BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ANTICIPATION surrounding this year’s TDC/Coca-Cola/LIME Interschool Championships has reached a fever pitch and the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletics Association (SKNAAA) has promised one of the best events to date, but SKNVibes wants to know your feelings ahead of the March 19-21 event?
While in years past the Sandy Point High School (SPHS) utterly dominated the Interschool Championships, the decision by the SKNAAA to declare the winner based on medal count rather than points has greatly leveled the playing field for schools across the Federation.
Additionally, the distribution of the nation’s top athletes is more widely spread this year instead of being concentrated largely at SPHS, Basseterre or Verchilds High School.
“I think all of the teams coming to Interschools this year are evenly matched and we should see some very keen competition. It will come down to strategy, team management, crowd support and very good performances from the athletes over the coming weekend,” SKNAAA Vice-President Lester Hanley said at a press briefing Monday (Mar. 15).
Nevisian athletes, particularly from the Charlestown Secondary School, already demonstrated at this month’s National Junior Championships that they are a force to be reckoned with, and CSS Sports Master Garfield Virgo has stated his intention of seeing Nevis finish in the top four this year.
The Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College is expected to dominate in the U-20 category after picking up many of the graduating top athletes from last year. Under the guidance of Coach Donnell Esdaile, the Washington Archibald High School has made significant strides in the past two years, while Cayon High School will also be looking to show they are rapidly rebuilding a squad of top athletes.
Underdogs AVEC, St. Theresa’s Convent High School and Gingerland Secondary School have all stated their intentions to surprise the top teams and good strategy at this weekend’s competition could see those schools finishing with their best performances to date.
Fans can also look forward to the premier of the newly opened Saddlers Secondary School, and with a Head Master like track and field stalwart Stanley Knight it is certain they should be taken seriously even though it will be a young team.
But what do you think? Which school do you think has the right combination of athletes to win this year?
Strategy has been touted again and again as the key to winning the 2010 Interschool Championships, but what is the right strategy to take? Which team do you feel will deliver the best all-around group of athletes? Which specific athletes are you rooting for?
At Monday’s press briefing, event sponsors TDC, the St. Kitts Bottling Company and telecommunications giant LIME all proudly gave their support to the Interschool Championships as responsible corporate citizens.
“At the TDC group of companies, we recognize that this contribution will augur well for the well-roundedness of the Federation’s youth on a whole,” TDC Marketing Assistant Dominic Matthew stated, citing positive examples such as Kim Collins and Tiandra Ponteen, who have been nurtured by the company over the 32 years they have sponsored the event.
Tell SKNVibes what you feel an event like the Interschool Championships does for the nation’s youth, particularly as many persons have expressed concern over rising violent crime. Is the business community on a whole doing enough to bolster not only the Interschool Championships, but sport in general?
Do you feel that admission prices of EC $20 for the Kim Collins Pavillion, EC $10 for general admission and EC $5 for children are fair for such a premier event? Are you going to attend all three days of competition? Are you looking forward to the AquaVita Cheerleading Competition on Friday (Mar. 19) night and if so, who do you favor to win?
Leave your comments and join the discussion.
