Latest News
Disgruntled coaches lash out at Western Champs’ venue
January 14, 2025
Coaches and an athlete from western Jamaica have expressed disappointment at the recent announcement to continue hosting the annual County of Cornwall Athletics Association (COCAA) Western Championships outside the region.
The backlash comes as the track at the region's premier facility, the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall, St James, is in need of repairs.
Form 2018, the track inside the stadium has not been used for track and field and it has had negative effects on the region's track and field athletes, with many having to travel as far as St Catherine for major meets.
This staging of Western Champs is set for two days, the first on Wednesday, February 12 at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), which has been home to the event for several years; and the final day, on Saturday, February 15, is slated for G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport.
Andrew Henry, the track and field coach of Mount Alvernia High School, says the sport is not cared for enough in the western region.
"Maybe we as coaches don't decide to go out and protest so they don't care... Maybe we need to change Western Champs' name to Eastern Champs and have the western schools competing," Henry told STAR Sports.
"I would say I am disgruntled but the move is understandable if we don't have a proper synthetic surface to use and the athletes are actually falling behind," added Henry, who expressed a belief that the Government should be doing more for sport in western Jamaica.
"I do believe that no care has been given for sports such as track and field in the western part of the island. Whatever facility is here is not being put to use and the Government has actually turned a blind eye to it," he added. "The minister only came out and made promises in regards to the upkeep and resurfacing of it (Montego Bay Sports Complex), but nothing has been done.
INCREASED BUDGET DELAYS
In June 2024, Sports Minister Olivia Grange told The Gleaner that there would be increased budget delays for repairs to the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
"I had a discussion with the Minister of Finance (then Nigel Clarke) at the time when I said it was $200 million," she said.
However, Grange said the funds needed for repairs would have been more, which would require additional support from the Ministry of Finance.
"The Sports Development Foundation (SDF) had budgeted funds to install the new track, but things didn't work out because there has to be an arrangement for the SDF to put the money into a facility that it does not own or control," Grange explained, noting that these things take time.
Grange expressed regret "that the facility was falling into disrepair and that the athletes in western Jamaica didn't have a facility to train".
She noted that,"The years have passed, unfortunately, and I'm going to ensure that it's done."
ELIMINATION, FIELD EVENTS
On the first day of the Western Championships, there will be elimination and field events finals, as well as hurdles finals and some track finals.
The 100m semi-finals and finals and all triple jump finals will be held at G.C. Foster College.
Roderick Myles, the coach of William Knibb Memorial High, said staging the event outside the region, though forced, is unfair to both the schools and athletes.
"We don't want to go to Kingston regularly for so many track meets," he said. "It is hurting the athletes and it is just not fair to the region.
"I keep on saying it, the fastest and second fastest men in the world come from the west. I don't know what is causing the hold-up because the facility is there, (it's) just to lay the track. Three high schools in Kingston have a track and we can't lay a track," a disgruntled Myles explained.
"Running on grass at STETHS makes absolutely no sense at all. You cannot use any of the times that are on grass fields to compete with the (COCAA) system.
"Even for the Carfita Trials, it is a top 24 to the semi-finals and you could not use any of the times for the past four to five years to qualify. The only option is to compete on the surface and to allow some fairness with the youngsters," he stated.
COME TO CHEER
Meanwhile, Rhianna Lewis, a student athlete from Rhodes Hall High School in Hanover, said she wants Western Champs to remain in the region. Lewis does both the 400 metres hurdles and heptathlon.
"Normally, grandmother and sister would come to cheer me on but not having them there physically is going to affect me," she said.
"There is nothing that can be done because in Montego Bay where it could be closer, the stadium is out of use. I didn't want it to move all the way to Spanish Town, I prefer if it was at STETHS," Lewis said of the two days of competition.
