R. Danny Williams meet expected to give track and field season fast start

THE BUSY local track and field calendar will get under way on Saturday with the 30th staging of the PureWater/JC/R. Danny Williams Development meet to be held at the Ashenheim Stadium, Old Hope Road, starting at 8:30 a.m.

A very popular meet, which usually kick-starts the local track and field season, is a qualifying meet for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

Meet organiser Ian Forbes is anticipating another successful staging.

“The meet is dubbed ‘The Meet With A Difference’ and is anxious to maintain its established image of being a well-organised and well-run meet. We are depending on all participants to assist us to that end, ensuring that all competitors are given an opportunity to qualify,” said Forbes.

“Since the pandemic hiatus, the meet has seen females competing in the morning session and males in the afternoon, but things will get back to normal this time around as males and females will compete concurrently. Also, the meet has been sanctioned by World Athletics, where athletes will get ranking points,” said Forbes, adding that the meet had received a record number of entries.

As usual, the occasion will be used to honour four past students of the Old Hope Road institution.

Brandon Minott, Delroy Brown, David Robotham, and Aldington Smith have been credited with contributing significantly to the school’s sports programme for more than 20 years.

The 100, 400, and 800 metres will be contested in all classes, and there will be a 3000 metres Open for females and a 5000 for males.

There will also be the 70-metre, 80-metre, and 100-metre hurdles for females as well as the 100- and 110-metre hurdles for males. Both boys and girls will contest the 400-metre hurdles.

High jump, long jump, triple jump, discus, shot put, and javelin will take place in the field.