by Coach Jit
The weather created havoc as the day started sunny and then the downpour started. Parents from other centres Bedok, Bishan and Queenstown kept calling in regards to the trial, whether it will commence or be postponed. As true to JS Athletics motto, come what may but the show must go on.
The coaches assembled at 12.30pm to be briefed and set-up the throwing pit area and the long jump pits, parents and athletes started pouring in slowly. Then the rain got lighter and the older boys and girls were first out to do their warmup. By 1.30pm the rain subsided completely and all the kids were in the throng for their warmup led by the coaches and then for their stretching and striding.
As schedule, we started sharp at 2pm with the 1500m event and then followed by the 100m, 200m, 50m, 80,m kids dash, long jump, shot put and then closely by 300m, 600m, 800m events and finally ending at 4.45pm with the last event of the day which was the 400m with the only participant Dinie Zikry who come in late.
The meet is held twice yearly as to give competition and awareness to athletes who normally do not participate in any meet. We are keen to encourage competition in a healthy way as also to bring the athletes from all the centres close. Parents and supporters were rooting vigorously for one and all, the rivalry was friendly but on the track as the athletes started the competition was fierce. The trials were a success and parents were a good sport throughout the meet.
After the meet the buffet was catered to one and all with the friendly banters among parents and kids all mingled, some to get acquainted from other centres and others to offer congratulatory messages to the winners and motivation to those who perhaps had a off-day.
After wrapping up the time-trial, everyone seems to be already looking forward to the next time-trial with eagerness. In JS Athletics, the founder has inculcated in the coaches and athletes that we are more concerned with athlete-centric than results as we strive to pique their interest from young than burn them out at an early age.
**Our time-trial results are posted at our Facebook.