowns at the two-day Central Athletics Championship starting today at Kirkvine Sports Club in Manchester.

Three events — the discus, javelin and steeplechase — started yesterday at the Vere Technical High School in Clarendon. However, at press time, no results were available.

The Michael Dyke-coached Edwin Allen won by 84 points last year, amassing 374.5 points from 38 events and was well clear of second-placed Holmwood High with 290 points. Vere Technical was third with 286.5 with Hydel fourth on 208.5.

Again, these schools will be the main protagonists with Edwin Allen firm favourites to defend their title.

This meet is usually a precursor to the ISSA Boys’ and Girl’s Championship and all the teams will be cautious as not to pick up any injuries leading up to the big one.

The battle in the boys’ category should be close again with Hydel hard-pressed to retain their title. Last year they gathered 132 points and won by 14 ahead of Edwin Allen with Bellefield High third on 106 points. Holmwood were fourth on 101 points.

The competition will officially start today with an assembly of the athletes at 9:15 am at Kirkvine.

The 1,500m heats for all classes boys and girls will be the first on track. That will be followed by the shot put girls’ classes two and one, high jump class three boys and long jump class two girls.

The first finals will start at 2:00 pm with the running of the girls’ 100 metres for all classes. Day two is scheduled to be completed by 4:30 pm with the running of the 4x100m heat.