Work on KC track to begin on Monday
KINGSTON COLLEGE is following in the path of history by breaking ground for its new synthetic running track at the Melbourne campus on Elletson Road yesterday. They will become the second local high school to do so in one year following in the footstep of Calabar High, which opened its track last January.
The new track is being facilitated by Bachelor’s familyheaded RuJohn Foundation, which has contributed 75 per cent of the US$400,000 estimated cost of construction.
Yesterday’s ceremony was well attended by past and current students, as well as political representatives.
Work on the track will begin on Monday and is expected to be completed in late February.
Byron Bachelor handed over the initial contribution to Byron Ingleton of Pavecom, the company responsible to start the early work on the project.
The track will have a full 100m straight, but will measure 350m in complete length, along with Officials (from left) Denzil Wilks (general manager, Sports Development Foundation); Bryan Ingleton; Byron Bachelor (executive member, RuJohn Foundation); Dave Myrie (headmaster, Kingston College); Dr Warren Blake (president, JAAA); Ingrid Bachelor (executive member, RuJohn Foundation); Michael Vaccianna (chairman, Kingston College School Board); and Christina Bachelor (president, RuJohn Foundation) take part in a ground-breaking ceremony for Kingston College’s synthetic running track yesterday.
international standard curves.
This is not the first contribution from the Bachelors, who a
year ago helped in building one of two new basketball courts for the North Street-based institution
and Byron, along with wife Ingrid and daughter Christine, were all present yesterday.
Byron, who represented Kingston College at the Boys Athletics Championships as a part of the successful medley relay team in 1979, where he ran in the preliminary round spoke about his love for Kingston College and giving back.
“While at Kingston College, I was encouraged by George Thompson, then coach, that once you give, you will receive and it is not only when you are wealthy you are to give, as whatever you can give early in your life, it will add up big time after a while; and because of my love for the institution I had no problem to give back,” said Byron, who stated that his daughter, Christina played a great part as she had a secret meeting with Principal Dave Myrie, making it known that she wanted to help.
The young Bachelor was very ecstatic about her family’s contribution.
“I think this is a great project, and it gives us an opportunity from the RuJohn Foundation to touch a lot of lives. I think there is so much talent in Jamaica in track and field and this gives the kids the proper tools to be able to excel to their full potential,” she said.
GRATEFUL FOR TRACK
Myrie was thankful in his address.
“I must thank RuJohn Foundation for its major role here, along with all others who have contributed. Special thanks to the Florida Old Boys Chapter, led by Audley Hewitt and all the other Old boys locally and overseas. This will definitely go a far way with the preparation of the track team, as this will guarantee less injuries and definitely will result in optimum performance.” he said
Also present yesterday were JAAA president Dr Warren Blake; Juliet Campbell representing Puma; Denzil Wilks – chairman of the Sports Development Foundation; and Michael Vaccianna, board chairman of Kingston College.