media_artricles :: 2017

Future stars for NACAC Champs

Future track and field stars will be on show at the inaugural NLCB North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Age Group Championships, scheduled for June 17 and 18 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

Athletes between the ages of 11 and 14 from more than 16 countries, including track and field powerhouse United States, are expected to compete at the NLCB-sponsored multi-event meet.

At yesterday's launch, held in NLCB's Corporate Box at the Queen's Park Oval, National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) president and Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman Ephraim Serrette said the Age Group Championships are "very critical to our sport".

"At this age we allow our young athletes to run, jump and throw. And it is at these events that we recognise the strength of some of them."

Serrette pointed to three-time Carifta Games boys' under-18 javelin champion and record holder Tyriq Horsford as an example.

"Horsford was sighted out of this programme, in the ball throw. We recognised from that competition that he was going to be a thrower. This is an event where we identify our young athletes and try to place them in the areas we think they are best suited."

Sponsorship coordinator Stafford Wheeler said that NLCB is a more than willing partner for the NACAC Age Group Championships.

"When approached, the chairman (Marvin Johncilla) and the board had no problem in approving $300,000 for this initiative."

In addition to NLCB's TT$300,000 contribution, NACAC will inject US$40,000 into the meet. With T&T coming in as a late replacement for Haiti as hosts of the Age Group Championships, NACAC increased its grant.

"Previously," NACAC council member and NAAA 2nd vice president Allan Baboolal explained, "it was US$25,000, but having accepted the responsibility to help Haiti, we had to ask for more money, and NACAC has given 40,000 towards the event."

There is sponsorship too for the NLCB NACAC Age Group Championships from Blue Waters, Puma, Tourism Development Company (TDC), Ministry of Sport and The Sports Company of T&T (SporTT).

"I want to thank the sponsors," said Serrette, "especially the NLCB, for partnering with us on this one. We hope to have other partnering opportunities with them as we continue to develop the best sport in Trinidad and Tobago, the most successful sport in Trinidad and Tobago, track and field."

T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis, who recently returned home from the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) General Assembly in Uruguay, said the confidence NACAC has shown in the NAAA is very significant.

"There are aspects of what is happening in Trinidad and Tobago that are of deep concern to the sports world. They recognise that with the world class facilities, there is enormous potential. However, most rights holders want to have a sense of stability and security; that they don't have to worry about crime or the systemic infrastructure sustaining itself or last minute inadvertent cancellations and rescheduling of the event."

A recent example of such an occurrence was the T&T Table Tennis Association (T&TTTA) giving up the 2017 Caribbean Championships, which were scheduled for August. Jamaica is now expected to host the regional tournament later in the year.

"It's important," said Lewis, "for me to acknowledge and congratulate the NAAA, Mr Serrette and his team. For the event to be entrusted to Trinidad and Tobago at relatively late notice, it must mean that as far as the continental athletic body is concerned the NAAA can be trusted. And that is something we ought not to take for granted. "We can talk all we want about sport industry. We can talk all we want about world class facilities. But if we don't have the will and the organisations and the leaders that are committed to ensuring that it happens and it meets the standard required of the international body," the TTOC boss ended, "all it will be is just talk."

Become a subscriber to the Trinidad Express Newspapers for access to all our articles via our e-paper.

Click here to subscribe | Log- In

Top