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By Neto Baptiste
At least 25 overseas athletes have registered to compete in this weekend’s National Track and Field Championships slated for Saturday and Sunday.
This is according to Meet Director and former national athlete, Teddy Daley, who said at least 20 male and seven female non-nationals have expressed interest, via their registration, ahead of the meet. This includes US and Nike sprinter, Terrance Harvey.
“We have athletes coming from Montserrat, Nevis, Tortola, Anguilla and we have two athletes coming out of the US. One of them runs form Nike and he is going to be registered in the 100 meters so our guys can’t wait to pull up against him to show what we’re capable of doing,” he said.
Daley, who has coached at the national level, said his team is close to finalizing preparations for this weekend’s event at the country’s lone track & field facility, the YASCO Sports Complex.
“Right now, I think we’re at a nine and as we speak, things are being worked on in terms of seeding for the different heats and so based on the times people would have entered and so on, all that is being done now. When that has been completed, I don’t know that we will get to a 10 because I mark very hard, so I never give anybody full marks so I believe that we will be at a 9.5 or so,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA) will recognize and honour four stalwarts of the sport during the meet with Daley included on the list. The other three are Richard Lindsay (former athlete and administrator), Jyme Bridges Sr (longstanding member of technical team) and Relton “Fitz” Brathwaite (former administrator).
One member of the association, Kesswin Anthony, explained why the specific individuals were chosen.
“These persons would have been part of the whole starting of the athletics [association] in the 70s so what we decided to do is to go as far back and come up the years rather than mix it up a bit. We’re doing it … so people who have been instrumental from a specific timeframe – all of these guys would have been instrumental through the ‘70s and ‘80s coming up where athletics is concerned,” he said.
Action will race off at 3:00pm on both days. Admission fee for adults is $20 while children 12 and under will pay $10; children five years and under will pay $5.
This year, organizers are offering a $50 premium entry option allowing access to the finish line area, where patrons can purchase food and drinks separately, replacing the previous all-inclusive VIP package.
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