WITH the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Ladies’ Athletics Championships quick approaching, the newly laid artificial observe on the Nationwide Stadium has change into a serious speaking level among the many nation’s coaches.
The observe, which is being changed for the primary time since 2011, now options the nationwide colors of black, inexperienced, and gold. Whereas the brand new floor is predicted to boost the competitors, coaches have combined views on what to anticipate from it.
Corey Bennett, head coach of Hydel and Calabar excessive faculties, expressed some uncertainty about how the observe will carry out, evaluating it to the unpredictability of a cricket pitch.
“Nobody is aware of how the observe will function when it comes to operating; it’s nearly like a cricket pitch, as a result of typically you assume that it’s going to be a quick pitch otherwise you assume that it’s going to be a sluggish pitch. When folks hear a couple of new observe they assume it’s going to be higher, however I don’t know. We haven’t run on it but,” Bennett mentioned.
He additionally identified that the observe is being laid on high of the prevailing floor, including to the unpredictability of its influence on performances.
“By all indications it appears to be like like observe however, when it comes to its impact, I don’t know. It could have been good to have a minimum of one meet on it earlier than Champs however that’s not to be, and so we’re simply hoping for one of the best,” he mentioned.
For Excelsior’s Head Coach David Riley, the brand new observe represents progress and a possibility for athletes to compete in a protected and licensed surroundings.
“A brand new observe is a brand new observe, so there’s nothing fallacious with having one,” Riley famous. “The entire level of a observe floor is to supply a protected surroundings that’s licensed in order that performances will be recognised, so I don’t see any issues with getting a brand new observe.”
Riley additionally dismissed considerations about changes to the floor, and based on him athletes usually compete on completely different tracks worldwide.
“Simply think about should you had been to go to a distinct location to compete — it will probably’t be a unfavourable factor. Newness additionally suggests higher, so it will probably’t be worse than the observe that was there earlier than,” Riley reasoned.
“For me, colors imply one thing. In 2011, when the observe was modified to blue, JC [Jamaica College] gained on the boys’ aspect, so they could have drawn inspiration from that and accomplished it,” he added.
Michael Carr, head coach for Wolmer’s Excessive Faculty for Ladies, welcomed the brand new observe however raised considerations concerning the markings for relay races.
“We have now been to trace meets internationally the place the observe was simply laid most likely per week earlier than the beginning of the competitors so I don’t suppose there’s something to fret about,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, Carr has taken subject with the relay change zones being marked in yellow, noting that it might influence how athletes practise for worldwide occasions.
“I discover the relay bins are all in yellow and, to me, that takes one thing away from the relay exchanges. Usually, relay modifications are a key a part of the occasion, and the place you make the exchanges is essential,” Carr mentioned. “After they go abroad they gained’t have any yellow bins to work with, and that’s my drawback with the observe.”
“They need to not have the bins marked out in several colors because it takes one thing away from the relay exchanges, so far as I’m involved,” he emphasised.
The primary scheduled observe and discipline meet on the venue on the brand new observe shall be Velocity Fest 16, which takes place on Saturday, March 22 from 4 pm to eight pm.
The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Ladies’ Athletics Championships shall be held on the Nationwide Stadium from March 25-29. Kingston School and Edwin Allen Excessive are the respective boys’ and ladies’ champions.
