THIS WEEK IN NACAC
Vol. 3
No. 22
05 June 2022
EDITORIAL
Bolt – the centre of a new dialogue
Jamaica’s, NACAC’s and the World’s track and field icon, Usain Bolt, is once again at the centre of some revived discussions on his contribution to the sport of athletics.
Bolt’s former coach, Glen Mills, has added his voice to the discussions.
The truth appears to be that the significance of Usain Bolt’s burst onto the scene as a historic athletics phenomenon cannot be challenged. There is little doubt that this is not in question.
What appears to be at issue is the extent to which Bolt’s contribution as the sport’s greatest showman has translated into benefits for the sport he dominated, in the context of global sport.
Of course, history is replete with iconic athletes who have, almost single-handedly transformed the sport to which they brought their immense talent and infectious charisma.
Football was always attractive to sportspeople across the globe and there were several outstanding athletes that graced the field of play. But the emergence of Pele marked a turning point in the game and ultimately, in the sport in its broadest context.
Mohammed Ali changed boxing forever.
Bolt re-shaped the sport of athletics. Like other sporting icons before him, he was remarkably adored by fans and even people who had nothing to do with athletics.
Admittedly, however, many hoped that Bolt would have become the flag-bearer of the sport, its ambassador, in his post-competition life. That has not been the case.
Indeed, it may still be safe to say that Bolt remains one of the most appealing sporting icons several years after leaving the competitive arena. However, it may well be that his seeming desire to do something special in football may well have left some in the sport believing that his own interests may not have been on becoming the ambassador and ‘face’ of athletics at all.
Perhaps the bigger question, for those keen on seeing Bolt play a major role in the development of the sport of athletics, the sport to which he has given so much and from which he has gained so much, may want to have him respond to some of them regarding where he thinks he could best be prepared to aid the sport on taking a more deserving place in global sport.
NACAC Gender Leadership Commission members for Training
5 members of the NACAC gender Leadership Working Group have been invited to join the European group in Warsaw Poland for the train the trainer course. Donna Raynor, Edith Skippings, Cydonie Mothersill, Gloria Ramos and Sherone Simpson who have completed the moderator training and have facilitated several Gender Leadership training sessions will attend. Having completed the moderator training is a prerequisite. The training will take place from September 28th to October 2nd. Once completed all individuals will then be able to train other persons to become moderators. This is an exciting opportunity for NACAC to join with their European counterparts in this training and beneficial with the exchange of ideas and experiences.
Around NACAC
Barbados
Barbados’ CARIFTA medallist and member of the Velocity Management club, Aren Spencer, is eager to represent his country at the World Athletics U20 Championships which are scheduled for 2 – 7 August 2022, in Cali, Colombia. In his latest attempt at qualifying for the prestigious event, Spencer leapt a personal best of 7.59m in the Under-20 Boys’ long jump at the President’s Classic. Spencer surpassed the World U20 standard for the Triple Jump with a best of 15.80m when finishing second in the event at this year’s CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
Dominica
The new Executive of the Dominica Athletics Association joined forces with the nation’s Sports Division to host the CARICOM 10K Trials earlier today.
The event, the first activity of the new executive since taking office on 1 June 2022, was held at 7.00 am.
The race featured a total of 25 participants: 20 male and 5 female, aged 16 – 54 years.
Neo Davis won the male category having completed the distance in a time of 39:50.00, followed by Jonathan Celestine (42:36.00) and Talmon Lucien (42:48.00), respectively. In the female category, Carla Bunche (59:36.00) won comfortably from China Tullock (1:01:50.00) and Leona Roberts (1:09:30.00), respectively.
Newly elected president, Brendan Williams, congratulated the winners who will represent Dominica at the Caricom 10K scheduled for Suriname on 3 July. The team’s coach is Leona Roberts.
Grenada
The Grenada Athletics Association hosted yet another successful edition of the Whitsuntide Games at the national stadium on Saturday 4 June.
Schools/clubs from neighbouring St Vincent and the Grenadines braved the seas on inter-island boats, as has become the norm, to offer their respective athletes an opportunity to compete abroad.
The competition was perhaps more intense than in previous years, especially since the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic forced the national federation to reduce the Meet to a one-day event instead of the usual two days.
When the curtains came down, the powerful Track Blazers team from St David’s proved much too powerful for their opponents.
Earlier in the year, the GAA was also forced to reduce their annual Championships to one day instead of the usual two-day exercise.
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Devonric Mac, Keo Davis, Kesiann John, and Zicri Hepburn, each completed double victories as they represented their respective athletics clubs and schools at Saturday’s Whitsuntide Games in Grenada.
Mac, representing High Performance from Layou, scored the double in the 100m (10.69) and 200m (21.20) respectively, establishing a new Games record in the latter event, in the process, while competing in the U20 category.
For his part, Keo Davis, sporting the colours of the St Vincent Grammar School, won the 400m (50.51) before returning later in the day to take top honours in the 200m U17 (21.91).
Kesiann John, of High Performance, won the 1500m Open and 300m respectively. Another High Performance athlete, Zichri Hepburn, won double gold by taking top honours in the 800m and 3000m respectively.
Trinidad and Tobago
It was the turn of Trinidad and Tobago, young athletes when the NAAATT, the governing body for athletics in the twin-island Republic, hosted its annual Juvenile Championships, sponsored by the National Gas Company (NGC).
US Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands Carifta medallist, Michelle Smith, continued her winning ways in the US. Competing in the 400mH at the Memorial Day Southern Showdown in Stockbridge, Georgia, on 28 May, she established a new national record of 58.30 in capturing the event.
Smith’s performance elevated her to the second rank U18 athlete in the world ranking for the event. Michelle Smith also won gold in the 100mH (14.79) and again in the 800m (2:12.52) in the 15/16 age group.
Smith’s next competition will be at the Adidas Track and Field Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina, 17-19 June.
According to the national federation of the US Virgin Islands, Smith is preparing for the World Athletics U20 Championships, set for Cali, Columbia, 1 – 6 August.
Another female US Virgin Islands’ athlete, Maia Campbell, established herself as a leading thrower when she won the Shot Put, with a throw of 14.19m at the same competition in Stockbridge,
The US Virgin Islands national federation accepted an invitation from the Puerto Rican Track and Field Federation, FAPUR, to compete in their National Championships, this weekend. Maia Campbell competed in the Shot Put, Eddie Lovett in the 100mH, Mikaela Smith in the 800m and Malique Smith in the 400mH.
Keith Joseph
P.O. Box 680, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines
Tel: (784) 457 9062 (H); (784) 457 2970 (O)
