THE track and field season is already in full gear, as schools all across the island prepare for another staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships been staged this year on March 28-31.

Reigning boys' champions Jamaica College chased their archivals Kingston College for three days in 2011 before running away by 11 points to cop their 21st hold on the title.

On the other side of the track Holmwood Technical won their ninth consecutive title by a four-point margin over Edwin Allen. Fast-forward to 2012 and the rivalry is even more tense between competing schools, top athletes have moved on to higher levels and future stars are on the rise.

Jamaica College improved on their results in the field events last year and will be looking to do the same this season. With the return of Rohan Brown in the sprints and relays the boys from Old Hope Road should start as favourites to claim their 22nd title.

Last year's championships saw the introduction of two new events the 3,000-m steeplechase and the boys' javelin, while the heptathlon was upgraded to the decathlon. These events played a major role in determining the champion, except for St Jago High no other team in the top five scored close to the number of points that Jamaica College did in these events.

Kingston College, Calabar and to a lesser extent Wolmer's Boys' and St Jago High will all have a say in what happens on the final day, but with an ever-improving and experienced Jamaica College team, dethroning the champions will be a hard task. The likes of Green Island's Odail Todd, Munro College's Delano Williams and Manchester High's impressive relay teams should also make this task even more arduous.

The race for the girls' title should be a very intense two horse race with the defending champions Holmwood Technical out front by the slimmest of margins.

In 2010, the team from Manchester won by a 13-point margin, and in 2011 that margin was reduced to a mere four points. The year 2012 could definitely be the year that Edwin Allen finally over take the nine-time champions.

Vere Technical and St Jago should form the nucleus of the top five, but will again fall short of the top two teams. Holmwood's chances will be heightened by hurdler Janieve Russel, sprinter Oshine Erskin and Gleneve Grange in the field, while Edwin Allen will be without Ristannana Tracey, have to bank on sprinter Christania Williams and long distance runner Marlena Eubanks.

Having worn the favourites cap for the past two seasons, and failing to unseat Holmwood, Edwin Allen will be hell bent on preventing their rivals from going on their tenth straight title.

Like any other championship, there will be surprises and upsets, some athletes will show up for the big day while some will back down.

Despite what goes down on or before the the big day TEENage will be providing comprehensive previews and reviews of the top athletes,schools and events in the lead up to the 2012 season of boys and girls athletics.

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