media_artricles :: 2015

Serrette sees promise as TT earn 22 medals

DESPITE A less than expected performance from the national contingent at the 2015 CARIFTA Games in St Kitts, Ephraim Serrette, president of the National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) believes several athletes distinguished themselves and can go on to do greater things. TT returned home with a haul of 22 medals (six gold, eight silver, eight bronze), registering a slight dip from last year’s tally of 25.

Among the athletes Serrette believes showed immense promise, though, is javelin thrower Tyriq Horsford who won gold in the Boys Under-18 javelin. Not only was the 15-year-old golden in his event, but Horsford shattered the CARIFTA U-18 record with a massive 70.73 metres throw.

“Tyriq Horsford he is one of our athletes that came out of our Age Group Championships,” said Serrette. “This Championship caters for athletes (aged) 11, 12, 13, 14 and they do multiple events — there is where you get to see their strengths. He would have two years ago competed in the CAC Age Group Championships and they could not have measured his ball throw. He was identified very early and last year that was an investment we made as a 14-year-old at the CARIFTA and he came fourth. He continues to progress very nicely and this year he went on to win the gold and break the record and that was commendable.”

Also coming in for praise were Andwuelle Wright, who leaped 7.44m to take gold in the Boys Under-20 long jump as well as 200m sprinter Akanni Hislop.

“He (Hislop) is someone we need to pay very particular attention to. He has another year Under-18 and ran 20.91 and I think it augurs well for the future,” he added. Serrette, although acknowledging that the overall performance of the 68-member national team was not up to his expectation, stressed that CARIFTA is not just about results.

“I think it was, I would say below our expectations. We gave a lot of our athletes opportunity to prove themselves; we always view CARIFTA as development. There are no standards to qualify for CARIFTA Games although we look at performances over the previous years and make some adjusted standards we would like to see people do,” he said.

He noted though that the NAAA encountered a few challenges with the unavailability of the Hasely Crawford Stadium which has become an Achilles heel for athletes around Carnival time.

“This year was a tough year for us where we would only have had four developmental meets. We’re still challenged with the use of the stadium and yes we may be able to go to Manny Ramjohn (Marabella) or the Larry Gomes (Arima) but that could only facilitate the track people so our field athletes would suffer.

“A decision we have already taken is that for the 2016 season our developmental meets would start as early as November to give the athletes more opportunities for competition so we can make better assessments.

“The lack of the use of the stadium through the Carnival, that is how they make their money, but we need a facility so we can revert to that when (that situation arises).”

Serrette noted that he was pleased though that field athletes are doing as well as their track counterparts as his body implemented a jumps and throws programme several years ago and they are seeing the benefits being derived now.

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