By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) will get an early start to the track and field season beginning with the Odd Distance Meet scheduled for Friday at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

The one-day event will attract over 300 athletes from the various track clubs, including some collegiate athletes returning home for the Christmas break.

The unorthodox meet will serve as a measuring stick for coaches to determine the fitness of their respective athletes, according to meet director Demarius Cash.

“I think it will be a good meet because it is gonna show where athletes are in the season in terms of their fitness because they are running in non-conventional events like the 60 metres, 150 metres and 300m.

“It is almost like a timed trial but they have competition against other clubs,” Cash said.

The non-traditional meet was initially scheduled for last Saturday but will now begin on Friday at 1pm.

Athletes will compete from the under-7 to open division.

Track events include the 60m and 150m sprints for all divisions, the 300m (under-15,17, 20 and open) and the 600m in all divisions excluding the under-7, under-9, and under-11 boys and girls.

The 1000m event features all divisions except the under-7, under-9, under-11, and under-13 boys and girls.

The 60m hurdles will see competitors from the under-17 boys and girls divisions and higher and so will the 300m hurdles.

The field events at the meet are the long, triple, and high jump along with the shot put and discus events.

Cash believes those in attendance can expect some field athletes to qualify for the 2024 CARIFTA Games in Grenada. “In the field events we should get some qualifiers for CARIFTA. Athletes qualifying early for CARIFTA would be great because it will give them more time to stay in their camp and train if they get it out the way,” the meet director said.

The event is slated to run until 6pm at the previously mentioned venue.

Individuals interested in attending can purchase tickets at a cost of $10 for adults, $12 for the VIP section and $5 for school students.