Waqar DaCosta ... should be a key member of Jamaica College's 4x800m team. – File Photos
Coaches from the top boys schools were oozing confidence on the eve of the 2009 Gibson Relays.
Champion school Calabar are all set to sizzle in the Class One 4x100 metres, with the team predicted to break the record set by St Jago last year.
Jamaica College, who were denied victory in the 4x800 metres last year after a mishap late in the event, are expected to be in a battle royal with Holmwood Technical, while Kingston College are the hot favourites for the 4x400 metres, where former Happy Grove High 400 metres runner, Akino Ming, will be expected to play a key role.
Calabar's MICHAEL CLARKE said he was looking forward to some positive results.
"We are going to be in high spirits," said Clarke on Tuesday. "This is not the total focus but we are taking the meet seriously. This is an ongoing process for the big event, which is Boys' Championships.
"I think our strongest class is Class One. The other teams are, however, pretty competitive."
High expectations
Clarke said his top four for the Class One sprint relay will be Oshane Bailey, Ramone McKenzie, Warren Weir and Ricardo Powell. The Calabar quartet clocked 40.05 at the Camperdown Classics, run at the Stadium in mid-February, and are expected to go well under 40 seconds if they get to today's final.
In Class Two where Calabar are also expected to do well, the leading runners are George Fearon, Yannique Morris, Rushane Young and Orlando Allen.
MICHAEL RUSSELL, coach of Calabar's arch-rivals Kingston College, said earlier this week that his preparations are also going well.
"We are using the Gibson Relays as a stepping stone for the Boys' Championships," Russell said. He added: "Our main area of concern is the Class One sprint relay, where we are trying to do a lot of work in that area to get our team ready for Boys' Championships, so Gibson Relays gives us a chance to test a few things."
Russell said his Class Two and Class Three teams will do well.
"We have a formidable Class Two and the Class Three is also a good team. Jovan Brown, Keneil Grant and Akino Hall worked well together in Class Three and they are now in Class Two. We have a decent Class Three. They won at Western Relays two weeks ago so we are expecting some good things."
Main rivals
Kingston College failed to reach the Class One final last year but Russell expects a good run from top junior hurdler, Keiron Stewart, and the rest of the team in the sprint relay. Stewart is also expected to run the 4x400m.
According to Russell, his main rivals in Classes Two and Three will be Wolmer's and Jamaica College, while Calabar will be the team to beat in Class One.
Wolmer's coach BERTLAND CAMERON said he was looking to a top three finish in the Class Three 4x100m and 4x200m.
"We have prepared well. We are hoping to be in the top three in Class Three 4x100m and 4x200m and do the same thing in Class Two. In the 4x400m Open we are also hoping to be in the top three," Cameron said.
At the Western Relays, Wolmer's won the Class Two 4x100m and 4x200m. Their Class Three teams were second in both events.
Cameron thinks St George's College will be the team to watch in Class Three.
"St George's have a great Class Three. KC will do well at the Gibson Relays, while Calabar are doing well right now."
Coach JOHN MAIR of Jamaica College said his preparations have also been going well and he expects to do well.
"We have shown good form in the early season," Mair said.
"Our Class Three and Class Four teams won the sprint relays at the Camperdown Classics. We were third in Class Two and also ran 3:18 in the 4x400m.
"Overall, we expect to do fairly well in the 4x800m and 4x400."
JC's strongest team among the senior boys is the 4x800 metres. They have lost only Bengallo Morrison from the team which was very unlucky last year and Mair said they expect to win this event this year. 
Oshane Bailey (left) and Warren Weir, two members of Calabar's crack 4x100m team.
JC's coach John Mair.
Calabar's coach Michael Clarke.