THE annual Inter-Secondary Track and Field Championships is the largest athletics championship in Saint Lucia staged each year and is organized entirely by the Department of Youth Development and Sports and the Ministry of Education and Saint Lucia Athletics Association.
This year’s event will again been held at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground on Saturday, March 25.
Over 600 students will represent 27 secondary schools for the final which will be held for the first time on a Saturday to allow members of the public to come out and support the showpiece.
The National Lottery Authority presented of $70,000 to the Department of Youth Development and Sports towards the championships while Peter and Company Distribution has also made a generous donation.
Registration for the event was closed on Thursday but Technical Director, Patrick Mathurin, said exceptions were made for Ciceron, Entrepot, Vide Boutielle and Bocage Secondary as these schools have not held their annual inter-house sports meets, following which they would have presented the lists of athletes for the northern zone qualifying round.
Speaking at Thursday’s morning press conference, Permanent Secretary in the Department of Youth Development and Sports, Donavan Williams said, “This inter-schools meet traditionally has been the highlight of our school sports programme. We expect it to be no different this time around. A number of schools have completed their own internal meets and are now in the process of preparing for the grand finale.”
Head of the Physical Education Teachers Association (PETA), Gilroy Hall, commended the Department of Youth Development of Sports for its approach to inter-schools track and field, he said:
“We have indicated that the approach to the management of schools sports must be such. In fact, the PETA submitted a proposal for the appointment of a schools sports management committee. What happens with inter-schools track and field is testimony to the fact this is the way to go. The critical areas for the PETA have been addressed this time around and that it would be for the athlete care and comfort, overall safety and security, and doing what it takes to really bring out the best possible performance from our athletes.”
