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A track for Bolt
J'can star to get synthetic surface at UWI
BY KAYON RAYNOR Senior staff reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Triple Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt and his Racers Track Club teammates could soon have a synthetic track to prepare for international meets on the grounds of the University of West Indies, Mona Campus.
Triple world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt.
The Racers Track Club has been using the grass track at the UWI Bowl as their early season training base for more than six years.
A highly-placed Sunday Observer source revealed that negotiations are well advanced between Bolt's management team, the Racers Track Club and agents of the Germany-based Athletic Track specialist company, Regupol, which constructed the blue track for this summer's 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin.
"Originally, the makers of the track offered Bolt a four-lane, 150-metre portion of the surface in recognition of his performance in Berlin, but his agent has been negotiating with them to look at the possibility of a full (eight-lane) track," said the source, who requested anonymity.
Bolt dominated the World Championships in Berlin in August, winning the 100 and 200 metres in world record times of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds respectively.
He also ran the third leg on Jamaica's victorious 4x100m men's team that won the sprint relay in a championships record 37.31secs.
"Basically, the logistics are being worked out, but they (Regupol) seem confident to go the extra mile and give him (Bolt) a full track," the source told the Sunday Observer.
Athletes from Norway work out on the grass track with the Racers Track Club at the University of West Indies, Mona Campus earlier this year.
It is understood that the deal could be consummated within weeks.
The impeccable source further indicated that the management of the University of West Indies, which has been trying to establish its own synthetic track for years, has given their blessings for the track to be laid at the campus. The cost to erect the synthetic surface was not divulged.
And according to information obtained from Regupol's website, their athletic tracks are suitable for international professional sports.
"Their (Regupol) material composition was developed in accordance with physical sports requirements and incorporates a balance between speed, non-slip qualities and shock absorption exactly turned for athletes' physical constitutions.
"Regupol synthetic tracks create the ideal conditions for training and competition for athletes around the world," the website said.
Incidentally, Regupol is one of four companies currently bidding to the Jamaican Government for the contract to refurbish the two worn-out Mondo tracks at the National Stadium and Stadium East facilities.
Athletes from the Racers Track Club, like members of the MVP Track Club and Corporate Area high school athletes, usually use the Mondo track situated at Stadium East to conduct training in the middle of the season.
J'can star to get synthetic surface at UWI
BY KAYON RAYNOR Senior staff reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Triple Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt and his Racers Track Club teammates could soon have a synthetic track to prepare for international meets on the grounds of the University of West Indies, Mona Campus.
Triple world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt.The Racers Track Club has been using the grass track at the UWI Bowl as their early season training base for more than six years.
A highly-placed Sunday Observer source revealed that negotiations are well advanced between Bolt's management team, the Racers Track Club and agents of the Germany-based Athletic Track specialist company, Regupol, which constructed the blue track for this summer's 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin.
"Originally, the makers of the track offered Bolt a four-lane, 150-metre portion of the surface in recognition of his performance in Berlin, but his agent has been negotiating with them to look at the possibility of a full (eight-lane) track," said the source, who requested anonymity.
Bolt dominated the World Championships in Berlin in August, winning the 100 and 200 metres in world record times of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds respectively.
He also ran the third leg on Jamaica's victorious 4x100m men's team that won the sprint relay in a championships record 37.31secs.
"Basically, the logistics are being worked out, but they (Regupol) seem confident to go the extra mile and give him (Bolt) a full track," the source told the Sunday Observer.
Athletes from Norway work out on the grass track with the Racers Track Club at the University of West Indies, Mona Campus earlier this year.It is understood that the deal could be consummated within weeks.
The impeccable source further indicated that the management of the University of West Indies, which has been trying to establish its own synthetic track for years, has given their blessings for the track to be laid at the campus. The cost to erect the synthetic surface was not divulged.
And according to information obtained from Regupol's website, their athletic tracks are suitable for international professional sports.
"Their (Regupol) material composition was developed in accordance with physical sports requirements and incorporates a balance between speed, non-slip qualities and shock absorption exactly turned for athletes' physical constitutions.
"Regupol synthetic tracks create the ideal conditions for training and competition for athletes around the world," the website said.
Incidentally, Regupol is one of four companies currently bidding to the Jamaican Government for the contract to refurbish the two worn-out Mondo tracks at the National Stadium and Stadium East facilities.
Athletes from the Racers Track Club, like members of the MVP Track Club and Corporate Area high school athletes, usually use the Mondo track situated at Stadium East to conduct training in the middle of the season.
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