The CARIFTA Games, the annual Easter weekend showpiece has been pushed back to July due to the pandemic but Julian Edmonds, Coach of Running Brave, Guyana’s premier track and field club feels that the new date may be a blessing in disguise.
“The athletes will more likely be faster in July than in April, so in more ways than one it is a plus. Also, more vaccines will be out, so it will be safer for athletes and officials traveling,” said Edmonds, a former national sprinter.
The 49th edition of the CARIFTA Games, postponed last year because of the coronavirus, has been rescheduled for Bermuda’s National Sports Centre from July 2-4, organisers announced last week.
The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) made the decision to push the date back to July 2-4 at a council meeting on Thursday night.
Edmonds relayed that his only reservation is that the Games may be further pushed back or outright cancelled.
“My only concern is that the dates change again or it is cancelled altogether, I hope that the pandemic by then become under control but CARIFTA being pushed back to July is not surprising based on what is going on with the pandemic.”
Edmonds added “The major fact to note that NACAC still considered an alternative date for CARIFTA, rather than cancelling it all together like that did last year is a plus. The possibility exists that it still can be cancelled but the major fact that they have put a later date, they are thinking that there is a possibility that it will run off.”
The former sprint champion explained why Team Guyana could potentially be more successful in July.
“In terms of athletes’ preparation, the athletes that I coach, we normally do a double periodization, we start preparing in October/November to end the season in July and then we do a second periodization after then. So I don’t think that will affect us because we prepare for World Youth and Juniors, which in most cases is staged in July/August.
“So our athletes will be better prepared come July,” Edmonds concluded.