No changes to national champs yet – Blake

Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association president, Dr Warren Blake, says that a decision has not been made on whether the National Senior Championships scheduled for June would still go ahead as planned.

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in various sporting events and leagues to be cancelled or postponed, including the Tokyo Olympics, which on Monday was rescheduled for July 23 to August 8, 2021.

Blake says though the possibility decreases because of the outbreak, they still desire to have the championships as it is more than just a means to select a team for the Olympics.

"We haven't taken a decision to postpone or cancel it as yet and we would still like to have it," Blake told STAR Sports. "It's not simply a matter of choosing a team, it's determining a national champion, and that is important for the athletes in some respects for the athletes with contracts, because for some, if you become the national championship, then you get a bonus on your contract."

Among the local meets that have been affected by the outbreak of the virus is the Jamaica International Invitational Meet (JIIM) scheduled for May, which has now been postponed. The next major meet on the calendar is the Racers Grand Prix slated for June, and while Blake says that he has not received any updates from the organisers, he is not optimistic on the event going through as planned.

Would be difficult

"We haven't heard anything definite from them but I suspect that they will find themselves in the same position where the international meets found themselves," he said. "As it comes closer to the date and the places where you hope to get your athletes from have not brought their outbreak under control, then it would be difficult to go ahead and have a meet."

Blake said that they were looking at a tentative date in September to have the JIIM, and hopes that the current health crisis will alleviate for meets to take place later down in the year for athletes to recoup earnings and to earn spots for the Olympics next year.

"Nothing is chiselled in stone and we are hoping that these meets can still go ahead, that at least athletes will get chances to qualify from this year, and also to earn some prize money and appearance fees," he said.