Track and Field Event in St. Kitts – Nevis

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
June 04, 2008 (SKNIS)

St. Kitts and Nevis’ top sprinters including Kim Collins, Virgil Hodge and Tiandra Ponteen will be among athletes contesting the June 21 and 22, track and field National Championships at the new Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium at Bird Rock.

The two-day competition will be used as a qualifying event to select representatives for a number of upcoming track events including the July 08-13 World Junior Championships in Poland and the XXIX Olympic Games slated for August 08-24 in Beijing, China.

Odel ‘Scotty’ Hanley of the St. Kitts and Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA) appeared on SKNIS’ radio magazine, Perspectives, and said that this event is meaningful as it marks the first time overseas based athletes such as Collins and Hodge will compete at the Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium since it’s opening in March.

“It’s always exciting to race in front of the home crowd,” he said, noting that it has been years since the top sprinters competed in St. Kitts. “Most of the [overseas based runners] saw the pictures and heard the reports from the CARIFTA Games and said wow I should have been home.”

Hanley’s comments reflected the enthusiasm which is growing among the sprinters at the prospect of competing at the new stadium. “They are really looking forward to coming home and showing the local fans how much they have developed,” he added.

Track enthusiasts are also in for a treat as locally based sprinters including double CARIFTA medalist Meritza Williams, Tamika Williams and Kadeem Smith will also contest the competition.

The SKNAAA official thanked the Government for its continued support and also saluted the contributions of the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee for its assistance. Grattitude was expressed to parents, officials and volunteers as well.