When Edwin Allen High School’s girls’ team begins preparation for the 2026-27 track and field season, the 11-time ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) winners will be under some pressure to retain the title they won this year.The Michael Dyke-coached team will lose some 10 Class 1 athletes who represented the school at Champs, as they are all heading to colleges and universities overseas. It is a record number for one school to have so many athletes leaving at the same time.Leading the list is jumper Akeleah Brown, who contributed 24 individual points after winning both the Class 1 long jump and high jump, while finishing third in the triple jump. She will be attending Western Texas A&M University.Following her is middle- and long-distance athlete Sushana Johnson, who garnered 18 points after victories in the 3,000m and the Open 2,000m steeplechase. She will attend Central Arizona Junior College.Vice-captain KellyAnn Carr, the fastest schoolgirl this season in the 400m with 52.00 seconds, contributed 16 points after winning the 400m and finishing second in the 400m hurdles. Carr will be heading to the University of Tennessee.Also heading to a powerhouse university is Trinidad and Tobago’s Alexxee Edwards, who finished second in both the 100m and 200m behind the outstanding Shanoya Douglas of Holland High. Edwards collected 14 points.Another high scorer for the Frankfield-based team was captain Brianna Morris, who secured 10 points after finishing second in the Open 2,000m steeplechase and sixth in the 3,000m. She is heading to St Thomas University in Florida.Another big points earner was Brittany Baron, who picked up 11 points after winning the open heptathlon. She will also be heading to Central Arizona Junior College, where she will be joined by thrower Dionjah Shaw, who earned nine points after finishing second in the discus and sixth in the shot put.Other points scorers leaving include Horecia Love, who collected 11 points after finishing third in the 800m and fourth in the 1,500m, and will also be attending St Thomas University. Shanique Cassanova ended with seven points after placing third in the 200m and eighth in the 400m, and will join Johnson at Odessa Junior College. Renecia Edwards rounds out the list after earning six points at Champs with her third-place finish in the 100m. She will attend Life University in Georgia.Despite the massive exodus of athletes from his team, coach Michael Dyke remains confident that Edwin Allen can continue its winning ways.“I am fully aware of this already and have plans in place to recover these points and more,” said an upbeat Dyke.