BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HAVING finished in third place at the 2009 TDC/Coca-Cola/LIME Interschool Championships, Verchilds High School (VHS) Head Coach Lonzo Wilkinson has stated with confidence that the team will emerge as the 2010 champions at this weekend’s event.
“I’m looking at really winning this year. Last year we dropped three gold medals that we were sure of…and we would have had fifteen if it weren’t for that. It would have taken one or two away from Basseterre or Sandy Point and we probably would have won,” he said in an interview with SKNVibes.
When asked about VHS’ competition this year, Wilkinson said he expected a very spirited contest from many of the 11 competing teams. Not only will VHS be racing in the medal count against Interschool giants such as the Sandy Point and Basseterre High Schools, but will likely face strong teams coming out of Nevis, the coach said.
Verchilds was one of the last schools to hold their Sports Day this year before the Interschool Championships, but Wilkinson said that he sees this as an asset to his team.
“A lot of times when it is further away there is a drop off in athletes because some of them might not be as serious and when Sports Day is over they don’t want to keep training. Having it closer to the meet means they don’t have to do as much work to get ready.”
The depth of the Verchilds team was already displayed to some degree at the National Junior Championships, held on March 6, and Wilkinson said that the people of St. Kitts-Nevis can expect an even greater display this weekend.
“I’m fielding an all around team. Our strengths are really in the middle distance, long distance and field events, but we don’t have as many sprinters as the other some of the other schools.
“There are some people who feel that we would do well in the field, but I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We have a couple of people who are looking good for Carifta, so we will see what happens,” he said.
Of particular strength to the team will be senior athlete Aaron Bennire, Carifta qualifier Lonzo Wilkinson Jr. and VHS Sports Day Victrix Lodorum Rosalie Pringle.
Wilkinson said that he also believes younger athletes like Warren Hazel, who performs strongly in the jumps, and Sheneka Henry would also help to round out the VHS team.
“I think the young athletes are really what we are going to be looking to since there is always somewhat of a drop off in the senior category.”
Despite that “drop off”, Wilkinson still feels his athletes can compete in the under-20 category, which will largely be controlled by the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College.
“CFB has their senior team and lots of teams worry about their strength there, but we’re not intimidated. It goes down to medal count and whatever team can get the most medals will win. It is really going to come down to whatever team can strategize best and can field a team that will bring in the most medals,” the coach stated.
The TDC/Coca-Cola/LIME Interschool Championships begin this Friday (Mar. 19) at 3 p.m. at the Silver Jubilee Anniversary Stadium with nine final events, an opening ceremony and the AquaVita Cheerleading Competition.
The competition will then continue on Saturday and Sunday (Mar. 20-21) at 2p.m. each day and will culminate with a performance by Infamus at the closing ceremony. Admission is EC $20 for the Kim Collins Pavillion, $10 for the grounds and $5 for children.
