TSS TUNING UP

Ten members of the prospective team of the Thomas Saunders Secondary to the 2011 Penn Relays in the United States in April, participated in the Barbados Relay Festival last weekend.{{more}}

The team included Brandon Parris, Najee Israel, Renrick Edwards, Kamal Bess, Keon Robertson, Shaquille Browne, Ronnique Dowers, Roderick Thorpe, Michael Hazell and Renaldo Charles.

They competed in the Medley Relay, the 4×100 m and the 4x 4000m.

In the 4X 400m, the quartet returned a time of 3 minutes 44 seconds, and in the 4X100m, 44.89 seconds.

One of the coaches of the Thomas Saunders team and Physical Education teacher at that institution, Godfrey Harry, told SEARCHLIGHT that the outing served the purpose that it was intended.

Harry said that despite the times, which according to him were below the capabilities of his charges, he was satisfied that they are gathering the form needed for their prestigious outing in the next month’s time.

Harry thumbed the ‘freezing’ of one of his athletes in the 4X100 m for not doing a better timing, as he thought they are capable of going at least two seconds better.

In the 4X400 m, Harry said that at a Team Athletics SVG Meet recently, his athletes clocked 3 minutes 38 seconds.

“We are looking forward to the Relay Classics put on by Team Athletics SVG on the 26th (February) to fine tuning our training,” Harry said.

Harry also thinks that the upcoming Inter Secondary Schools Meet set for March 31 will provide his athletes with the opportunity to show their wares.

The Thomas Saunders Secondary School, a five year and a half old institution, which won the Boys Division of the 2010 Inter Schools Track and Field Meet for the first time, is expected to make local sporting history, being the first school from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to attend the Penn Relays.

The school is expected to send eight athletes along with three officials to the Relays.

The Penn Relays, which attracts about 22,000 athletes, is hosted annually during the latter part of the month of April by the University of Pennsylvania at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

The Penn Relays, which is also called the Penn Relays Carnival, is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, and dates back to 1895.(RT)