As the track season begins The UWI Track and Field team is gearing up for what could be considered their best season to come. The Track team over the past few weeks has rigorously prepared for new comers, rivals and friends alike. As such they kicked off competing in their first meet on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Kirkvine Sports Complex in Manchester. No doubt the UWI being the Crème de la Crème of the Caribbean stands firm in its commitment to assist in the production of such high quality athletes through its well thought out and equipped sports programme. So under the management of coaches Glenn Mills, Jason Dawson, Fitz Coleman, James Taylor, Michael Vassell, and Keri-Lee Rickets the UWI Track and field team with a cohort of 42 dedicated athletes train for at least 2 hours per day as they try to achieve the difficult yet reachable goal that they have made for the upcoming season. 

Therefore with the physical preparations for the upcoming season well on the way the UWI Sports Department, athletes and trainers are anticipating a great season. The athletes are all looking forward to this meet as not only have they been training smartly but they have also been psychologically, mentally and emotionally cared for by the Sports Psychology Programme which began earlier this year. Thus motivated to reach beyond the stars by both their coaches and the sports psychologists the athletes are on their marks, and getting ready for a tremendous season. Rashid Hall, Asistant Sports Coordinator declares that hard work coupled with the right attitude will create and mould an image of Track and Field on the campus and by extension Jamaica. Thus athletes will feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that their hard work paid off and the investment of the University will now be rightfully matched with the performance of the athletes.  

The University of The West Indies through their five year development programme for the Track and Field team presents many opportunities for athletes to excel here or beyond borders as last year the world saw a few of the athletes namely Hansel Parchment, Nadia Alexander, Tanice Barnett, and Darrel Garwood competing, at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India where they not only competed competitively but they proudly represented the University and their country to the best of their abilities. This is the type of spirit, attitude and drive that the University’s Sports Department hopes to foster in the minds of the athletes will encourage true representation and improved performance from the athletes by providing most if not all technical support.. 

So what can UWI look forward to in the year 2011? A better quality team, committed athletes, coaches and management, a more visible team not just at the meets but on posters and other multi- media methods which will make athletes feel better about their efforts and hard work thus improving their overall performance. The Sports Department would love to see many more athletes reach the fete that some such as Shantae McLean did last season when she participated in the Carifta Games but this is not where the bucks stop as it would love to surpass this fete this year and give athletes the chance to compete at events such as the Penn Relays in Philadelphia and the national Athletic Championships. 

 Sponsorship for the programme has not really been forthcoming except for a few faithful major sponsors such as Gatorade and Puma, who have been with the programme for several years. The management admits that it is not an easy task as sponsors play a very critical role in the development of athletes. However, with the marketing strategies and plans for Track Athletics for the year 2011, the search for sponsors will be short lived as the athletes are doing tremendously well in their respective areas thus making a brand for themselves. 

The UWI Track team is determined more than ever this year to make the University their place to shine and as such they are looking forward to a rewarding season with the support of the entire student body. So with at least three of the meets scheduled to be held at the UWI Mona Bowl the athletes are really looking forward for the support of the students, staff, and well wishers alike as they demolish the records of last year and set the sport on a new bar that will be traced for years to come.