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Glave urges private sector to assist distance running

Published:Sunday | July 23, 2017 | 12:00 AMMarc Stamp
Ricardo Makyn
Daniel Glave of G.C. Foster College celebrates winning the men’s 1,500m event at the NCB Intercol Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday April 8.

G.C. Foster College 800m runner Daniel Glave is urging the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) and the private sector to put more interest in and to invest in distance running so it can be a success like the sprints and hurdles events.

Glave, who will be representing Jamaica at the World University Games in Chinese Taipei from August 19 to 30, believes that the nation has talent in the 800m as well, but needs assistance.

The World University Games is a multi-sport competition open to men and women between the ages 17 and 24, and who are, or have been, within the past year, a student at a college or university.

"A lot of preparation is going on although we don't have a lot of competition after trial, but I have put in a lot of track work. Hopefully, I will go out there and perform my best," Glave told The Gleaner.

Glave has a season and personal best time of 1:47.46 in the 800m.

"I am looking for a PB (personal best) although I know we have to race off, so the mercy of God (is) going to bring me through and the motivation of my friends and family. I expect great things," the 21-year-old former Holmwood Technical distance runner added.

 

INTEREST IN LONG DISTANCE

 

"I'm expecting a lot, as a 800m runner in Jamaica, to go on the world stage, so the Jamaica body (JAAA) will look at distance running and put some interest," he said.

"There are other distance runners who have migrated; a lot of them going to foreign. I want to go on the world stage so that Jamaica can get the necessary sponsors to help the distance programme in Jamaica. It can work out. That is a good aim for me," Glave continued.

"We need more people to take up the 800m. We have a lot of 800m runners leaving from high schools who can be developed, because it is a process.

"In Holmwood, I was a 5,000, 1,500m and steeple chase runner, so it is a process. We can develop distance running in the country otherwise from the sprinting, quarter mile and hurdles. That would be a good opportunity to help distance running in the country," he insisted.