Defending champions Kingston College (KC) and the ever-improving Immaculate Conception High school are the early leaders in the boys’ and girls’ categories heading into the two-day Corporate Area Development Championships today. The event will take place at the Ashenheim Stadium at Jamaica College (JC) starting 9:00 am.

Both schools lead their respective sections following the completion of a number of field event finals in the championships, which were contested at the Youngster Goldsmith Classics, which was held on February 3 at the National Stadium.

In the boys’ standings, KC hold a slight advantage with 51 points and are followed by Jamaica College 47, and Calabar with 34. Wolmer’s with 19, Excelsior 11, St George’s College 6, and Clan Carthy on 3 points are the other schools troubling the points table at this stage.

On the girls’ side, Immaculate (49 points) enjoy a seven-point lead at the top ahead of defending champions Excelsior, who sit on 42 points with Wolmer’s Girls following on 33. Merl Grove are next best with 23 points followed by Alpha Academy 17, The Queen’s School 14, and St Hugh’s on six.

Leaford Grant, head coach of KC, expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance and early lead in the competition and is looking for solid execution over the next two days.

“We are very happy to be out in front because that was the objective from the start, and the youngsters are looking forward to the next two days of competition,” Grant said. “The boys who are competing are going to give their best, and they are expected to perform at their best during the championships.”

Meanwhile, Franz Forde, head coach of Immaculate, a school which has never won the Corporate Area title in the championship’s 11-year history, is feeling optimistic about his team’s chances this time around.

“The girls have worked hard, and they are going out there against the defending champions, Excelsior, and also Wolmer’s, so we are happy with the start. The girls understand the aim and objective and are determined to maintain it,” Forde added.

“These two days are going to be very competitive because from what we have seen during the season thus far, the competition [is tough] in each division. So, we know what we are up against, and it is for everybody to hold their nerves and compete at the best level they can,” he asserted.

One of the highlights today will be the finals of the 100m for both boys and girls in all classes.

The winners of the boys’ and girls’ sections will each receive $150,000, with the runner-up taking home $100,000. The third-placed teams will collect $50,000 each.