‘Run for the Republic’ meet takes spotlight out west

TWO NEW primary schools, John’s Hall and Middlesex Corner from Hanover, will be among the other primary, preparatory and high schools at today’s second staging of the ‘Run for the Republic’ development track and field meet at Herbert Morrison Technical High School field, Montego Bay.

The track and field meet is set to run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Meet organiser Aubrey Campbell of the Montego Bay Comets Athletics Club said the addition of two new primary schools shows progress in the event.

“We are going back to the grassroots,” Campbell declared. “It speaks to the fact that the word is getting around. This means that schools which don’t usually have a track programme, can look at developing a programme,” Campbell said.

In making several changes to the meet, the organisers have replaced the high school girls’ 400m with a 100m race while the 4x400m for women will be an open affair. The Class One boys’ 800m will be replaced by the 400m and the high school girls’ Class Two 200m race is being replaced by a 400m event.

Campbell said yesterday that preparations for the meet have been going smoothly.

“I am excited and elated as the track is marked, looking sparkling and ready. We have a full complement of primary and prep schools. We were still accepting entries up to Thursday and were still hoping a few more of the high schools would have registered,” Campbell told The Gleaner.

Last year, 18 schools and clubs participated and the organisers are hoping to surpass that this year.

Meanwhile, Vinnette Webb, first year principal of Middlesex Corner Primary said she is excited and hopeful the school will be represented well.

“I have been into track and field all my life and as a new principal, I realise that we have talent. I wanted my students to get a feel of entering track and field at this level. We have both boys and girls doing the 100m and the 4x100m relay.”

Andrea Jackson, team manager of John’s Hall Primary in St James, said, “I am happy for my students because they will be getting the chance for a little more exposure and experience in the sport.”

At the second staging, a scholarship will be introduced and named in memory of the late veteran track and field analyst Hubert Lawrence. It will go to a student athlete in Grade 10 or Grade 12 at Herbert Morrison. The scholarship is valued at $37,000.

Lawrence who was a familiar face on television coverage of major championships all over the world, passed away last year, creating a void in the sport.

This year, a new format was implemented and the organisers will no longer be combining primary and preparatory schools.

“We have raised the number of participants per school in the individual (flat) races from two to five. This is in keeping up with the development agenda because we want to see where they are with the number of athletes going into the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships (Champs). This is to measure their qualifying standards and preparations for the championships,” Campbell said while addressing some coaches’ concerns.

Trophies and medals will be awarded to the outstanding primary, prep and high schools.