‘We are going to defend our title’ – coach Morgan

Rawlson Morgan, head coach of the St Vincent Grammar School, the defending Male Division Champions of the Inter-secondary Schools’ Athletics championships is welcoming all who want to challenge his charges when the showpiece event takes place this Wednesday at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.{{more}}

Morgan, however, was quick to point out that his team would not be at full strength.

“We would be a team that would be missing some athletes because of injury, but regardless, we are going there to defend our title; the others would have to come and take it from us,” a confident Morgan told SEARCHLIGHT.

But throwing down the gauntlet to the St Vincent Grammar School is one former winner – the Thomas Saunders Secondary School. That institution’s head coach and physical education teacher Godfrey Harry though, was more forthright in his prediction.

Sporting a jersey with the inscription “I’m not competing,” Harry told SEARCHLIGHT that was no idle boast. Harry said his team are not competing, as others would have to compete against them on Wednesday.

“It is only the Juniors 100m and 1000m that we are not in the finals,” Harry said of the Thomas Saunders Secondary, which last won the Male Division in 2011.

In taking the male title last year, the St Vincent Grammar School put together 256 points, which was 74 more than was gained by the Thomas Saunders Secondary, which placed second. But Harry sees 2015 as the completion of the progression, as his male charges were third in 2013. The reigning champion – the St Vincent Grammar School – is chasing down its fourth successive lien on title, having also won in 2012 and 2013.

The St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown trumped the female title in 2014, but Harry is quietly confident that the Thomas Saunders Secondary School can also pouch that division as well.

Others schools in contention are the Bethel High School and the Central Leeward Secondary.

Today, Tuesday, it will be the turn of the primary schools, as they have their date to excel, when the athletes take to the track at the same venue. Much of the spotlight in the primary division would come from the Kingstown Preparatory School, the Du Bois Government and the Layou Primary.

The two days of athletics events are tagged as “Phenomenal”. (RT)