Road Town, Tortola - Five secondary schools will compete in the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports’ (DYAS) Inter-Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 27 at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.

Athletes from the Elmore Stoutt High School, Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary, Claudia Creque Education Centre Secondary, St. Georges Secondary and Seventh Day Adventist Secondary will participate in this event. Each school will be represented in the following divisions under 15, under 17 and under 20 with one athlete per event.

During a Government Information Service Radio Report DYAS Sports Officer, Mr. Dean Greenaway said that this type of event is very beneficial for the young people who are involved in athletics. “The major benefits of this event is the involvement of more people in the development of track and field in the Territory and to give the young people the opportunity to prepare for and compete in regional and international competitions,” Mr. Greenaway said.

He also explained that the Inter-Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships were reinstated by the DYAS last year and often those athletes that compete in this local athletic competition are often the ones that represent the Territory overseas. “It is our hope to have this as an ongoing event in the BVI,” he said.

The competition will include field events such as shot-puts, discus throw, long and high jumps, and for the first time javelin throw as an exhibition event. Additionally, the track events will include the standard races from the 100 to 1500 meters, as well as, the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays.

Field events are slated to begin at 12:30 p.m. Additionally, there will be a brief opening ceremony at 1:15 p.m. followed by the track events at 1:30 p.m. The Inter-Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships were revived last year after 17 years with the Elmore Stoutt High School capturing the championship title.

Part of the mission of the Ministry of Education and Culture under which the DYAS falls is to facilitate access to and participation in sports, and recreation in order to enrich the lives of all residents of the Virgin Islands.