Districts 5 sets sights on record-breaking ‘Nationals’

Notwithstanding a lack in numbers, West Coast Berbice (District 5), will be looking to land records, take titles, and leave their mark come next week when the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships (Nationals) officially begins at multiple locations across the Demerara county.
Though always facing their share of challenges in competing at the annual event, head of the Region five District, Michelle Archibald, says over the years West Coast Berbice has always still managed to leave a mark at the Championships, and this year will be no different.

“We’re not looking at the overall Championships were going there to bring back some medals and show them what we can do especially in the 400m, 800m, 1500m. Also I’m looking at my relay team,” Archibald noted.
Nationals begins next week Monday (November 27), with competition in the cycling and swimming categories, being held at the National Aquatic Centre and National Park, respectively. On Tuesday the track and field competition takes over and runs until the following Friday, at the National Track and Field Centre on the West Coast. The teachers competition will be run concurrently with the student track and field competition.
Many of the 15 Districts will be striving to reach the maximum 110 participants, for maximum participation, however as is the case most years, quite a few of the Districts will struggle to meet the number, particularly in the swimming and cycling competitions.
With just six cyclists and eight swimmers, Archibald knows that her team will struggle against powerhouse teams from Georgetown and Linden. But with a lack of equipment and facilities in the Region Five district for over a number of years now, this has become a norm that the team has learned to work with.
“Even though we have our weaknesses we would still come back with a lot of medals, even records and I’m proud to say West Coast Berbice still holds one of the 400m open record after several years. And there are some more records we still have that are not broken as yet,” Archibald boasted, adding that the team is also looking at grabbing a few age group champion titles, having taken three last year.
She also praised the team’s ability to always work well with each other
“One thing I can stress is that our team we have a lot of unity and togetherness, the love is there, we look out for each other,” she remarked.
Archibald says steps have been made over the years to try to bring awareness to some of the continuous problems that the district faces, and while there was at least one attempt to address an issue with the cycling, other issues still remain.
The biggest problem for the district is the lack of equipment and facilities, particularly for the cycling and swimming.
Archibald says since the Region is responsible for the district she has appealed to the Regional Democratic Council. She said while over the years she has gotten her fair share of empty promises, recent administrative changes at the RDC is giving her hope.