Charlie,
Will this have a positive or negative impact on the group’s training? I know that training on grass has its advantages during the preparatory periods. Will access to a new synthetic track take them away from their traditional prep and lead to other problems with overuse injuries? It will be interesting to see what happens.
http://jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20091102T220000-0500_163055_OBS_DONE_DEAL_.asp
Done deal!
Bolt’s Racers Track Club to have synthetic track laid at UWI
BY KAYON RAYNOR Senior staff reporter raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
World 100 and 200 metres record holder Usain Bolt and his Racers Track Club teammates will definitely have a synthetic track to prepare for international meets on the grounds of the University of West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus.
Speaking with the Observer yesterday in an exclusive interview from Kenya, Bolt’s agent Ricky Simms confirmed that a contract has been signed with Germany-based Athletic Track specialist company Regupol to construct the track.
“Yes, I have arranged a contract with Regupol to have the track constructed,” said Simms from the Nairobi Airport.
The British-based agent and his Jamaican client, triple Olympic and world championships gold medallist Bolt, were travelling back to Europe after some sponsorship engagements.
Regupol is the company that constructed the blue track for this summer’s 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin, where Jamaica secured a record 13 medals - seven gold, four silver and two bronze.
Student Services Manager of Sports at UWI, Olympian Grace Jackson also confirmed that the deal had been consummated, but declined to give details relating to the time frame of the work and cost.
“We will be doing a launch next week Wednesday, so you will hear all the details about that on November 11,” said Jackson.
The Racers Track Club has been using the grass track at the UWI Bowl as their early season training base for more than six years.
The Observer first reported 10 days ago that talks were well advanced between Simms, the Racers Track Club and agents of Regupol to have the track established on the grounds of UWI.
At the time, a highly-placed Observer source revealed that talks started shortly after the World Championships ended in August.
“Originally, the makers of the track offered Bolt a four-lane, 150-metre portion of the surface in recognition of his performance in Berlin, but his agent has been negotiating with them to look at the possibility of a full (eight-lane) track,” said the source, who requested anonymity.
Bolt dominated the Championships in Berlin, winning the 100 and 200 metres in world record times of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds, respectively. He also ran the third leg on Jamaica’s victorious 4x100m men’s team that won the sprint relay in a championships record 37.31secs.
The impeccable source had further indicated that the management of the University of West Indies, which has been trying to establish its own synthetic track for years, had given their blessings for the track to be laid at the campus.
According to information obtained from Regupol’s website, their athletic tracks are suitable for international professional sports.
“Regupol synthetic tracks create the ideal conditions for training and competition for athletes around the world,” the website said.
Incidentally, Regupol is one of four companies currently bidding to the Jamaican Government for the contract to refurbish the two worn-out Mondo tracks at the National Stadium and Stadium East facilities.