MEET DIRECTOR of the Wesley Powell Benjamins Track and Field meet, David Riley, is of the belief that the event, which will be held on Excelsior High School’s nine-lane grass track on Saturday, December 9, will have long-term benefits.
Riley, a national junior coach and technical leader of Jamaica’s successful track and field team to last year’s World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, said: “The meet is a good way to assess your athletes at the end of your well-planned and executed development season.”
According to Riley, the meet is intentional about also catering largely to what is called over-distance events.
Over-distance events refer to distances longer than internationally expected standards like a 150-metre race instead of a 100-metre race.
“The meet deliberately has the over-distance model because it is being intended for the preparation side of the development plan rather than the peak performance, as this is a key component to a successful development plan,” said Riley.
The meet will still have a few qualifying events for Champs 2024, namely the 3,000 and 5,000 metres, while there will also be a few field events.
Riley does not think the main role in the month of December should be qualification for Champs, however.
“Champs will be 14 weeks away and athletes will get faster as the season progreses and the probability of qualification by ranking then will be greater,” explained Riley.
“The sport has moved away from fixed qualification standards to qualification by ranking in the event. It therefore means that a performance in December has a high chance of being eclipsed by performances in February and March.”
The meet director also pointed out that a grass track provides similar training conditions to many of the schools.
Riley went on to explain that while it is early in the season, coaches get to see how athletes execute their instructions, how much progress they have made, how the athletes adjust to competition environment, how close they are to their targets, and how well teams work together.
Athletes will be competing in over-distance events like 150 metres, 300 metres, 600 metres, the 4×300 metres, and the 4×600-metre relays.
Riley said that the Wesley Powell Benjamins Track and Field meet is competition for the thoughtful and organised coach.
Published:Sunday | November 12, 2023 | 12:13 AMRaymond Graham – Gleaner Writer
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20231112/grass-run-wesley-powell-has-long-term-benefits
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