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I am an athletics fan... Have been for a long time... However I was am concerned that too much pressure is place on the young people to compete....
In the athletics term there is
regional champs, Gibson's, at least two development meets, Utech invitational, champs..
Schools also have their internal sports day.... in a six or 8 week term ????
and now next week their is Penn Relays..
At champs Schools stars are doing two events with heats plus two relays... This is not in the best interest of the individual students.. To me a school is for academic education sport is peripheral...
Exam Priority For Girls Of Wolmer's - Impressive 4x100m Team Not Going To Penns
Michael Carr
Ryon Jones, Staff reporter
PENNSYLVANIA:
Despite an impressive run to win the 4x100m Class Two finals at last month's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships, Wolmer's Girls will not be showcasing their talent at this year's 119th stage of the Penn Relays.
The decision was taken by the school not to field a team at this week's relay carnival, so that the young women can focus on their CXC exams, which are slated to get underway in next month.
Wolmer's Girls' quartet of Andrene Rose, Kerry-Ann Gocoul, Shauna Helps and double sprint champion, Jonielle Smith, clocked a time of 45.15 seconds to win at Champs ahead of St Jago (45.56) and Holmwood Technical (45.57).
"That would have been a very good time (45.15) at Penns, but we have to understand the focus and where we want to go, so this (missing Penns) was planned from last year," Wolmer's Girls coach for the past 26 years, Michael Carr, shared.
"My focus this year will be on them (athletes) achieving their CXCs, as Penns will always be there."
The 4x100m was won at Penns last year and the year before by California-based high school, Long Beach Poly, in times of 46.35 seconds and 45.23 seconds, respectively.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
"The girls have supported the move and they realise what the goals are," Carr said.
"It might be a major disappointment, but we are looking at the bigger picture and we see where they will have another two years for Penns, at least.
"Every girl who would be going to Penns is doing her CXCs this year, so in my opinion it is about them just focusing, getting that out the way and then we move on to Penns again next year."
Carr believes that track and field should be used as a vehicle to get young athletes into tertiary institutions, but stresses that they have to get in some academics as well.
In hindsight, Carr deems it to have been a good decision to not participate in the United States' oldest and largest track and fieldcompetition this year, as a key cog in the school's 4x100m team, Helps, suffered an injury at the UTech Classics earlier this month.
"She (Helps) got a slight tear at the joining of the gluteus and hamstring muscles on the right leg," Carr disclosed. "If she had to go to Penns that would have been a major blow for our team right now, so things just worked out themselves, as Shauna (Helps) would be an integral part of the team.
"She will probably be out for four to six weeks because we want it to heal properly and if it heals properly, we are looking at World Youths down the road."
[email protected]
In the athletics term there is
regional champs, Gibson's, at least two development meets, Utech invitational, champs..
Schools also have their internal sports day.... in a six or 8 week term ????
and now next week their is Penn Relays..
At champs Schools stars are doing two events with heats plus two relays... This is not in the best interest of the individual students.. To me a school is for academic education sport is peripheral...
Exam Priority For Girls Of Wolmer's - Impressive 4x100m Team Not Going To Penns
Michael Carr
Ryon Jones, Staff reporter
PENNSYLVANIA:
Despite an impressive run to win the 4x100m Class Two finals at last month's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships, Wolmer's Girls will not be showcasing their talent at this year's 119th stage of the Penn Relays.
The decision was taken by the school not to field a team at this week's relay carnival, so that the young women can focus on their CXC exams, which are slated to get underway in next month.
Wolmer's Girls' quartet of Andrene Rose, Kerry-Ann Gocoul, Shauna Helps and double sprint champion, Jonielle Smith, clocked a time of 45.15 seconds to win at Champs ahead of St Jago (45.56) and Holmwood Technical (45.57).
"That would have been a very good time (45.15) at Penns, but we have to understand the focus and where we want to go, so this (missing Penns) was planned from last year," Wolmer's Girls coach for the past 26 years, Michael Carr, shared.
"My focus this year will be on them (athletes) achieving their CXCs, as Penns will always be there."
The 4x100m was won at Penns last year and the year before by California-based high school, Long Beach Poly, in times of 46.35 seconds and 45.23 seconds, respectively.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
"The girls have supported the move and they realise what the goals are," Carr said.
"It might be a major disappointment, but we are looking at the bigger picture and we see where they will have another two years for Penns, at least.
"Every girl who would be going to Penns is doing her CXCs this year, so in my opinion it is about them just focusing, getting that out the way and then we move on to Penns again next year."
Carr believes that track and field should be used as a vehicle to get young athletes into tertiary institutions, but stresses that they have to get in some academics as well.
In hindsight, Carr deems it to have been a good decision to not participate in the United States' oldest and largest track and fieldcompetition this year, as a key cog in the school's 4x100m team, Helps, suffered an injury at the UTech Classics earlier this month.
"She (Helps) got a slight tear at the joining of the gluteus and hamstring muscles on the right leg," Carr disclosed. "If she had to go to Penns that would have been a major blow for our team right now, so things just worked out themselves, as Shauna (Helps) would be an integral part of the team.
"She will probably be out for four to six weeks because we want it to heal properly and if it heals properly, we are looking at World Youths down the road."
[email protected]