The number of Barbadians among the elite athletes in the Powerade Run Barbados Series has steadily decreased over the years and at the current rate of attrition, the future looks bleak.
That’s because, like with West Indies cricket, no succession plan has been put in place to ensure that when the greats retire or are forced out, there is a strong cadre of runners who can seamlessly pick up the mantle.
Adelbert Browne, Keith Cumberbatch, Albert Wilson, Mark Maynard, Leo Garnes, Andrew Brathwaite, Reynold Walters and Jason Gilkes used to be the names Barbadians chanted and cheered when the runners passed through Bridgetown or were en route to Speightstown.
But slowly, and sadly, there has been little for Barbadians to cheer as these stalwarts aged, got injured and faded from among the elite to also-rans and recreational runners.
Lonely pursuit For a short time, Gilkes looked set to emerge, but he abruptly quit competing.
Christian Rock, Jason Wilson and Matthew Wright – three of the last men to represent Barbados in the 5000 metres at the CARIFTA Games – also tried the 10K, and Wright was the most successful. For the past two years, he was the first Barbadian male home, but he is now at university in England.
The schoolchildren (and their physical education teachers) place more emphasis on the relay section than on the hard-core distance running.
The fact is, distant running is a hard, lonely and thankless pursuit.
Why get out of your bed at 4 or 5 a.m. to run the hills when you can be snuggled in warm until the sun rises?
For the serious runner, there is a compulsion to run, even when your body tells you it doesn’t want to move.
For sprinters, distance running and conditioning is that unfortunate phase you go through in the first two or three months to build a base for the coming season – a necessary evil rather than a joy.
So whose responsibility is it to build this cadre of runner?
The Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) has tried unsuccessfully to stage a cross-country series. Largely undersubscribed, it has drawn complaints that it conflicts with the National Sports Council’s Schools’ (NSC) Cross-country Series or the Run Barbados.
This year, the AAA staged a relay race in St Thomas, and that seemed to have been welcomed by the clubs, who place more emphasis on sprinting.
Jerston Clarke at WIBISCO Stars was responsible for many of the island’s top distance runners, but he is no longer a young man either.
Garnes at Elite Distance is the only coach who dedicates the time and training needed for distance running, but even so, his main focus has been, with a few exceptions, up to 5000 metres.
So if the AAA’s efforts have been unsuccessful, what about those of the NSC?
For several years, the NSC staged a cross-country series with races at The Lodge School, Harrison College and Coleridge and Parry and the 6×1-mile relays at the National Stadium or Botanical Gardens. This year, it was drastically reduced to one race and the relays.
Some schools have complained about the organisation, and this year the numbers were smaller. Clearly, the NSC lacks the might to compel schools to compete and make the most of the series – which leaves one other option.
The Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletic Championships committee, which runs Inter-School Sports, should be the body running the schools’ cross-country series.
For some strange reason (wink), every single secondary school takes part in Inter-School Sports even if they finish with one point at the end of the five days.
It is a matter of pride and tradition and it seems to be the one meet that principals pay the slightest bit of attention to.
Well, exclude principal Matthew Farley, who is a faithful supporter of Garrison team events.
In the same way that schools feel duty-bound to compete at Inter-School Sports, they should be doing the same at cross-country.
In fact, I would argue that if more of them took the time to put in that solid out-of-season preparation instead of waiting until January, they would see better results in March.
With a wider pool to choose from, coach Garnes may find some hidden gems who could one day represent Barbados with pride in the 10K, half-marathon or marathon held right here at home.
What’s the use of staging an international festival and there is no hometown favourite to cheer for?
That would be like Jamaica staging a 100 metres race and inviting everyone from the United States, Trinidad and Tobago and everywhere else, but Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Michael Frater, Dexter Lee, Nesta Carter, Yohan Blake and Leron Clarke are all watching from the stands.
Absolute madness!
• Sherrylyn Toppin is a NATION sports reporter and can be reached at [email protected]
