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By Neto Baptiste
The Antigua and Barbuda Athletic Association’s (ABAA) Grassroots Development and Talent Identification Programme is set to race out of the starting blocks this weekend with the first of three instalments slated for the Golden Grove playing field.
This is according to the association’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) and coach, Kesswin Anthony, who says close to 30 schools and their athletes will benefit this year.
“First one will be at the Golden Grove playing field where we will target the schools from the neighbouring communities as well as Old Road and SR Olivia David will be in this zone. We’re doing three of them this year, targeting all 26 primary schools across the island so it comes up this Sunday at the Golden Grove playing field at 3 p.m. and you know, this is our talent identification programme,” he said.
The athletic association, in November 2024, launched the initiative with the very first instalment held at the Golden Grove playing field.
Meanwhile, Anthony says there has been very little movement regarding the possible resurfacing of the track at the YASCO Sports Complex after the current surface was decertified as a Class 2 facility this year.
“Still waiting on that meeting with the representatives from the NOC, the athletic association and Pan Am Sports. Like the president [Shawnor Charles Joseph] said, if it is that, this thing is not resolved in a timely manner, we have no choice but to have our season on that same track that we had our nationals on just a few months ago and hope that things can be ironed out as soon as the season finishes next year,” he said.
The 2027 track and field season is expected to officially open in January.