Coach elated with ballooning STATHS track programme

Douglas Williams, head coach of the St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) track and field team, says the programme has made significant progress over the past two years and is well positioned to make a strong impact at next year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

Williams, who has been at the helm for the past two years, said he inherited a programme with just eight athletes but has since increased the number to 65. The school has also made notable strides in the number of athletes qualifying for Champs.

“When I came to STATHS, it was eight kids that were in the programme, but since then we have recruited some people and found some kids who were already in the school, and now I have 65 kids in the programme. We have made some progress from six kids going to Champs before I came here, and last year I took 41 kids to Champs,” Williams said.

He described the growth as a major achievement for the school, which scored just six points at last year’s championships. Williams is now targeting a significant increase, with hopes of earning between 20 and 40 points.

“That is a big move, moving the school from such a small amount to having 40 kids qualifying for the Boys and Girls’ Championships. That is big progress for us,” he said.

“Last year we got six points at Champs, and so this year we are hoping to move from not just getting six points but getting figures of about 20 or 40 points at Champs, and so we are working for that.”

Williams said he is encouraged by the enthusiasm and commitment of his athletes, noting that the programme now boasts talented competitors across almost every class.

“The kids here are very enthusiastic about what they are doing, and all of them are pushing towards their best and what they can do. We have a lot of quality kids here and not quantity,” he said.

“I have talented kids in Class Four, Class Three and Class Two, and I have only two Class One girls, and that is sad to say. But when I came here, I only had some Class Three and some Class Four girls, and I now have girls in all classes.”

Williams also pointed out that the boys’ programme includes athletes from Class Three through to Class One and said their passion for the sport is evident every day.

“These are kids who love track and field because I don’t have anybody here who does not love the sport. Right now it is a test week, and everybody is competing against each other, and they are having a lot of fun doing it as well,” he said.

Williams noted that the programme operates on a demanding training schedule, with sessions beginning at 3:15 p.m. and ending by 5:30 p.m.

“It is an intense programme because this is the inner city and so you don’t want anybody to be here late and so we finish training by 5:30 in the evenings,” Williams said.

He added that the athletes come from several communities, including the STATHS area, Waltham Park, Spanish Town and St Thomas.