In a non-Olympic or World Championships year, it was very encouraging to see some of the performances this past weekend at the National Championships in athletics.
With one national record; two junior national records and more than ten meet records falling at the National Stadium across the various divisions, we are doing some things right.
Shamar Rock, the CARIFTA gold medallist, jumped into the record books, breaking David Caddle’s 26-year-record of 7.77 metres in the long jump. He also holds the junior national record, after erasing Kevin Bartlett’s 7.67 which stood for 14 years.
Romario Antoine set the other junior national record in the discus with 54.13 metres. Antoine had a much improved season this year, also winning a bronze medal at the CARIFTA Games in the shot put.
But there are still some things that need improving and several can be identified from Nationals, one of the showpiece meets of the year.
Meet management needs overhauling as meets never start on time.
Given the experience of officials and everyone involved in the process, that should not occur. Sometimes it is equipment failure; late submission of entries and so on. The meet might be for the athletes but until the Athletics Association starts on time – thereby sending a strong message – the status quo will remain. When athletes travel everyone falls in line, so start the process here.
Too many overseas-based athletes are not returning home to compete. If we ignore the instances of genuine injury; those attending Summer School or “working”, what excuse could there be for not competing? Or even worse coming back in perfectly health and refusing to compete.
One of the most exciting races this weekend was the men’s 400m hurdles. It was an almost full field; some were based overseas, but it was Rivaldo Leacock, the youngest among them who is based here; that caused the upset. In contrast, Shakera Hall, who has been injured all season, was asked to start the women’s 100m hurdles final so Kierre Beckles could get a race. Tia-Adana Belle had no competition at all in the 400 hurdles and ran in the same final as the men.
This leads naturally to the third point. Why are there still so many empty lanes at Nationals? Even with the overseas based not competing, where do the hundreds of children who compete at inter-school sports disappear to?
We have to do better than this.
Athletics is a billion-dollar industry, not just an endeavour for a few months or weeks to win a schools’ trophy. Other countries seems to be transitioning their athletes from one stage to the other, we are losing them.
Greater promotion is also needed for these events. When athletes look into the stands, there are too many empty seats. Barbadians need to give our local athletes more support, instead of screaming at the top of their lungs – while wearing green and yellow, orange, and red and yellow jerseys – for people from other countries.
Congratulations to the select few who will be moving on to the various international meets. In the off-season, officials need to come together, finalise the long-touted development programme and get it off the ground.
Otherwise, these same issues will be under discussion this time next year.
