PHILADELPHIA, USA — Jamaican coaches and officials attending the 119th Penn Relays Carnival here have expressed mixed views regarding safety in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing just over a week ago.

On yesterday’s eve of the start of competition in the high schools section, the Jamaican who spoke to the Jamaica Observer said they had not given the events, six hours north of Philadelphia, much thought and were going about their preparations as they would normally.

Three persons were killed and scores seriously injured when two bombs went off near the finish line of the 116th Boston Marathon last week Monday sparking fears of similar incidents at sporting events.

Michael Dyke, head coach of Edwin Allen girls’ team, said while overseeing a training session yesterday. “I have not even thought of it, to be honest,” he said.

Irwine Clare, CEO of Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB), the non-profit organisation that assists institutions from Jamaica and other Caribbean countries, said they were waiting to see what was happening when they moved their operations to the University of Pennsylvania this morning, but had made plans of their own.

The University of Pennsylvania as well as the organisers of the Penn Relays, have taken pre-emptive measures, including not allowing spectators to take in backpacks or large bags as well as search of all bags being taken into the venue, and Clare told the Observer yesterday that “we are hoping our operations will be able to maintain the usual flexibility, but we expect a tightening of security”.

Clare said they were not just thinking of security at the competition venue, but hotels in the Essington suburbs that the large Caribbean contingent had booked for the duration of their stay. “We are not taking any chances, and we have made contact with local law enforcement who are aware of our presence in the area and have increased patrols around the hotels.”

He said the staff and volunteers of TJB are also “more cognisant of the need for vigilance, and are on their guard for anything that might be out of place, and we have also taken steps internally to ensure safety”.

Captain Ashley Jones, who works with one of the Jamaican high schools, has also extended his expertise to assist TJB to help them in securing their tent and property at the University of Pennsylvania.

Paul Francis, coach of the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), welcomed the “strong reaction” to the incidents in Boston, adding “personally, I don’t think it is likely there will be any incidents here this weekend”.

“It is not usual to have that sort of thing being repeated, and it did not appear to be any syndication of any sports with a group, so I am not worried,” he said.

Calabar High’s throws coach, Julian Robinson, took a lighter approach, saying he spends most time at the throwing area, away from the main stadium. “No I am not fearful at all… not that it can’t happen here, but nobody would be interested in the throwers and the throwing area,” he noted.

John Mair, who is in his first season as coach of Vere Technical, said he was expecting an “incident-free weekend”.

St Andrew High’s Leacroft Bolt said he had not heard any of his charges even mention the bombing, and he had no concern of “any security breach at Penns”.