WELL DONE

They may not have won gold, but the Thomas Saunders Secondary School’s (TSSS) relay team has shown the world that it is a force to be reckoned with.{{more}}

The team returned from its inaugural participation at the Penn Relays (April 28 to 30, 2011), the oldest and largest track meet in the United States, but did not do so empty handed.

They won both the 4x100m and 4x400m heats, clocking times of 44.45 s and 3 mins 28.75 s, respectively, quite a feat for their first outing at the prestigious event, but not good enough to get into the finals.

Nevertheless, the lessons learnt and contacts made mean that future junior athletes will continue to fly the Vincentian flag proudly.

“Many positive outcomes have come our way,” John Renton, Principal of the school, told members of the press at a media briefing last Monday, May 9.

“The athletes represented Thomas Saunders Secondary School and St Vincent and the Grenadines well on and off the tracks,” he continued.

Renton added that the team gained invaluable experience about the event that will assist tremendously for future participation. Already the team is looking forward to doing better and plans are already being made to take a female contingent for the 2012 edition of the event.

But getting there was no easy feat.

Cecil McKie, Minister of Health etc, explained that the process of getting the TSSS to participate at the event started 2 years ago during a visit to the USA. McKie said that the idea of having a Vincentian presence at the event was put to him by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Organization of Pennsylvania Inc’s (SVGOP) past Presidents Kenrick Mitchell and James Cordice.

There were a few hurdles, he explained, including finances, the need for local athletes to be trained properly in order to compete against some of the world’s best, and the general lack of interest by the authorities to take the offer seriously.

McKie, then still the Managing Director at St Hill Insurance, said that he returned and started talking to some of the local authorities, including Team Athletics SVG, the National Sports Council, the Ministry of Sport and also the Ministry of Education.

His entry into the political arena afforded him the opportunity to put the idea to Cabinet, and seeing that his former company had already established a relationship with the Thomas Saunders School, a decision was taken to get the guys ready and have them represent the country.

Preparations for the event began in earnest in 2010, with funds being acquired from government and other groups throughout the Diaspora and at home.

The performance was lauded by the team’s coaches Godfrey ‘Fuzzy’ Harry and Michael Ollivierre. “Not too often do young people have the opportunity to show their talent,” Harry said. He explained that the work has already started in anticipation of getting a second chance next year.

Both men have pledged continued commitment to the team, saying that they will be striving for excellence.

And on the issue of showcasing talent, Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Sport, said that the focus was now on ensuring that more young people do get the opportunity. The need for a professional track where local athletes can train was discussed, with the Minister saying that this warranted the need for a national stadium.

“The facilities that the team used there are not what they are accustomed to here,” he said, adding that while the government has been taking some “licks” for it, the intention was to begin looking at the construction of a facility.

“We have to continue to find ways and means for our young people to develop not only in academics,” Stephenson said.