BSSAC Athletics Championship Returns to Two-Zone Format with Hurdle Height Adjustments for 2025 Competition

The Dasani-Powerade Barbados Secondary School Athletics Championship ( BSSAC) has returned to its original two-zone format, with one major technical change involving the hurdles.

Speaking at the 2025 BSSAC press launch held at Queen’s College, organisers called for strong support from key stakeholders, including sponsors and the public as doublecrown champions Combermere School look to defend their title in March.

BSSAC meet director, Dave Small stated that the heights of hurdles will be lowered and distances for some events adjusted.

This year’s BSSAC competition will be split between the venues of Queen’s College where the three-day field event championship will take place and the Usain Bolt Sports Complex which will host the zones and final on the track.

Addressing the changes to the hurdles, Small explained that junior boys will compete in the 80 metres hurdles at a height of 84 centimetres. The Under-17 Boys will contest the 100 metres hurdles at 91 centimetres, while the Under-20 Boys will run the 110 metres hurdles at 99 centimetres.

For the intermediate hurdles, junior boys will compete in the 300 metres hurdles at 76 centimetres, while the Under-20 Boys will run the 400 metres hurdles at 84 centimetres. These changes apply only to the boys, as the height and distances for the girls’ hurdles will remain the same.

Small stated that the decision to lower the height of the hurdles was aimed at boosting overall participation from schools. However, since the heights are being lowered, the boys’ hurdles events will not serve as CARIFTA qualifiers this year.

“We had buy-in from the stakeholders and the physical education teachers. It was decided unanimously, as many schools don’t have hurdles, that we would like to improve the hurdling situation by bringing it back to what it was before. You might get two participants to step up,” Small explained.

Small also expressed optimism about the two-zone format, which has not been used since 2020 but is expected to enhance the competition and excitement. He added that the event schedule has been designed to avoid conflicts for athletes competing in multiple events including distance races.

The Field Event Championship is scheduled for March 4, 6 and 7 and has been relocated from Harrison College to Queen’s College, except for the jumps, which will take place at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.

Zone dates

The three-day finals will also be held at Usain Bolt from March 26, 27 and 28. Small explained that Queen’s College does not yet have facilities to host the long jump.

Regarding the zones, which are named after outstanding Barbadian sportsmen and sportswomen, Small shared that the first zone, the Frank Blackman and Sada Williams Zone will be held on March 18th and 19th. Esther Maynard and Ryan Brathwaite Zone will follow on March 20 and 21.

Co-chair of BSSAC and principal of Coleridge and Parry, Sonja Goodridge, announced that tickets for each day of the zone

events will cost $10 at the door. For the finals, tickets will cost $20 for ground seating and $25 for the stands. Goodridge also noted that BSSAC officials will undergo training this year to maintain high standards.

New initiative

Secondary school sports start on Monday at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, with Graydon Sealy Secondary School being the first to compete. Goodridge shared a new initiative to encourage student participation.

“We have decided this year that we will pitch it to a hundred and fifty persons per school, per day and we are asking for a $5 donation but the $5 donation goes back to the school’s physical education department.

“The idea is to encourage schools to send their students, who will contribute while enjoying a great meet, knowing that the funds will return to their school. We want you to encourage all of your students,” said Goodridge in the presence of Robin Douglas, President of the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools (BAPPSS) and Principal of Combermere School.

Meanwhile, co-chair and Assistant Meet Director, Andrew Brathwaite, acknowledged that parking at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex will remain an issue. Efforts have been made to accommodate physical education teachers who requested special parking.

Speaking on behalf of the title sponsor Dasani-Powerade, Barbados Bottling Company Limited’s Brand Manager, Shanice Brewster-Charles, said, “At the Barbados Bottling Company, we are passionate about youth and sport and see value in supporting these initiatives because they positively impact the physical, emotional and mental well-being of our young people.”

SCHOOLS FOR BSSAC ZONES

Frank Blackman and Sada Williams Zone

Alexandra Codrington High School Coleridge and Parry Daryll Jordan Harrison College Parkinson Memorial Princess Margaret Queen’s College St Winifred’s School Ann Hill School Ellerslie School The Lodge School The St Michael School

Esther Maynard and Ryan Brathwaite Zone

Alleyne School Beyond The Box Education Christ Church Foundation Combermere School Deighton Griffith Frederick Smith Grantley Adams Memorial Graydon Sealy Lester Vaughan Providence School Springer Memorial St Leonard’s Boys Young Explorers Barbados (ML)