Team Jamaica seek fourth CUT crown

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Three-time defending Caribbean Union of Teachers' (CUT) Biennial Students' Athletics Championship winners Jamaica left the island yesterday for the 13th renewal of the competition, which is being held in St Kitts and Nevis tomorrow and Sunday.

Head coach Auther Edwards is confident that Team Jamaica's 52-member contingent comprising 40 athletes (21 males and 19 females) and 12 officials, will return as champions.

"Based on the training we have had over the last four weeks with the camp at G.C. Foster, the athletes are ready to go and I would be very surprised if when we return to Jamaica on July 27 we are not champions for the fourth consecutive time," said Edwards.

This year's champions, unlike previous years, will not be decided by points but rather by medals, a change that is welcomed by Edwards.

Not worried

Edwards said: "It is a change that will affect everybody, not only Jamaica, but we have nothing to worry about. The last time we won 38 gold medals and I guess the emphasis will be on the gold medals and the closest country to us was Barbados with 13. Whether it is points or quality of medals we should be number one."

The athletes will be divided into four categories: under-9, under-11, under-13 and under-15. They will compete in the 80m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 150m, 800m, 1500m, long and high jumps, cricket ball throw, javelin, shot put and discus and, of course, the relays, in which Jamaica are defending champions in all categories.

The team is ready to compete, according to Jamaica Teachers' Association National Sports Committee chairman and team manager Huit Johnson.

Huit said: "The readiness is at a high level; we have no problems right now. Earlier, we had some athletes who were not exposed to some of the events but with the type of coaches that we have and the management, they are now ready to earn gold medals."