Morrison
The track and field training facilities at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) are to get an $8-million upgrade, which according to the college's president, is a gift to the athletes who have done so well internationally in recent years.
UTech is home to the MVP Track Club headed by Stephen Francis and where World and Olympic champions Shelly-Ann Fraser, Melaine Walker, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and former men's 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell, train. At the past two major championships - the Beijing Olympics in August last year and the IAAF World Championships in Berlin this past August - MVP athletes have won, among others, five individual gold medals and set three national records.
Despite the success of the athletes however, the facilities continued to remain substandard. But not for much longer, according to UTech president Professor Errol Morrison.
Raising funds
Professor Morrison revealed that he is soon to have discussions with Pro Chancellor, Edward Seaga, about raising the necessary funds that will be handed over to sports director Anthony Davis and Francis at a power breakfast set for November 12.
Davis, a former student of CAST (College of Arts, Science and Technology) now UTech, and who represented Jamaica in track and field between 1972 and 1981, revealed that come April 2010, the money made available will be used to properly grass the training field at the rear of the campus and a proper irrigation and drainage system will also be installed.
The long jump pit will also be upgraded and world-standard throwing circles put on the field, that Professor Morrison affectionately refers to as the Asafa Powell track. Aluminium stands will also be put in, Davis says.
Potential start date
Davis explained that April was chosen as the potential start date because by then the athletes would have started speed work at the Stadium East track and would no longer be using the field.
The money will not be enough to upgrade the gym that has equipment more than 30 years old. However, Davis says it will get its own upgrade of sorts through a donation from the Royal Air Force (RAF).
About two years ago, members of the RAF toured the UTech campus and decided to donate some equipment that they were not using, but which would provide a much-needed lift to the UTech gym.
Davis says the shipment of stair-climbers, treadmills and other aerobic equipment should be arriving soon. When they arrive, the equipment will be installed in what is now known as the 'karate room', near the existing gym.