Coach Smythe: It’s difficult to recruit student-athletes at Muschett

Muschett High's track and field coach Garth Smythe says his programme is not as strong as it could as a number of students are bypassing the school for other institutions in western Jamaica.

Smythe, in an interview STAR Sports, said it is difficult to recruit students.

"The school is overshadowed by William Knibb Memorial High, Mount Alvernia High, Cornwall College and Herbert Morrison Technical High schools. Most of these children (in western Jamaica) don't want to come to Muschett.

"I have seen children pass examinations to come here but are now attending Holmwood Technical or Edwin Allen High," Smythe said. He added that some of these students are 'just making up numbers' at those schools and are not competing.

"If they were here with this small group, they would have gotten more attention and ran at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs)," he added.

Smythe stated that he was happy that athletes from William Knibb performed well at Champs.

William Knibb's Jabari Matheson won a silver medal in the Class Two 200 metres and bronze in the 400m. The school also won bronze in the boys' 4x400m.

"I was happy to see them on the podium quite a few times. It is again a good testament to good coaching and planning. Hats off to them. They would have had an opportunity to recruit the 'better kids' coming out of primary school," Smythe said.

All three medallists from Muschett High, Shanoya Douglas, who won gold medals in the Class Two 200m and 400m, Johan-Ramaldo Smythe who won a gold medal the Class Two 200m and Osmond Holt who won a bronze medal in the decathalon will be travelling to the Carifta Games set for March 30 to April 1 in St George's, Grenada.