Vere Tech, Holmwood, Calabar and St Jago for Toronto Int’l Track and Field Games
VERE, Holmwood, Calabar and St Jago are among ten Caribbean High School track and field teams sponsoring 10 track and field teams that will compete in the Toronto International Track and Field Games to be held June 11 at the University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre in Canada.
The teams are sponsored by Scotiabank’s Bright Future programme and joins teams from Barbados, Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago which will compete in the Scotiabank International High School 4×100 Relay Championship with other top athletes from high schools in Canada and the USA. The Jamaica group will consist 20 students and six coaches and managers.
“This is a good example of how excellent performance can open doors for young Jamaicans. Our parent company is a sponsor of the Toronto International Track and Field Games and the Scotiabank International High School 4 X 100 Relay Championship that supported this linkage, which is a great opportunity for our young athletes to gain international exposure. At Scotiabank our focus is on youth development through sports as we believe the same skills set needed on the track are also important in life,” said Monique Todd, Scotiabank’s vice-president marketing and corporate affairs.
In addition to these top high school athletes from the Caribbean, TITFG announced that 40 track and field champions, including Donald Quarrie of Jamaica will participate in a special coaching clinic being held with the TITFG.
Sandra Watson, principal of St Jago said this is a golden opportunity for her school.
“This is the very first time that either the boys’ or girls’ team will be going to the Toronto International. This is an important opportunity for us and we welcome it. Many of our students are planning professional careers in track and field and the exposure, and opportunity to compete against students from other countries is very helpful to their development. This is not something we could have afforded on our own so we are grateful to Scotiabank,” Watson said.
The TITFG coordinators expect more than 4000 fans to attend the event which boasts 40 track and field champions from 14 countries. TITFG serves as the second stop in the 2013 National Track League (NTL) series, which crowns champions in 10 events. Ontario’s next generation of stars will also be on showcase in a series of high school and elementary school events.
