The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground located in Beausejour, Gros Islet, will be a hive of activity when close to 650 athletes converge at that facility tomorrow for this year’s grand final of the Inter-Secondary School Track and Field Championships. Like previous years, the event is under the banner of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports and the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Saint Lucia Athletics Association.
As customary the opening ceremony and march past of teams are scheduled for 9.30 a.m. followed by brief remarks by various stakeholders.
The participating secondary schools are Anse Ger, Babonneau, Beanefield Comprehensive, Bocage, Castries Comprehensive, Choiseul, Ciceron, Clendon Mason Memorial, Corinth, Entrepot, Grande Riviere, Gros Islet, Leon Hess Comprehensive, Micoud, Piaye, St. Joseph’s Convent, St. Mary’s College, Sir Ira Simmons, Soufriere Comprehensive, Vide Boutielle, Vieux Fort Comprehensive, Boys Training Centre and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.
These athletes will compete in 59 finals starting with the Girls Under -14 Ball Throw; U-16 Girls Long Jump and the U-20 Boys High Jump slated for 10. 00 a.m.
On Wednesday 27th, in semifinal action, a number of athletes made it to the finals in their respective events and tomorrow it will be their turn to accumulate points for their respective schools in four divisions, Under -14, 16, 18 and 20 Boys/Girls.
The remainder of the programme reads – 10.00 a.m – 11.35 a.m. U-14 Boys/ Girls 150 metres final; U-16/18/20 Boys/Girls 200 metres finals.
11.45 a.m to 12.05 p.m., U-14 Girls/ Boys 600 meters, U-16 Girls 800 metres and Boys Triple Jump Open final.
12.10 p.m. – 12.30 p.m. U-16/ 18/20 Boys/ Girls 800 metres.
Between 1.00 p.m. to 1.35 p.m. all eyes will be on the track for the U-14 boys/ Girls 80 metres; U-16/18/20 Boys/ Girls 100 metres.
At 1.45 p.m. to 2.10 p.m. it will be the turn of the distance runners, U-16/18 Boys/Girls 1500 meters; from 2.15 p.m -3.00 p.m. U-14 Boys/ Girls 300 metres; U-16/18/20 Boys/ Girls 400 metres.
From 2.25 p.m. to 3.05 p.m. U-16/18/20 Boys 400 meters, and to cool things down on the track will be the boys 5000 meters Open.
The excitement will resume at 3.40 p.m. with the most talked about relay races. Boys /Girls U-20/14/16/18, 4×100 metres and to bring the curtains down on the 2019 Track and Field Championships will be the U-20 Boys/Girls 4×400 metres relay; U-14 Boys/Girls 4×300 metres relay; U16/18 Boys 4×400 metres relay.
Schools Sports Coordinator, Isabelle Marquis expects a prompt start at 9.30 a.m. and based on what has transpired so far the Department of Youth Development and Sports expects a smooth running on Friday.
In terms of the level of competition, Marquis said, “I expect the athletes to raise the bar a few notches when they come out to perform and give of their best for their respective schools.”
By all indications, for some of these athletes, it will be the last time competing for their schools at that level – for others their athlete careers and dreams have only just begun.
