STETHS Invitational on in Santa Cruz

After a three-years hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the STETHS Invitational track and field meet will return today at the St Elizabeth Technical High Sports Complex in Santa Cruz.

Meet director and head track and field coach at STETHS, Marvin James, is upbeat about today’s meet which begins at 9 a.m.

“We are definitely excited about the return of the STETHS Invitational meet,” James said. “We expect more than 1,500 athletes as all the teams from western Jamaica will be in attendance and we also expect athletes from teams like Edwin Allen High, Manchester High, Kingston College, Calabar High and Jamaica College,” he stated.

According to James, the 4x800 metres open for both boys and girls will be special.

“There will be a trophy and cash prize for this event and we named it the Eldemire Smith Trophy in honour of our longstanding 800m coach who is now ill in hospital after suffering a stroke.”

James, who took over the head coach role two years ago from Reynaldo Walcott who now is in charge of the Elite Performance Track Club in Kingston, expects great things from his athletes.

“So far it has been good going for our athletes and we expect that trend to continue with the likes of Habibah Harris in Class Two 400m and Euvena Bennett in Class One middle distances, along with Shamer Blake in the boys’ Class One 400m and 400m hurdles. Jashuan Dennis in Class One 100m, Barrington Smith in Class One 800m and Class Two sprinter Tramaine Todd who is returning to competition after a year out due to injury should also do well,” he said.

Down to take place today are 100m, 400m, 1500m, 70m hurdles, 80mH, 100mH, 110mH, 400mH, 4x800m and all field events.

Raymond Graham