LEIGHTON LEVY, STAR Writer

Wolmer's Girls has been hit hard by injuries, forcing head coach Michael Carr, to be juggling athletes like nine-pins as he strives to keep the school relevant in this year's Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletic Championships.

It has been a challenging season for the Marescaux Road-based school that is usually a top-five finisher among the girls. "Difficult is putting it mildly," said a frustrated Carr.

On Wednesday, Carr witnessed Class Four runner Ashanti Clarke pull up with a groin strain after just a few steps in the 200m. Clarke competed in the 100m yesterday and Carr would be hoping she can remain healthy enough to earn points.

"It has been very challenging so far. We came into these championships with some niggling injuries and what has happened now is that those injuries have come to the forefront and the girls are falling like ninepins," he said.

He said, despite the injuries, his girls are going to make a good showing of it. "We are going to put the best forward just the same. If you noticed, we had to pull Shauna Helps from the 200m. She is not 100 per cent."

Helps, one of Wolmer's' best medal prospects, who false-started in the 200m last year, has been carrying a lingering injury throughout the season.

Carr decided to withdraw her from the event after what he said was a 'last-minute assessment' .

Hurdler Janique Brown is also carrying injuries, as well as Chris-Ann Brown. "Some of the key players are not at a full hundred, but we are going to fight," Carr said.

Carr is now banking on his healthy athletes to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining the school's tradition of excellence.