The one-day event took place on Saturday at the Thomas A. Robinson National Track and Field Stadium under strict protocol guidelines with only athletes, officials and volunteers in the stands.

BAAA’s president Drumeco Archer said “track” is definitely back in the Bahamas.

“When we opened the season, that was our proclamation. Track was back,” Archer said. “We wanted to set the stage in track and field, not just in New Providence, but throughout the Bahamas.

“We have worked very closely with the Competent Authorities and we have been following the protocol restrictions to the letter, so this is surmountable. This is something that we can beat.”

Archer said the aim is to preserve the track and field season and with the help of their affiliated clubs, the BAAA are on course to achieving that goal as they ensure that they adhere to the Covid-19 restrictions. 

Roadrunners Track Club president Dexter Bodie said it was a good day to stage the meet.

“We started off with the 5,000 metres, followed by the hurdles, then the 100m,” he said. “We may have a few athletes who have qualified for Carifta. But we had a great turnover.”

Although the Carifta Games have been pushed back from the Easter holiday weekend to the summer, Bodie said the athletes are starting to prepare themselves for the long haul that the season possesses by ensuring that they peak at the right time.

The meet attracted athletes from the various track and field clubs from the age group, including Carifta qualifiers Tarajh Hudson, Keyshawn Strachan and Camitra Mackey to elite sprinter Stephen ‘Durty’ Newbold, long jumper Kaiwan Culmer and triple jumper Tamara Myers. 

Full details of the meet will be published in The Tribune or are online at tekresults.net

(BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter[email protected]))

Costa Rican athletes enjoy competition

 Over the weekend just concluded Costa Rican athletes enjoyed competing, much like their counterparts in The Bahamas and Jamaica.

A total of 489 athletes, from all parts of the nation, converged on the Rafael Ángel Perez track in Hatillo, San Jose, to contest the several events in what was Costa Rica’s 1^st Torneo Nacional Fecoa 2021, that marked the beginning of the member federation’s track and field season.

According to member federation officials the competition was held under the nation’s Covid-19 health protocols.

NACAC Women to observe IWD

The members of the NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group have their sights on the celebration of International Women’s Day, 8 March.

At their latest meeting, members of the Working Group, fresh from receiving their certificates on completion of the World Athletics’ Gender Leadership Moderator’s Course, agreed to invite member federations of NACAC conduct a one (1) mile walk in observance of the big occasion. The invitation to member federations reads:

“The NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group would like to invite all NACAC women to participate in our initiative to celebrate International Women’s Day and we hope you will get involved. 

“We would like our NACAC women to join in a 1 mile walk or jog and send photos (Landscape) and videos (less than 30 sec) to this email ([email protected]).  You can walk/jog alone or with a group of women with everyone wearing shades of purple as a part of your attire(t-shirt, cap, face mask etc.).

“This can take place anytime during the week of March 1st but all photos and videos must be sent in no later than Saturday March 6th at 2pm(Miami time). Please note your country”.

Following receipt of all submissions, a collage/presentation will be created and posted on NACAC’s social media on International Women’s Day. 

Member federations are also being asked to participate in the International Women’s Day South American Conference scheduled for 8 March. This is in response to an invitation extended to NACAC by its South American counterpart, CONSUDATLE.

The NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group will convene its next Workshop on 27 March, from 10.00am – 12 Noon (Miami time). 

Carifta 2021

On Monday last, 22 February, NACAC President, Mike Sands, and General Secretary, Keith Joseph, were invited to attend a meeting of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 46^th edition of the Carifta Games, which has been rescheduled for 2 – 4 July 2021.

The meeting received updated reports on the latest meeting held with governmental authorities in the country.

Much of the focus of the meeting centered around the concerns some have about the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for maintaining the proposed schedule of the Games.

The meeting was duly informed that NACAC shares the concern of all of its member federations in  respect of the pandemic but that it will not allow itself to become despondent.

Indeed, NACAC is optimistic that athletes, coaches and member federations around the world have been consistent in their planning of different scenarios under which training and competition can take place.

In the  NACAC Area, US Collegiate track and field competitions have restarted under restrictions. Several member federations have also restarted competitions in their preparation for national selection for regional and international competitions.

President Sands noted that everywhere, its member federations are urged to adhere to national protocols for returning to competition. However, he remains cautiously optimistic that the advances being made globally in combatting the pandemic, will eventually allow the emergence of track and field competitions, even though in a manner modified by the protocols that are in place at the time.

“Changes are coming and we are hopeful that the work undertaken by the LOC in Bermuda would yield a most successful edition of the 49^th edition of the Carifta Games”, Sands stated.

NACAC Athletes Commission Update

Issues such as the value and positioning of missed relays have come into focus in discussions being held by the NACAC Athletes’ Commission.

NACAC athletes are enthused about the fact that they have a voice that is being listened to and are convinced that they can provide leadership in global athletics through the NACAC Athletes’ Commission as much as they do in track and field competition.

Aware of their growing influence in the broader decision-making process, NACAC athletes are prepared to confront all issues impact their competition careers as well as their transitioning to post competition life.

The Commission is reaching out to all athletes of the Area to participate in the organisation’s activities and to bring to the table, important issues impacting their commitment to developing the sport retaining its leadership in global sport.

Ongoing discussions among the membership of the Commission include such topics as the case for the inclusion of Women’s Decathlon in World Championship and the Summer Olympics, innovation in the sport in so far as possible new disciplines or events are concerned and collaboration with the NACAC Competitions Commission to establish a viable and attractive Area Circuit to which our best athletes will commit.

NACAC Director, Coaches and Camps – Job Description

The Director, Coaches and Camps will report directly to the CEO

Overview

The Director, Coaches and Camps will be the main point of contact for World Athletics and Member Federations regarding all programmes under the CECS, the organisation of Camps and related activities.

He/she will be responsible for ascertaining the region’s coaching development needs and organising the appropriate activities, as well as establishing and maintaining good communication links with all NACAC Member Federations and other appropriate organisations and individuals.

The Director, Coaches and Camps will be based in his/her home country but shall travel as required for the proper implementation of the planned activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Production of a quadrennial programme of activities designed to meet the needs of NACAC and its national federations.
• Contribute to the annual NACAC Business Plan, budget estimates and annual activity calendar in consultation with the Director of Competitions and TOECS activities and the CEO
• Ensuring the roll out of two (2) World Athletics key initiatives: Kids’ Athletics and eLearning.
• Contribute to the World Athletics Annual Completion Report (financial report) twice a year or as requested.
• Ensure Activity/Seminar report forms and CECS Course report forms are collected and submitted to World Athletics and NACAC.
• Ensure the World Athletics database is regularly updated with NACAC Area Development activity data and Member Federation CECS course results.
• Regular submissions to the NACAC Development Website.
• Providing help and assistance to Area MFs regarding their educational needs.
• Monitor and evaluate NACAC programmes under his/her mandate
• Liaise with the Treasurer on all financial transactions in relation to the World Athletics development grant.
• Assist the CEO in seeking additional funding and or partnerships for NACAC.

Skills and Experience

• Management and organisational experience in athletics
• Strong communication skills
• Good knowledge of financial management and fund-raising
• Knowledge of CECS and lecturers in the NACAC region

Languages and IT

• Proficient in both English and Spanish
• Strong computer skills

Educational Background

• University Degree or Higher Education, preferably in Physical Education and/or Sports Management.
• Teaching experience, preferably in areas such as coaching, officiating or sports Administration.

Remuneration

• Negotiable

Applications

• All applications must be sent to:

The NACAC Secretariat

Email address: [email protected]

Guyana 2022 addresses risk identification and management

The preparations for the 50^th edition of the Carifta Games continue to advance with much attention being paid to details.

On Monday 22 February, the members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) were taken through an exercise that saw them identify potential risks that could negatively impact he successful hosting of the Games. They were then asked to address potential mitigating measures that could be taken in each of the scenarios.

Following the completion of the exercise, the take-home activities of each of the components of the LOC was to engage in a similar activity with their respective sub groups.

NACAC remains impressed with the approach being undertaken by the LOC thus far and looks forward to being fully engaged in the process.

The LOC will make a presentation to the annual Carifta Congress scheduled for Bermuda in July.

URGENT REMINDER – Annual Report

NACAC is once more calling upon all of its member federations to be mindful of fulfilling its mandate in respect of the submission of their respective 2020 Annual Report. The Circular from World Athletics was sent by email dated 18 January 2021.

Member federations are urgently reminded that the deadline for submission of the 2020 Annual Report  is 31 March 2021.

Please note that, as indicated in the guidelines, you should complete both the MF Data and the Annual Data before submitting the report.

NACAC is calling upon all of its members to help us become the first Area of the World Athletics to accomplish 100% fulfilment of the requirement, no later than 21 March, 10 days ahead of the stipulated deadline.

We can do this!!!

Weekly Meetings

Monday 1 March

7.00pm – Weekly meeting of the LOC, Carifta Games 2022

Wednesday 3 March

10.00am ECT – Weekly Meeting – Mike Sands, Michael Serralta and Keith Joseph