G.C. Foster eyes new stands for track

G.C. Foster Classics meet manager Chester McCarthy said there are plans in place to build new stands for their facilities, as event organisers hope to keep the stagings of the track meet at home.

McCarthy explained, with this year’s record number of competitors set to compete at the G.C. Foster Classics, the event organisers are aware that there will need to be improvements on the college’s synthetic track if they are to continue hosting the annual track meet.

The meet manager said that while the event has been hosted at the National Stadium in the past, the organisers have no intention of returning to the stadium, and are hoping the college’s facilities will be suitable as the track meet continues to expand.

“We’ve actually used the National Stadium on occasions in the past but, at this time, we have no intention of moving the event back to the National Stadium. What we’re in fact doing, we’re adding more stands here at G.C. Foster and we have started the process of covering our stands.”

McCarthy said work has already started on the facilities since last year on their major stand.

Coverings have been built for a section of the stands and he explained that, by next year, more covering should be installed throughout the facilities.

“Our major stand a year ago had no covering on it, but now, if you come to the G.C. Foster College, you’d notice that a third of that stand is already covered and, by next year this time, we would have covered another portion,” McCarthy said.

According to McCarthy, these projects are in line with G.C. Foster College’s plans of ensuring that their annual track meet becomes a major event in the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association track and field calendar. He said the college is partnered with German athletic apparel and footwear giants Adidas to help fulfil their goal.

“Our plan here at G.C. Foster is to be bigger and better, and Adidas already has some plans for us in terms of how we are developing going forward. Adidas is also a main sponsor for this event. They are a major partner in our development,” McCarthy said.

The G.C. Foster Classics meet is set to start at 8 a.m. today at G.C. Foster College in Spanish Town, St Catherine.