Thomas Saunders Secondary on course for 2016 Penn Relays

The Thomas Secondary School is out of the blocks with their plans to embark on their sixth journey to the famed Penn Relays in Philadelphia, USA, in April 2016.{{more}}

The official launch took place last Tuesday at the National Olympic Committee’s office at Kingstown Park, as the major players mapped the route towards realizing the school’s goal to participate.

With approximately $90,000 budgeted for the trip, several ventures geared at reaching their target are in the pipeline. Included in the budget is the cost of travel to Barbados in February to procure the necessary visas and to participate in the Barbados Relay Fairs.

Sheddie Conliffe, whose responsibility includes budgeting and financial matters, revealed that a boat ride later this month, as well as a barbecue at the school’s compound on December 4 are the immediate activities that are on the table.

Requesting the public’s support, Conliffe said, “In addition to these activities, there are going to be a number of in-house activities that the general public can participate in … I want to encourage members of the general public to participate … Because when Thomas Saunders Secondary School goes to the Penn Relays, they are not only carrying the name of Thomas Saunders, they are carrying the entire name of St Vincent and the Grenadines; essentially they become ambassadors.”

Joining Conliffe in soliciting support for the school was the head of the institution John Renton, who noted that all contributions made to the school are monies well spent.

He named the National Lotteries Authority, the Kingstown Co-operative Credit Union, LIME and the National Olympic Committee as being the local entities which have been in the financial corner of the Thomas Saunders Secondary for the past five years.

“The diaspora looks forward to our attendance every year…. I have to thank the diaspora for their incredible support, especially Mr James Cordice, who every year organizes the accommodation and transportation within Pennsylvania for our students…. It is indeed incredible for them to raise funds and ensure that we are well looked after in Philadelphia,” Renton said.

The school started attending the Penn Relays back in 2011 and has continued to do so each year, and is the lone Vincentian institution to take up the challenge of getting there.

Renton, who was part of the debut outing, reasoned that attending the Penn Relays means a lot to the school and, by extension, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“It is a flagship event for our school … When students attend the Penn Relays, they return with increased confidence in themselves and increased sense of self-worth…This translates to the whole school…. Their colleagues at school experience this as well and we are proud of our athletes at Thomas Saunders,” he stated.

The Thomas Saunders Secondary School will again be sending both males and females, who once attaining the standards, will compete in the 4 x100 and 4 x 400 metres in the small high schools segment.

At the 2015 edition, the Thomas Saunders Secondary School, represented by the quartet of Rogike Thorpe, Kailon Kirby, Neilo Thomas and Erasto Da Silva, clocked 44.48 seconds in the male 4 x 100, which ranked them 100th out of 580 participants. The same four, in the 4×400, returned a time of three minutes 25.72 seconds, which put them 79th of 552.

The females Kerina Hooper, Rownesha Spencer, Jasmine Robertson, and Zamesha Myle registered four minutes 08.15 seconds in the 4x 400, gaining a ranking of 93rd out of 636 quartets.

Hooper, along with Oleisha Ryan, Mekelia Slater, and Cheslyn Simper clocked 51.20 seconds in the 4×100, which saw them earn a 53rd ranking from a total of 376 participants.

Coach and physical education teacher at the TSSS Godfrey Harry said despite the absence of the athletes who can be considered regulars, their replacements are expected to give of their best.(RT)