Coaches face selection headache
Published:Saturday | March 13, 2021 | 12:19 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
The further delay of the 2021 Carifta Games to August, as well as the close proximity of the World Under 20 Championships, will present decisions over which competitions to prioritise, according to Corey Bennett and Michael Dyke, head coaches at Hydel High School and Edwin Allen respectively.
In a virtual press conference on Thursday, the 49th edition of the Carifta Games was confirmed to run from August 13-15 in Bermuda. However, the World Under 20 Championships are scheduled to begin the week after in Kenya from August 17-22.
The Carifta Games was initially pushed back from its usual April date to July 2-4, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Caribbean Examination Council’s (CXC) release of its exam schedule, which runs from June 13 to July 16, forced the change.
While Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association president Garth Gayle committed to having representation at both events, Bennett says that the additional delay has made things complicated regarding which events to prioritise for his athletes.
“It’s going to be tough in terms of the timing. I’m not sure that we will be preparing the number of persons that we would normally send to Carifta at that time in August. We have a few (athletes) that we thought could have made the team for the (World Under 20’s),” Bennett told The Gleaner. “(With) Carifta being rescheduled to such a late date, I’m not sure the participation will be there like it normally is.”
APPROVAL FOR RACE MEETS
Dyke says that whether or not both events are possible for his group would depend on if there is approval for meets after the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships (Champs), the climax of the local junior season, which is slated for the end of April.
“We have to look and see how many meets will be available especially after Champs, hopefully, that is held. That would give you an indication if you would want athletes going to both games,” Dyke said. “Because if they are short of competition, it wouldn’t be a bad thing but also that would provide a little more risk in terms of travelling to Carifta and then travelling to Kenya in this sort of pandemic situation.”
Normally preparation for the junior season would begin in August or September and would finish in March or for some in April if you include participation in the Penn Relays. However, groundwork training started late this season because of the pandemic and athletes only returned to competition three weeks ago.
Bennett says that the extension could have negative effects for those who do not make the national teams for either event.
“There are so many uncertainties that it’s almost like a dragging of the season. This will be a further drag. It is a lot of delays. I think and I hope that we will have a better 2021-22 season but this season kind of needs to be over because to prolong it would be a bit more stressful on the children especially those who don’t make the team,” Bennett says.
However, Dyke who also started preparations behind schedule sees a positive to the change for his group.
“The fact that we started late this season, it might not be such a bad thing especially for the World Under 20 Championships because previously our athletes always tend to peak for Champs and then you have a fall-off especially after the CXC exams and all of that,” Dyke said. “It is something that can work once it is safe for competition and for training.”
The junior track season continues today.