This Club is simply Top Notch!
A 30-40 minute warm up greeted the youngsters, which would be the envy of any highly priced px90, Zumba or treadmill work out and after that various speed, endurance and technique drills offered no respite, but in almost every case the workload was met with willingness and a smile.
Those that wilted in the afternoon heat were gently but firmly encouraged by their coaches, Winston Potter, Angelita Bernard, Karl Scatliffe, Omar Jones and Lionel Lyndo.
None failed to complete their programme and everyone finished smiling and happy with their achievement.
The Top Notch club was formed as an extension of the Elmore Stoutt High School Athletics Programme mainly through demand for more competition from the Athletes and a desire from the Coaching staff to offer more opportunities for their team.
Nelda Huggins is the current shining light with a world ranking of 6th in the U16 100m, but not far behind her in terms of Regional success are the Gumbs sisters, Tynelle and Trevia, who began what look to be stellar careers under the watchful eyes of Omar Jones.
Jones is currently concentrating on more up and coming Field athletes, including Eldred Henry who is starting to make a big impression on both the Shot Put and Discuss events.
Ashley Penn is coming on leaps and bounds and in the high jump Shiann Vandenberg is one of the most dedicated members of the team and big things are expected of her this season. Kelz Fortune has benefitted from the work of the coaches and then there are the younger ones who have already shown they have what it takes
Kala Penn and CUT Games Gold Medal winner Azariah Frett lead the pack closely followed by Z’Niah Corea, Mia Frazer, Brittany Williams and the bubbly Gia Malone, who has already made it clear that she intends to be better than her sister, none other than Chantel!
And then you have the boys.
Ronique Todman is showing great potential, whilst Deshaun “Fastman” Douglas is back to almost full fitness following a 2012 dogged by niggling injuries and Koen Penn, who has already won BVIAA recognition, to name but a few.
If gauged purely on Regional medal counts, the club is in fact already the most successful within the BVIAA family.
The Motto may be “Where Goals become Reality” but there are no plans for the club to rest on its laurels.
“For the last couple of years we have joined with the Wings Track Club in Antigua to hold a Christmas Camp,” stated Potter. “It has proven a good way to for the athletes to bond, learn new techniques and ensure there is no let up in training over the Christmas period, although in a different atmosphere and with a little fun attached.”
Apart from the BVIAA Development Meets slated for 2013, Top Notch hopes to be heavily involved in the Carifta Games with both Potter and Bernard forecasting 5 or 6 Athletes to qualify.
They also plan to attend the Reginald Samuels Classic in May along with the Miami Classic in June and, all being well with have club members, at the Pan Ams and World Youth Championships.
The Club puts no pressure on potential athletes to join and welcomes all to come to practice and training. They have a 3 week cycle which, apart from time on the track and in the gym, means that everyone gets a progress test, not only on ability but also strength, endurance, body fat and of course a requirement to maintain academic performance.
Video analysis is also employed to identify strengths and weaknesses as well as pin point technical issues
They may be named Top Notch, but the Coaches have no intention of slowing down as by 2014 plans will be in place for a European training camp and then of course Potter, Bernard and Co. will be plotting how to get as many of their athletes as possible to the Olympics in Rio, 2016.
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