The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE DTSP Wolf Pack Track Club will be hosting its 2021 Wolf Pack Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 10 and organisers anticipate that it will be bigger and better than the previous three editions.

This year, the club announced that they will be recognising long-time coach Ronald Cartwright as the patron for the meet for his commitment and dedication to the sport and head coach Larry Clarke over the years.

During a press conference on Wednesday at their Wolf Pack Club training site at Holy Cross Church in Highbury Park, Gail Clarke, club secretary, said that they were excited to add the Oak Tree Medical Centre as their newest title sponsor.

They join the National Health Insurance Authority (NHI), the Caribbean Bottling Company Limited (Coca-Cola) and Thompson Trading to the list of sponsors this year.

Christy Butler, the chief executive officer of NHI, presented their sponsorship cheque to Sonia Gill, the Wolf Park’s treasurer, for their contribution to the meet.

“We are committed to investing in healthy, active lifestyles and the work that is being done by the Wolf Pack team is one that we endorse and encourage,” Butler said.

“So we are more than pleased to partner with you and wish you all the success in the future.”

This year’s meet will take on a new thrust as the club will introduce an integrated male and female mixed relay for the under-15 age group, as demonstrated by World Athletics during the World Relays previously staged at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

And as in meets being staged during the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no fans in the stands, but the Wolf Pack Club will be carrying the meet live as they provide a lot of excitement on and off the track.

The Wolf Pack, with about 35 athletes on its register, is a spiritually-based club, according to Gail Clarke, wife of Larry Clarke. She said members of their four-year coaching staff have worked diligently to prepare their team for the meet.

“Our philosophy is hard work beats talent eventually,” she said. “We believe too that God never gives a vision where he doesn’t make the provision.

“We were reluctant in this tough economic season to try to put on a first rate meet. We trusted God and through these wonderful partners, our sponsors, our needs have been met. Thank you God.”

Neketa Sears-Knowles, one of the club’s coaches, said they are looking forward to some outstanding performances from their athletes this year.

“We are looking forward to hopefully some CARIFTA qualifiers and just some really good performances,” Sears-Knowles said.

Lamont Moss, the team’s captain, led the rest of his team-mates in a Wolf Pack “hunting season” shootout as they indicated that they are now prepared for the meet.