Tweet
Champs was simply the best!
ON THE SPORTING EDGE
PAUL REID
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Once again arguably one of the greatest high school track and field championships on the globe, the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships have lived up to its expectations and more.
At last week's 103rd staging, Jamaica's young track and field athletes reminded the region and the world which country 'run things' with yet another brilliant display of track and field.
While the records will show that Calabar High won their 23rd title and Holmwood Technical defied all the odds to end Edwin Allen High's one year- run and at least postpone talk of the Frankfield, Clarendon school starting the third dynasty at Girls Champs, it is the unprecedented number of records that will live on for decades to come.
On Saturday night, after five days of competition from Tuesday afternoon, the statistics showed that 27 new records were on the books.
That however, cannot begin to account for Kingston College's Omar McLeod breaking the Boys' Class 1 110m hurdles record twice; his teammate Jhevaughn Matherson breaking the Class 3 100m record twice; the Girls' Class 2 shot put record being broken on at least four times in the finals by two different throwers, and the Class 3 80m hurdles record also being broken twice by St Andrew Technical's Rushell Burton.
What was also significant was that the new records came in almost every area of Champs, in the straight away sprints, hurdles races, the horizontal and high jumps and the throws.
Talk of timing system malfunctions were premature and unfortunate, and would not account for the records in the jumps and throwing events where tape measures are used and not electronic timing systems.
Experts, some with over 40 years experience at Champs and in track and field, were up to earlier this week still "analysing the data" from Champs, as they seek to come to grips with what they saw on the track last week.
So far the early diagnosis range from Chaps being earlier and so the coaches had lessened the early work loads; or the rains and cooler conditions that prevailed at least on Friday's fourth day to 'Champs hype' that see the youngsters rise above what was expected of them.
Whatever the reasons be, one thing for certain, those accusing Jamaica of systematic drug use will use this as new fodder for their conspiracy theories.
To be fair, if we were seeing 12- year-old girls run 11.75 seconds over the 100m and 24.28 seconds over the 200m or 13- year-old boys running 10.75 seconds for the 100m in other places we too would be pointing fingers and making accusations as well.
Once again during Champs, the question of drug testing the youngster came up.
Many have come out against drug testing our youngsters, but I say bring it on as that could be the only way to shut up those who seek to tarnish our image.
Additionally, next weekend a 70- member squad will fly to the Bahamas for the 41st staging of the CARIFTA Championships and they could be drug tested here as well, so why not at Champs?
Drug testing will also be done at the IAAF World Youth Championships later this year in the Ukraine, and so those trying to gain an edge can't hide.
If we have nothing to hide why not allow all who want to test our athletes to come in and do so.
One thing is for sure, if these athletes are nurtured properly with an eye on the future, that is for the global championships and not just for Champs points and glory, then Jamaica's track and field profile will continue to rise.
As the Bob Marley lyrics say "Dem a go tyad feh see we face."
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2OCNAg98n
ON THE SPORTING EDGE
PAUL REID
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Once again arguably one of the greatest high school track and field championships on the globe, the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships have lived up to its expectations and more.
At last week's 103rd staging, Jamaica's young track and field athletes reminded the region and the world which country 'run things' with yet another brilliant display of track and field.
While the records will show that Calabar High won their 23rd title and Holmwood Technical defied all the odds to end Edwin Allen High's one year- run and at least postpone talk of the Frankfield, Clarendon school starting the third dynasty at Girls Champs, it is the unprecedented number of records that will live on for decades to come.
On Saturday night, after five days of competition from Tuesday afternoon, the statistics showed that 27 new records were on the books.
That however, cannot begin to account for Kingston College's Omar McLeod breaking the Boys' Class 1 110m hurdles record twice; his teammate Jhevaughn Matherson breaking the Class 3 100m record twice; the Girls' Class 2 shot put record being broken on at least four times in the finals by two different throwers, and the Class 3 80m hurdles record also being broken twice by St Andrew Technical's Rushell Burton.
What was also significant was that the new records came in almost every area of Champs, in the straight away sprints, hurdles races, the horizontal and high jumps and the throws.
Talk of timing system malfunctions were premature and unfortunate, and would not account for the records in the jumps and throwing events where tape measures are used and not electronic timing systems.
Experts, some with over 40 years experience at Champs and in track and field, were up to earlier this week still "analysing the data" from Champs, as they seek to come to grips with what they saw on the track last week.
So far the early diagnosis range from Chaps being earlier and so the coaches had lessened the early work loads; or the rains and cooler conditions that prevailed at least on Friday's fourth day to 'Champs hype' that see the youngsters rise above what was expected of them.
Whatever the reasons be, one thing for certain, those accusing Jamaica of systematic drug use will use this as new fodder for their conspiracy theories.
To be fair, if we were seeing 12- year-old girls run 11.75 seconds over the 100m and 24.28 seconds over the 200m or 13- year-old boys running 10.75 seconds for the 100m in other places we too would be pointing fingers and making accusations as well.
Once again during Champs, the question of drug testing the youngster came up.
Many have come out against drug testing our youngsters, but I say bring it on as that could be the only way to shut up those who seek to tarnish our image.
Additionally, next weekend a 70- member squad will fly to the Bahamas for the 41st staging of the CARIFTA Championships and they could be drug tested here as well, so why not at Champs?
Drug testing will also be done at the IAAF World Youth Championships later this year in the Ukraine, and so those trying to gain an edge can't hide.
If we have nothing to hide why not allow all who want to test our athletes to come in and do so.
One thing is for sure, if these athletes are nurtured properly with an eye on the future, that is for the global championships and not just for Champs points and glory, then Jamaica's track and field profile will continue to rise.
As the Bob Marley lyrics say "Dem a go tyad feh see we face."
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2OCNAg98n
Comment