Track and field events need sponsors

Monday, February 06, 2012

Dear Editor,

I am a passionate track and field fan and a throwing-events coach for over 18 years. I also organise throwing events-only meets, as a means to showcase and foster development of these non-traditional events.

The lack of sponsorship for these events from corporate Jamaica is appalling. We get very little cash contributions which forces us to use personal funds to assist in meeting the expenses of these events. We Jamaicans are all agog over our sprinting and relay victories, but must realise that we will always finish fourth on the medal tables because there are only so many sprint events to be won.

Without real support for these events and athletes, we will not be able to do any better. Federic Dacres is our first World Champion in a throwing event after winning the discus event at the 2011 World Youth Championships, following on Traves Smikle's bronze two years earlier. There are Jamaican throwers who are world-class and in dire need of support to propel them over that final hurdle to be truly competitive on the world stage. We speak of Dorian Scott, national shot put record holder, Jason Morgan, who finished 17th at the World Championships in Daegu, Zara Northover.

Odayne Richards and Traves Smikle are two who are here in Jamaica working to make the grade. Unlike the track events, there is the need for high-quality throwing implements and training tools that are needed and would greatly enhance the chances of our athletes. We need to stop this bandwaggonist mentality and be visionary, as Puma did with a young Usain Bolt. Some corporate entities should be looking at this vast untapped area of immense talent. Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell Brown and a few others have funnelled their world youth success into Olympic and World Championships glory and this could be the same for Dacres, Smikle and a lot more.

At the recent JN Big Shot Invitational Throws meet there were over 480 registered contestants and over 100 spectators. This was previously unheard of, and shows the growing interest in the throwing disciplines. We at Throwers "R" Us acknowledge the support of Pepsi-Gatorade, Jamaica National Building Society, Western Sports (Carl Chang), Jamaica Biscuit Company and Confectionery and Snacks that have been supporting as best they can. And while we are appreciative, there is more to be done. In an event where a "decent" javelin can cost in excess of US$600, we are at a clear disadvantage, but we have been getting extraordinary results using ordinary equipment. We have won all the high school throwing events with the exception of the boys Javelin, at the Penn Relays and have dominated with records over the last two years in the boys' discus. This is a plea for help to secure much-needed equipment which will be used to foster development.

Michael Vassell

jamthrows@yahoo.com

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Track and field events need sponsors