Keeping up with the pace

The schools’ track and field season is once more upon us. And, everywhere there is a hype, as many students, with a push from their teachers, mates and parents, are geared up to get their bodies in some sort of shape for the respective schools’ meets and ultimately for the inter-schools championships.{{more}}

Added to this, Team Athletics SVG continues to host its series of mini-meets, relay classics, jumps classics and throws classics; there is therefore no shortage of opportunities for the young athletes.

There is also an added incentive, as St Vincent and the Grenadines hosts the Windward Islands schools’ games this year, and a spot on the local team will be a personal boost to the athletes.

Unfortunately though, this is merely seasonal and things go back to square one at the completion of the inter-schools championships.

We simply do not have that tenacity – that drive, that sporting ethos, which makes all sporting disciplines part of our civilization.

Hence, sports become a periodic outlet of skills and entertainment, then everything fades until it is time once again to use up one’s energies.

Not even the prospect of being named one of the winners of the various categories of the annual awards dished out by Team Athletics SVG is enough to prick the enthusiasm of most of the athletes.

Therefore, it is almost farcical to many, and with some justification, that the likes of Courtney Williams and Kineke Alexander should awarded the senior male and senior female athlete of the year respectively,

after what was more than an indifferent outing in 2012.

Conversely, one may quickly ask, who are the alternate choices?

It also stands to reason that for the two most recent awards, it has been junior athletes who have gained the highest award – Athlete of the Year.

Those are simply the hard core facts confronting track and field, and by extension, sports in St Vincent and the Grenadines, as it is difficult to attract seniors in individual disciplines.

But the woes of track and field have been well documented.

Whilst one readily agrees there is an absence of proper facilities, the issue of track and field and sports in general in St Vincent and the Grenadines is a larger problem.

At present, with the sport on the cusp of a take-off, the inherent issues of personalities must first of all be purged out.

This toxic fight for turf and ownership of athletes is causing the most injuries to the sport.

The fact that the Coach of the Year title for the past two awards ceremonies stirred up the most discussion and contention, shows up the unfortunate focus of those who are close to the sport.

It is as if the coach is the centre of attraction and not the athletes.

The fear is that the vexing situation among the coaches could lead to parents refusing to allow their offspring to participate in the sport.

This sad state of affairs must be addressed speedily by the individuals themselves, as the budding athletes are the ones caught up in the crossfire.

How wonderful it would be if those coaches who are caught up in the fray simply put their differences to rest and work with the young minds and provide them with the best of their expertise, accumulated over the years.

We have only been participants at most regional meets, and it is time that a Vincentian presence is crafted through proper coaching of our athletes – then hopefully the medals should follow thereafter.

Surely, like any other part of the world, there is an abundance of sporting talent here, but it must be harnessed in the proper way, with reciprocation from the athletes themselves.

If we are to ride on the fervour that is gripping track and field at this juncture – the momentum must be maintained after the schools’ meets, the club championships and teams’ championships.

Innovative measures, twinned with the established modes of operation, must then be engaged.

The staging of a meet in collaboration with some other cultural package – under the lights at the Victoria Park, could be explored to hold such interest, as its novelty will be a welcomed one.

Aditionally, the Kids In Athletics should be given more attention to get the youngsters involved early and at the other end, the few teams/clubs which are functioning, continue to solidify and consolidate their status.

A concerted effort must be made to keep it going.