Too long of a wait

PATIENCE IS running out for track and field interests with uncertainty surrounding whether or not the Montego Bay Sports Complex will be ready for Western Relays in 2025.

Speaking with The Gleaner, Ray Harvey, chairman of Western Relays organising committee, said he is uncertain.

“It will be foolish of me to expect the stadium to be ready and I have heard nothing at all. I have heard that the National Stadium in Kingston is to be renovated next year, but nothing about the Montego Bay Stadium. I have no information whatsoever,” Harvey said.

The last time the Milo Western Relays was held at the Montego Bay Sports Complex was in February of 2018. Since then, all major events such as Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) All Comers meet, Western Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships and other events had to be shifted to venues as far as St Catherine.

Just last week, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, promised that the track at the Montego Bay Sports Complex would soon receive attention.

Vernon did not give a timeline though, saying there were meeting to be held this week that could determine that.

In November 2019, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, said the track, which is the only synthetic track in western Jamaica, was scheduled to begin being worked on by March 2020.

At the time, Grange had said the track would take about six months to be completed at an estimated cost of just under $200 million and that her ministry had been working assiduously to secure all the funds to repair it.

Two years later, in May 2021, Grange appealed to track and field stakeholders in western Jamaica for patience, promising that the refurbishing work would get underway that financial year.

The track has deteriorated tremendously over the past few years, and was taken out of service over fear that continued use could result in athletes suffering serious injuries.

Petersfield High School track and field coach, Machell Woolery, said western schools continued to be put at a major disadvantage because of the absence of a track.

WORLD CHAMPIONS

“I am not sure it will be ready, it depends on when they start working on it. Whether it is ready for 2025 Milo Relays or not, we just want it done for 2025. For a region that produces so many world champions, Olympic champions I can’t understand the level of treatment. What it costs us for one meet in Kingston, that same money could pay for three meets in Montego Bay,” said Woolery.

“The children need a proper surface and to get a good feel of what a 400-metre track should be. The region is a big contributor to track and field and as such, we would like a top-class track in the region,” he added.

According to Woolery, fixing the stadium would be a plus for the western region.

“As for Western Champs, normally held at the stadium, it is considered as a mini-champs for the schools. Not every school in the region goes to the National Champs in Kingston. For the 44 schools that are a part of the County of Cornwall Athletics Association (COCA), to take part in the Western Champs is big to us. In terms of value added and expense, it is a plus. More schools will get to participate and put out their athletes for people to see and get exposure,” he added.

Garth Smythe, track and field coach for Muschett High School, shares the sentiments of the other stakeholders.

“I am not confident the stadium will be ready. We haven’t heard of any plans for the renovation of the Montego Bay Stadium. I didn’t hear when work is going to be done. It is very expensive to travel to Kingston to compete and I am quite sure the other schools and coaches feel the same as it relates to travelling and to get back in late and it is very hectic. It has been going on for almost seven years now,” Smythe said.

The Montego Bay Sports Complex, which was developed at a cost of US$14.9 million, was opened in June 2010.