‘A welcomed return’ - High School coaches happy with resumption of athletics competition
Published:Wednesday | December 16, 2020 | 12:14 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Two of the island’s top youth coaches, Hydel’s Corey Bennett and Jamaica College’s Neil Harrison, have welcomed the return of competitive high-school athletics, following a 10-month hiatus due to the spread of the coronavirus disease in Jamaica.
The 2019-20 season ended abruptly because of the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in the cancellation of the 2020 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (, as well as the Penn Relays.
With strict COVID-19 protocols enforced, young athletes were able to compete at Saturday’s Tyser-Miller Classic, which was held at Calabar High School, with 10 schools and several local clubs participating.
“It’s a relief, first of all, just to go out there. I felt like I was there for the first time all over again. To see the joy on the faces of the athletes, it really meant a lot,” Bennett told The Gleaner. “I know it wasn’t one of our better meets, but I think it will get better from here.”
BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE
Harrison expressed similar sentiments, comparing the moment to being brought back to life after the abrupt end to the previous season and the months of inactivity.
“Words cannot express. It’s been a while since we have been active. It was a welcoming feeling just to hear the first call for the 5000m Boys’ Open (event),” Harrison said.
While the performances were mixed, Hydel had top three finishes in terms of times in the Class Two 200m, as well as the Class Two 400m. The girls’ events were dominated by Vere Technical High School, which had some of the fastest times in the various classes of the 200m and 400m races.
Meanwhile, Jamaica College had top three finishes in times in the 200m and 400m events, but had strong performances in the 1500m and 5000m, as well as the shot put.
While Harrison was using the event to evaluate the progress made by his team, he was equally happy for the athletes who finally had an event to prepare for.
“The athletes were very happy to have this kind of opportunity, because when nothing is happening, you are very doubtful,” Harrison said. “You are just training and not sure what is going to happen; and the mere fact that the [meet] presented itself, it gave them a sense of hope.”
Both coaches expressed satisfaction with how the meet was executed, as well as the COVID-19 protocols that were enforced. With an eye towards more meets in 2021 and the hope of Champs returning next year, Bennett says that other meet organisers can learn from Saturday’s event in order to perfect how meets are staged going forward.