Thinking things Track and Field

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Track and Field season is into overdrive. This, as the marquee events of the schools’ calendar, namely the finals of the Inter-Primary Schools Athletics Championships (IPSAC), and the Inter- Secondary School Athletics Championships (ISSAC) are slated for March 29 and 30, respectively at the Sir Vincent Beache Stadium at Diamond.

There has been a hype and build up preceding both championships, as the quest for supremacy, bragging rights and accolades take centre stage.

However, in an effort to attain such, the bigger picture is overlooked. That larger, obscured view is the well- being of the young athletes.

As it is, Physical Education teachers, some whom are themselves coaches, often overwork the anatomies of the young athletes.

Winning and more so, gaining points for the school are priorities, rather than preserving the bodies of the youngsters.

Hence, these athletes give in or are coerced by their coaches to enter as many events as possible, culminating in one day to give of their best in all; granted they qualify.

It is no gainsaying that several athletes after leaving secondary school have fallen by the wayside.

The laborious experience at their former educational institutions have left them leaving Track and Field indefinitely.

This column will hasten to add that it is not the case that all athletes drop the sport after leaving school, but suffice to say, it has occurred with some level of frequency.

Unfortunately, the practice of literally running athletes to the ground has gone untethered, as no stipulations have been enforced to put a lid on the number of events an athlete can compete in at IPSAC and ISSAC.

Therefore, this column is calling on the relevant authorities to apply the Sports Science, and have restriction clauses for our young, budding athletes.

Killing them for one day of temporary highlights does not compensate for the lifelong damage that may accrue.

Likewise, needing a serious look in, is a common ground on the “new” marks set at the Diamond Track.

There has been a field day from last year’s ISSAC about records being broken or established.

Furthermore, the authorities, and quite rightly so, have listed the marks in the track events done at IPSAC and ISSAC as new feats.

However, they have stopped short of completing the process, hence have maintained the field events’ distances and heights.

So, the Shot Putt, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Discus and Shot Putt best efforts are still intact, and can be erased at the Diamond venue.

The point is that the Diamond Track is a synthetic surface, hence all times and distances registered there at the first hosting of any championships would have to be set as new marks.

Unfortunately, we have heard of long-standing records , done on all grass surfaces, being broken and obviously, new records set.

Science and common knowledge should dictate that the two types of surfaces would give a different traction.

Additionally, some of the times done more that a decade ago were hand timed.

This column firmly believes that all records set prior to the use of the Diamond Facility should be archived.

Lastly, as Track and Field holds the focus, it must be highlighted in this forum that what our athletes produce is relative.

Underscoring this point is inevitable, as there is that misconception that what greets the eyes lies among the best in the regional sphere. Far from reality, as whilst we may laud our local performances, they sometimes pale in comparison to our immediate neighbours.

Yes, we should celebrate our young athletes who go out on the track, and give their all at the local meets. But we have to be cognizant that when they are called on to rub shoulders with others from the region, they are left wanting.

Then comes the criticisms of the athletes themselves, the national body responsible for the sport, the government and the private sector.

Let the truth be told, we have talent yes, but that too is relative to our best and the best of others.