No more track meets for 2020 - Insiders weigh in on effect of COVID spike on athletics events

Sprintec head coach and GC Foster College principal Maurice Wilson said that he is not optimistic of the chances of any further track and field meets happening for the rest of the 2020 season due to the recent spike in Coronavirus cases islandwide.

Local track and field events resumed in June after more than a four month hiatus because of the pandemic. Jamaica has over the past week recorded double digit increases in positive Coronavirus cases which have taken the overall count to more than 1000.

Wilson took the decision to conclude the season for his athletes at both Sprintec and GC Foster after participating in the Velocity Fest track meet on the weekend of August 8. He says that the focus is now on his athletes maintaining fitness with doubts lingering on the staging of future events.

"That's all we can do because I don't see anymore competitive meets after this (Velocity Fest)," Wilson told STAR Sports. "Because a lot of the competitors would have been, in my mind, shutting down their seasons. But it is going to be a little bit difficult for next season because we are still in my mind, three or four weeks short of training and competition that would normally take place on a regular basis."

Additional meets

Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) president Dr Warren Blake had recently indicated that they were originally targeting three additional meets before the close of the season.

However, World Championship discus silver medallist Fedrick Dacres believes that no additional meets should take place for the rest of the year, adding that priority must be given for public health and safety.

"We have to take time to really think what we are doing and if it's not beneficial to the country and if it's going to affect us in the long run [it doesn't make sense]. If it is that we can't compete then I understand," Dacres said.

With the uncertainty that the recent spike in cases has now brought to track and field, coach Kerrylee Rickets says that the only thing he can do is ensure that his group of athletes are prepared and ready for any future events that may happen this year and for the upcoming 2021 campaign.

"What we have to do is to do our best to protect ourselves and those around us while at the same time we try and do our best to put in some training," Ricketts said.