HP top National Relay Classic… IT-DAT opt out

High Performance club, previously known N2P, ran out winners of the National Relay Classic, staged by Team Athletics SVG last Saturday at the Victoria Park.{{more}}

High Performance won both the female and male components, with the females tallying 178 points and the males – 196, to sum up 374 points overall.

Placing second was the Bequia United Club, which put together 242 points, as the females notched up 100 and the males – 142.

X-Cel finished third with 223 points. The females contributed 54 and the males – 169.

The Kingstown Preparatory School, winners in 2011, docked in fourth. They posted 210 points, composed of 106 from the females and 104 from their males; and CWP Prescod Primary placed fifth.

The other competing teams were the St Vincent Grammar School, X-Ceed Sports Club, Chatoyers and the Thomas Saunders Secondary.

Winners of the 2013 and 2014 editions, IT-DAT Academy, did not show to defend their title, a decision which the club’s head coach Michael Ollivierre told SEARCHLIGHT was based on the athletes’ interest foremost.

“My athletes’ health will always take priority,” Ollivierre stated.

Ollivierre listed the overwork of his charges with their respective schools’ track meets, as well as the proposed charge of $3 per athlete for last Saturday’s event, as the overarching factors why the club did not show up at the Victoria Park to defend their title.

Concerning the latter, SEARCHLIGHT, however, understands that a compromise reached between the organizers Team Athletics SVG and the coaches resulted in a waiver of the $3 charge per athlete; a charge of $5 per event was substituted.(RT)