Football on our runway !
On Day 1 of the K.A.A. Championships, held on the evening of Friday, May 22, there was a clash with an organised Football game. (There is someone in the Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs who is employed precisely to ensure that this does not happen !) While the long-distance events (W3000m. and M5000m.) could proceed fairly normally on the track, we had to move the Discus to a grass area behind one goal and re-orientate the sector. (To fit the area, the sector was narrower than usual, thus not very fair to the athletes. There was also danger to Football spectators who refused to move !)
We also held the M and WLong Jump on that evening. To fit the competition into the available daylight time, the athletes literally had to wait for the Football play to be at the other end of the field so that they could make their approach runs unhindered ! Nevertheless the competitions were completed and performances were fair.
More problems with Football on Day 2.
In spite of painstaking checks and an e-mail agreement about "only one Football match starting at 3.00 p.m.", other agencies decided that there would be non-stop Football throughout the day. Again, this did not seriously affect the track races. However we had to wait for breaks between matches to fit in our Triple Jump events !
It also meant that our planned Javelin competitions could not be held without endangering the Football players. We plan to hold those next Saturday morning, before any Football !
Increased participation.
Thanks to the encouragement from the schools, plus the involvement of the more senior athletes, the numbers in many events were huge. Because we had limited time overall, and to reduce the load on individual athletes, all track events requiring Heats, from 60m. Hurdles up to 800m., were ranked on times. This is not necessarily the most fair way and it does rely entirely on the accuracy and concentration of the time-keepers. Nevertheless there were no surprises and there were excellent races and many results of good standard.
Two still in at 1.80m.
One feature of the Field events was the MHigh Jump, where 11 took part and there were still two boys competing having cleared 1.80m. They chose to go to 1.85m. and one was close. In the same competition, a Form 1 boy named Matakite (aged 12) cleared 1.40m. first time and had one very near miss at 1.50m.
Hurdles.
As you will see in the Results, large numbers answered the challenge of five barriers in 60m. races. The Girls hurdles were set at "one hole showing" and spaced approx. 8m. apart.(i.e. 13 in, 8 x 4 spacing, 15 out). The Boys hurdles were set at "three holes showing" and spaced approx. 9m. apart (i.e. 13 in, 9 x 4 spacing, 11 out).
Encouraging for the future.
This big increase in participation bodes well for the future of the sport, in all its guises, and a further rise in standards. It also creates an exciting prospect for the Inter-School competition in six weeks time.
Thanks to all.
All the athletes and officials showed patience, skill, and determination and co-operated well in the face of frustration and aggression. It is a tribute to them that the bulk of the programme was completed and that we finished, as agreed, by 2.30 p.m.
Images.
The three images herewith show the winner of the MHigh Jump; unimpressive Hurdling, with Football behind them; and the scene at the 1500m. finish.
Results.
A summary of all results is contained in the attachment.
Finally JAVELIN !
This morning (Saturday May 30) we concluded our events. Having had an apology from the Football Association for the confusion of last Saturday, this time we had no problems ! The Javelin involved 8 boys and 4 girls, most of whom are still learning the event. So the results were not impressive. However, we DID hold a competition ! Thanks to Simon for his help in the morning sun ! Because of the low numbers, we gave the athletes four attempts each. The results were:-
WOMEN. 01. Joyce Katutu. 23.27m. 02. Mareta Berenato. 20.89m. 03. Terina Tangitang. 20.89m.
MEN. 01. Tonika Aretema. 35.42m. 02. David Birati. 33.46m. 03. Teatu Uerem. 30.10m.
CROWDED FIELD and TRACK.
Before, during, and after the Javelin competition, at least four different School squads were training and having Trials, using our booked time. This was very encouraging to see, particularly the way in which they blended with each other's arrangements and needs.
Last Modified on 30/05/2009 16:38