IPSAC/ ISSAC via the review mirror

The 2022 National Lotteries Authority Inter- Primary Schools Athletics Championships ( IPSAC) and the Inter- Secondary Schools Athletics Championships(ISSAC), have come and gone.

They were a welcome to the nation-wide competitive schools’ Track and Field following two years of being stymied because of the threats of the coronavirus pandemic.

In some ways, it did not appear that there was a lull as most things seemed to have fallen into place in a seamless manner.

Historic the two events were, as it was the first occasion that the championships were held at the venue, and more so, on a synthetic track. Unfortunately, some schools for some reason(s) were not part of the momentous experience.

As such, kudos must go to the organisers for pulling it off.

There were many concerns raised prior to the hosting of both championships (and rightly so), whether or not the venue could have been suitable for events of such a magnitude, granted the absence of certain amenities.

It was more than just “touch and go”, one week before the events as to the possible readiness of the venue.

However, shoulders were put to the wheel, innovations and creativity were put in motion, hence, it was all’s well that ended well.

The lay out of the venue, the erection of tents in the absence of covered pavilions, all helped to alleviate the anticipated discomfort.

As such, the Ministry of Education and National Reconciliation; Ministry of the Public Service and Sports; Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology and Team Athletics SVG, and all the other stakeholders should therefore be proud of pooling their resources and expertise and reduce the potential pitfalls of the two days.

Set aside the more than acceptable efforts to bring the facility up to speed, the output on track was equally commendable.

Undoubtedly, the aura of the occasion brought out some outstanding performances from the very enthusiastic athletes.

Hence, with the new surface used, all times were considered new marks, as the previous were done on grass. One of the stand outs was Ajay Delpesche’s record breaking performance in the male Intermediate High Jump. The Petit Bordel Secondary School student- athlete erased a 40 -year old mark of 1.87m, raising the bar to 1.88m.

Whilst on the two days, Track and Field was the overall winner, the two schools that trumped, Stephanie Browne Primary, and the Barrouallie Secondary have exemplified the meaning of hard work brings success.

The Union Island – based Stephanie Browne Primary which won the IPSAC title for the first time in 2019, pulled out all the stops, ensuring that they remained at the pinnacle. It appeared that the entire island was behind the school and fervour and that willingness to achieve was evident all-round.

Not outdone, the Barrouallie Secondary School took preparations for a schools’ Athletics Championships to a higher level. Led by Physical Education teacher, Chester Morgan their programme was carefully calibrated and the results showed.

Certain to retain the female title, a dint of hard work saw the Barrouallie institution adding the male title to the list for the first time.

Secondary Schools’ Athletics history shows that it is few and far between for a school to be double champions. Records indicate that the Emmanuel High School (now the JP Eustace Memorial) did the double in 1993 and the Thomas Saunders Secondary did so in 2011. On both occasions, Godfrey Harry was the head coach and Physical Education teacher in charge.

It is for the other Physical Education teachers, schools’ principals and other stakeholders to adopt that meticulous approach towards achievements. Should that be the case, then we can expect a more competitive championships in 2023.

In all the lauding though, the authorities must be flacked for its protracted disregard of the importance of erecting washrooms and change rooms. Whilst there were portable toilets, no excuse can be made for the absence of permanent amenities as basic as those.

It is inexcusable that for the better part of a year and a half, that they have not seen the need for prioritising these structures.

Unfortunately, those blemishes have blotted the good work of delivering a synthetic track to the budding track and field athletes, and to St Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole.