Track season kicks off: Powell-Benjamin meet set for December 13

The 22nd staging of the Wesley Powell-Benjamin Track and Field meet is set for Saturday, December 13, at Excelsior High School.

The launch was held on Wednesday inside the school’s auditorium with organisers confirming an 8:30 a.m. start. The opening events will feature the high school boys’ 5000 metres open followed by the high school girls’ 3000m open. Both races will serve as qualifiers for next year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).

Other high school track events on the schedule include the 150m, 300m, 600m, along with the 1000m open and the 4x300m relays. In the field, athletes will compete in the long jump, high jump, shot put, discus and javelin. All field events will also serve as Champs qualifiers, with athletes earning ranking points.

Primary school athletes will get their chance on the track as well, with competition in the mixed 4x300m relay. There will also be open events for clubs and colleges.

Meet manager David Riley noted that the event is now listed on the World Athletics global calendar and is fully sanctioned by the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association.

“Also, we will do something special for schools in western Jamaica that suffered from the recent hurricane by providing them with free tents and assisting them with lunches,” he shared.

As is tradition, the meet will honour outstanding past students who have made significant contributions to Jamaica and to Excelsior’s sporting programme.

Three individuals will be recognised this year. They are former Jamaica Netball Association President Marva Bernard, OD; Dr Audrey Stewart Hinchcliffe, CD, health advisor to CARICOM and legendary actor and playwright Carl Bradshaw, OD, who also once served as a track and field coach at Excelsior.

Guest speaker Dr Olivia Rose, Consulting Performance Psychologist and Sport Sociologist, spoke passionately about rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa.

“Life is more than a slogan. Despite the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa – like a thief in the night landing in broad daylight – she did not take our spirit. Unity matters, and we will be courageous. We will rise again, because sport is an uplifting empowerment,” Rose said.

“Sport is a powerful tool, and the Wesley Powell Meet is not just another event. It supports the greats and represents a rebirth chapter,” she continued.

Among those present were outstanding past student, Olympian sprint hurdler Ackera Nugent, and national senior netball head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry.