KC breaks ground for synthetic track

KINGSTON College broke ground yesterday for the school's new synthetic running track at the Melbourne campus on Elletson Road. The institution will become the second local high school to do so this year, following in the footsteps of Calabar High which opened its track last January.

The new track is being facilitated by Batchelors family-headed RuJohn Foundation, which has contributed 75% of the US$400,000 estimated cost of construction.

Work on the track will begin on Monday, and is expected to be completed in late February.

Byron Batchelor handed over the initial contribution to Byron Ingleton of Pavecom, the company responsible to start the early work on the project.

The track will have a full 100m straight, but will measure 350m in complete length, along with international standard curves.

This is not the first contribution from the Batchelors, who a year ago helped in building one of two new basketball courts for the North Street-based institution, and Byron, wife Ingrid, and daughter Christine were all present yesterday.

Byron, who represented Kingston College at the Boys Athletics Championships as a part of the successful Medley Relay team in 1979, where he ran in the preliminary round, spoke about his love for Kingston College and giving back.

no problem

"While at Kingston College, I was encouraged by George Thompson, then coach, that once you give you will receive. It is not only when you are wealthy you are to give, as whatever you can give early in your life it will add up big time after a while. Also, because of my love for the institution, I had no problem to give back", said Byron, who stated that his daughter Christina played a great part also as she had a secret meeting with Principal Dave Myrie making it known that she wanted to help.

Myrie was thankful in his address.

"I must thank RuJohn Foundation for its major role here along with all others who have contributed. Special thanks to the Florida old boys Chapter led by Audley Hewitt and all the other old boys, locally and overseas. This will definitely go a far way with the preparation of the track team as this will guarantee less injuries and definitely will result in optimum performance." he said

Also present yesterday were, JAAA president Dr Warren Blake, Juliet Campbell, representing Puma, Denzil Wilks - chairman of the Sports Development Foundation, and Michael Vaccianna, board chairman of Kingston College.