Track meets set for this weekend postponed
Published:Friday | January 8, 2021 | 12:07 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
The 2021 Track and Field season will not get under way as planned tomorrow as the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) did not give approval to the organisers of the Purewater/Jamaica College (JC)/R. Danny Williams and the Ted Dwyer Classics.
The Purewater meet was set for JC’s Ashenheim Stadium while the Ted Dwyer Classics was to be held at the Courtney Walsh Oval at Excelsior High School.
“As soon as conditions are more favourable and approval is granted, we plan to host the event, subject to identifying a suitable date on the JAAA calendar,” Purewater meet organiser Ian Forbes said.
A new date of Friday, January 22, has, however, already been set for the Ted Dwyer Classics once approval is given by MOHW.
With the news of the postponement of both meets, Michael Dyke, head coach of reigning ISSA/GraceKennedy Girls’ Athletics Champions Edwin Allen, was disappointed.
“I am really disappointed by the postponement of the JC meet as this is the meet we always look forward to in starting our season,” he said. “We were well prepared for this as the girls have not competed since March.”
Dyke said that this is a big setback for his team.
“With the new qualification system for Champs laid down for ISSA due to the short season, this is a big setback for us, but this is beyond our control as the Ministry of Health is taking the precautionary steps due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think the new [strain of COVID-19] and the spike after the festive break has forced the ministry to take this decision.”
The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships are tentatively set for March 23-27, with a contingency date also set for May 4-8 should there be further complications caused by the pandemic.