The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

OVER 1,000 student athletes from approximately 28 schools throughout the country will have three days to decide the title of national champions to conclude their scholastic athletics season.

The Scotiabank National High School Track and Field Championships are scheduled to open today and run through April 20 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. The event will comprise of competition in all categories, including bantam, junior, intermediate and senior boys and girls divisions with the relay events as well.

To assist with the logistics of the meet, the Sports Unit of the Ministry of Education officially came on board to lend its support, with a special focus on facilitating Family Island teams. “We expect this meet to be the highlight of the year for many of our young athletes and over the three-day competition we know the performances will be ones to remember as they try to out do each other on the track and in the field in this national championship meet,” said Director of Education Lionel Sands. “We want this meet to run as smoothly as possible, therefore to assist with the logistics of the meet, the ministry has pledged free transportation, with buses for the visiting Family Island teams for the duration of the meet, staff to help with technical support and a small token to the BAAA. It is an opportunity to build lifelong friendships, it promotes character building and we hope for it to be a great success for the teams and everyone involved.”

For the sixth consecutive year, Scotiabank will be the title sponsor for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National High School Track and Field Championships.

“This has actually become a staple event on Scotiabank’s calendar and it is one that we at Scotiabank and all of our employees look forward to each year, both as facilitators and actually as participants,” said Leah Davis, marketing manager at Scotiabank.

“We believe in doing our part in the community and we have a long standing relationship with the BAAA with our track record of giving back to the community and the development of track and field and sports in the country. We do believe that a bright future is possible for every young Bahamian and the sponsorship is a part of our bright future here at Scotiabank.”

Davis announced that ScotiaBank will add a a new element to its sponsrship duties by hosting a reception for all medal winners at the meet, where they will announce outstanding male and female performers.

“We know it has become one of the most sought after and prestigious awards because the winners of the past few years have gone on to do wonderful things in the sport of track and field.”

And like they did last year, Sands said the winners of the National High School Championship titles in the senior boys and girls 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m relays will be awarded a trip to compete in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia at the end of the month.

The meet is slated to begin 9:30am today and 9:30am Friday and noon on Saturday.