TOUGH CHOICE
High school coaches will face difficult decision in mid-February
TWO SCHEDULED development meets in mid-February will force most high school track and field coaches in Kingston and St Andrew to make some tough choices.
The S. W. Isaac-Henry Invitational will be held on Saturday, February 17, at the National Stadium, and the Corporate Area Development meet will be held at the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College, on February 16 and 17.
Both meets are sanctioned by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association and will be used as qualifiers for next month’s ISSA/ GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs). The Corporate Area is one of several regional meets, where the top two finishers of their respective events get automatic qualification spots to Champs. The Gleaner caught up with a number of coaches, who gave their views on the clash of meets.
“Our athletes will be competing at the Corporate Area meet as this is a no-brainer,” Neil Harrison, head coach of Jamaica College, said.
He added: “All the events that will be held at Champs will be contested there except the 2000 metres steeplechase. With it being a regional meet, it will definitely showcase the top athletes, which is very good rivalry ahead of Champs,” Harrison added.
“It is unfortunate that both meets will be kept on the same day as we would have liked to suppport both, but most of our athletes will compete at the Corporate Area meet,” Leaford Grant, head coach of Kingston College, said. “It is a regional meet and is a good warm-up one to test our athletes against the best of the best as the top three boys’ teams in the island will compete against each other.”
“The Corporate Area meet is a good meet as it offers all the events to be contested at Champs by our athletes, and with the top two finishers in their respective events getting automatic places (to Champs), this is a no-brainer, so my team will be well represented there,” Franz Forde of Immaculate Conception High said.
Michael Carr of Wolmer’s’s Girls, the top Corporate Area female team at Champs last year, will be sending athletes to both meets.
VERY IMPORTANT
“Both meets are very important although I think the Corporate Area meet is a good rehearsal for the top teams like ourselves and Immaculate. Only two athletes per event can compete here, so I will be sending other athletes to the S. W. Isaac-Henry,” said Carr. Meet directors, Ricky Martin for the Corporate Area and Leroy Cooke of the S.W. Isaac-Henry, said it is unfortunate that both meets have been scheduled for the same day.
“It is very unfortunate,” Martin said while adding that the Corporate Area meet should have been scheduled for a neutral venue as it is like giving Jamaica College an advantage at Ashenheim Stadium. “I think this meet should have been inside the National Stadium as it is definitely a dress rehearsal for Champs.” Despite the clash, Cooke still believes his meet will attract a number of athletes.
“It is unfortunate, but this date is pencilled in every year by our past students overseas who sponsor this meet, and they come to the island on that weekend,” said Cooke.
“I think the Corporate Area meet could have been held at another time as it is a regional meet, and it would have still gotten its full core of athletes. However, I think with only two athletes per event at the Corporate Area meet, we will be able to get some of the other athletes. I also expect to get a lot of support from teams in eastern Jamaica,” Cooke added.