Cross Country Champs aims to develop appetite for distance running

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Chairman of the Organising Committee for the National Cross Country Championships, Alfred 'Frano' Francis, hopes that local athletes will continue to develop an appetite for distance running and this will translate into improved performances on the international scene.

"We have a culture of sprinting and people like to sprint in Jamaica. We need to create a culture of distance running in Jamaica, which is happening, not at the rate I would like, but it is going to take time," Francis highlighted.

"Ten years ago when you went to Champs (Boys and Girls' Championships) you couldn't find so many persons running a 5,000-metre, so hopefully when they develop the appetite the excellence will come at the highest level."

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) will stage the National Cross Country Championship on Sunday, February 5, at the Manchester Golf Club, commencing at 10:30 a.m.

Facilitating preparation

The event will facilitate the preparation of Jamaica's team to the North American, Central American and Central Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross Country Championships to be held in Trinidad on March 17.

Last year's championships featured in excess of 150 athletes, with the juniors accounting for majority of the participants.

This year's staging will see the junior girls cover four kilometres, junior boys and senior women six kilometres, and the senior men eight kilometres. This is a replica of what is done at the NACAC Championships.

A team to the NACAC Championships usual consists of four persons in each age group. Francis, however, stressed that the selection committee will not choose persons just to make up numbers, but will only choose quality runners.

"Our selection will be based on the performance on the day, not necessarily getting the numbers, but quality will be the priority," Francis expressed. "But what you get is the best in Jamaica because it is people who feel that they have a chance to make the team that participate. It is then for the selection committee to determine, because we have to set the bar where excellence is concerned."

Francis further believes there is significant room for improvement where local distance running is concerned, but remains optimistic.

"The JAAA has stated categorically that we are into developing non-traditional events, which are field events, cross country and distance running," Francis shared.

"We will continue to give our runners the opportunity to participate at the highest level and see what they are up against, and see how best we can get them there," he added.