‘We are very concerned’

President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Garth Gayle, has expressed deep concern over the recent cancellation of two of the country’s major developmental track and field meets and says the executive body will be meeting today to put measures in place to address the gap.

The Western Relays and the Queen’s Grace Jackson Meet have both been cancelled this year, raising alarm within the athletics community, especially with the ISSA Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships approaching in March.

The Western Relays, which started in 1978, was reportedly cancelled due to uncertainty surrounding the availability of the track at G.C. Foster College. However, no official reason has been given for the cancellation of the Queen’s Grace Jackson Meet.

The Western Relays, formally known as the Milo Western Relays, is usually held on the second Saturday of February, while The Queen’s Grace Jackson meet is normally held on the last Saturday of Janaury.

Gayle said while the decisions were taken outside of the JAAA, the association remains committed to working with its stakeholders to find solutions.

“When actions are taken outside of us it doesn’t augur well, but I am not faulting anyone; and so we continue to work with our stakeholders to see how best we can bridge the gap, where and whenever possible. So come Tuesday, we will meet and we will discuss it and we will see how best we can do some events, especially in the case of relays,” Gayle said.

He added that the loss of these meets could have a significant impact on athletes’ preparation.

“We are very concerned, because these meets are very important to our developmental programmes,” said Gayle.

“These are events that provide competitions for our junior athletes, in preparation for the Boys and Girls’ [Athletics] Championships in March; and it is also in a year when we will be aiming to do exceptionally well at the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon. We want our junior athletes to be exposed and have all the competitions that they can have, so that their coaches can get them into good shape,” he said.

Gayle said the JAAA is exploring ways to ensure athletes still get meaningful competitive opportunities.

“I also want to say that while there is concern, we are going to see, as an executive body, how best we can put something in place to stem these events that are not happening on the calendar. But we want to continue to work with our stakeholders, and we do appreciate it sometimes when they come and speak to us, and we welcome that,” he said.

The Run for the Republic development track and field meet scheduled for the Herbert Morrison Technical High School this Saturday was also cancelled.