West looking to produce 'more superstars'

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

The 2013 staging of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) Western Primary Schools Athletics Championships is now history, but meet director Albert Ferguson is very excited about the qualities displayed by the athletes.

"This meet was established to develop young track-and-field athletes and we are definitely accomplishing that," said Ferguson in reference to the meet which was staged at the Montego Bay stadium a week ago.

"It was a great meet and we are extremely thankful to the sponsors, patrons, the schools and the athletes for keeping the interest alive."

Speaking against the background that the west has produced track-and-field stars of the calibre of superstars Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Merlene Ottey, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Michael Frater, Marvin Anderson, Dexter Lee and Odail Todd, Ferguson said the region is poised to produce more star athletes.

"This meet was designed to show the world that not only do we have world beaters at the high school and the collegiate levels, but we are also producing quality athletes at the primary and kindergarten levels," said Ferguson. "I have no doubt that this meet will be producing future superstars."

While only 20 primary schools participated this year, Ferguson said he was quite confident that going forward, once they are able to generate additional sponsorship support, the meet will continue to move from strength to strength.

FUNDING

"For this meet to become more successful, we will need additional sponsorship support, especially in regards to assisting individual schools," said Ferguson. "The schools need funding to help better prepare their athletes as well as to equip them. We are hopeful that we will be able get more sponsorship support from corporate Jamaica."

In regards to the current sponsorship arrangement with JPSco, which allows them the luxury of staging the meet under floodlights at the Montego Bay stadium, Ferguson said he could not be happier.

"In the past three years, JPSCo has sponsored this meet to the tune of $3 million, so naturally we are extremely happy," said Ferguson. "We are currently in negotiations with the company for a new sponsorship deal for the next five years."

In anticipation of a new deal with JPSCo, Ferguson said they are already looking at expanding the meet from one to two days, which will allow for increased participation.

"At the moment we can only cater to 20 schools over the one day so ideally two days would give us enough time to include more events while not overworking the athletes," said Ferguson.

During the recent staging, 12 records were smashed as Howard Cooke Primary emerged as the girls and overall champion school with 113 boys. Trelawny's Wakefield Primary took the boys' title.

Omar Locke of Enfield Primary in Westmoreland and Aaliyah Wood of Petersfield Primary, also in Westmoreland, emerged Champion Boy and Champion Girl, respectively.