NACAC in Discussions with UWI

NACAC has started intense discussions with the Sports Academy of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus in respect of having the World Athletics Coaches Education Certification System (CECS) and Technical Officials Education Certification System (TOECS) Level #1, incorporated into the degree programme in the Faculty of Sports.

Discussions were held on Friday 12 March and included, NACAC President, Mike Sands, General Secretary, Keith Joseph, Competitions and TOECS Director, Michael Serralta, World Athletics Head of Global Development, Laurent Boquillet and Development Senior Manager, Stephane Merlino, UWI’s Dr Rudy Alleyne and Barbados Community College’s, Dr June Caddle.

The seed that began all of the discussions was sown when Dr Caddle approached the Athletics Association of Barbados, a member federation of  NACAC, about the possibility of having a coaching certificate programme as part of the new degree option at the Faculty of Sport. The matter was then raised with NACAC and immediate action taken to advance discussions.

Friday’s discussions were fruitful and has opened up several new pathways for NACAC to bring World Athletics programmes into education systems at all levels of the Caribbean and ultimately, all of NACAC.

Agreement has been reached on giving consideration to expanding the discussions on the creation of templates for different types of tertiary institutions in the Caribbean and then on to the broader NACAC Area.

Already there is much enthusiasm flowing from the discussions, especially in light of World Athletics’ own engagement in global consultation on its World Plan for the next several years and the launch of its elearning platform which will be available for use across the world.

For NACAC’s part, President Mike Sands has commended the initiative and sees it as allowing the Area Association to show further leadership in global athletics.

Discussions will continue in the short to medium term while work will start on the production of the requisite templates that will be part of the history-making development strategies emerging within the NACAC Area.

Carifta Games now 13 – 15 August 2021

The 49^th Carifta Games have been postponed yet again.

NACAC officials remain hopeful that the twice postponed edition of the Caribbean’s premier junior athletics event will be realised in Bermuda, 13 – 15 August 2021.

NACAC President, Mike Sands, seized the opportunity at Press Conference that featured the  NACAC Sports Journalists Working Group, to explain that circumstances in respect of COVID-19 necessitated a change of dates but remained hopeful that the latest dates are final.

Sands stated, “the executive board of NACAC continuously worked to determine the best way forward for our Games…Planning continued assiduously and, without much notice, lo and behold! We received official word a few days ago that the CXC examinations have been scheduled to 14 June – 16 July, and that fell smack in the middle of our planning and would directly affect the vast majority, if not all of our athletes – and so we undertook a series of emergency meetings to look at whatever dates were available and we have no choice but to choose those dates.”

According to NACAC Competitions Director, Michael Serralta, “these are the best dates within the current year’s competitive track season available to us”.

Prior to arriving at its decision on the new dates, the NACAC leadership met with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Bermuda and included in those discussions, Michael Serralta, Competitions Director, Garth Gayle, Chair of the Competitions Commission and John-Paul Clarke, Technical Delegate for the Games.

While many may have had reservation about the lateness in the season, several member federations point to the fact that World Juniors and the Inaugural Pan American Junior Games are scheduled for later. But generally, the commitment to the annual Carifta Games remain firm amongst the members of the Carifta Family.

JAAA President, Garth Gayle, knowing that Jamaica is usually the most successful team at the Carifta Games, said: “Let me say from the outset, we will be supporting both events. We are Caribbean and therefore Carifta is critical to us and part of our youth development; we are also a part of the wider global family and so our elite juniors would also have that option to go to that meeting as well…I believe it is doable. It has happened in the past and we do not see a major issue…The JAAA would not impose…and we believe the need for the Carifta Games to be held is paramount and important.”

Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2021 – first mass participation race to be held in Japan during the Covid-19 Pandemic

While concerns remain about the realization of the Tokyo Olympics in July/August this year, the Japanese hosted the annual Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2021 in Nagoya city, on Sunday, 14 March, as planned.
The Nagoya Women’s Marathon, the world’s largest women’s marathon, celebrated its 10^th Anniversary this year. The event, a World Athletics Platinum label, the highest ranking in the World Athletics’ classification system for road races, is also the first ever event to hold the world record of the largest women’s marathon of all time as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. It is also known for the exclusive Tiffany & Co. finisher pendant presented to each runner who crossed the finish line and has enjoyed popularity among women runners around the world.
Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, the number of participants was significantly reduced and allowed for 5,000 runners in-person and a matching number doing the run virtually.

Jamaica – more than a Caribbean beacon

For many years Jamaica has been seen as the Caribbean’s leader in track and field athletics.

It is athletics that has been the sport that placed Jamaica on the world map when, at the Summer Olympics of 1948 in London, Arthur Wint won the 400m, ahead of fellow Jamaican and pre-race favourite, Herb McKinley, with USA’a Mal Whitfield in third. Four years later, at the Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, the world watched in awe as the quartet of Arthur Wint, Leslie Laing, Herb McKinley and George Rhoden defied the odds and earned the gold in the 4 x 400m relay.

Over the decades, Jamaica has been the one Caribbean country that the peoples of the region watched and expected to lead the rest in the sport considered the best in the world, athletics.

Today, Jamaica has begun the process of awarding scholarships to students from other Caribbean athletes and several athletes have left their homes to attached themselves to Jamaican coaches to help in their successful drive towards elite status in athletics.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey, Anguilla’s Zharnel Hughes, readily come to mind.

Today, an ever-increasing number of athletes from across the Caribbean are studying and training in Jamaica at the Kingston College, UTECH, Jamaica College and the GC Foster School of Physical Education and Sport.

29-year-old St Lucian triple jumper, Sandisha Antoine, trains at the Ricketts Performance Centre where she is working with Coach Kerry-Lee Ricketts and her training partner, Shanieka Ricketts, on getting beyond her personal best of 13.91m to the Olympic Standard of 14.32m.

St Vincent and the Grenadines has Akani Slater, McKish Compton, Javon Rawlins, Keiffer Bailey, OJ Jackson, Handal Roban and Verrol Sam, among its list of athletes in Jamaica.

NACAC congratulates Jamaica and especially the JAAA for assisting athletes from across the Caribbean in athletics.

ESA’s Festival

On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March, respectively, the Salvadoran Athletics Federation organised the second date of the Non-Olympic Track and Field Festival at the Jorge ‘Mágico’ González National Stadium.

A total of 206 athletes from 20 national and international clubs and teams participated in the 36 events contested, including athletes from Guatemala, Costa Rica and the United States. Competitions for males and females were held in the U13, U15, U18, U20 and senior categories.

New national records were posted by:

• Andrea Michelle Velasco – High Pole Vault: 3.80m.
• Pablo Andrés Ibáñez – 600 flat meters Major: 1:17:29
• Idelma Lizeth Delgado – 8000 flat meters Major: 29:44:99.

Ana Isabella González – equalled the national High Jump U18 record with a height of 1.63m

For complete results visit the ESA website: https://atletismoelsalvador.revsys.net/Evento.aspx?eve=38

Also images on the Facebook fan page: (Some photos courtesy of INDES):

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=atletismo.elsalvador.3&set=a.4462737290409478

News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica convened its 2^nd Torneo Nacional Fecoa 2021
There were 640 athletes in attendance.

Best performances came from Josue Murcia, who served up 1:54:26 in the Men’s 800m, and Daniela Rojas who won the 100m Hurdles with a time of 15.04.

On 2 March 2021, the member federation organized its Ordinary General Assembly at which more than 20 associations were in attendance.

The Assembly received and approved the reports of the President and the Treasurer.

Guadeloupian becomes European Hurdles King

Guadeloupian athlete, Willem Belocian, is the new European Hurdles King, after speeding to better his own personal record over the 60m hurdles, 7.42, at the recently concluded European Indoor Championships held in Toruń, Poland.

Belocian was a multiple CARIFTA 110mH gold medallist.

Martiniquan, Laetitia BAPTE, the reigning French Indoor hurdles champion made it to the semifinal.

Athletics is slowly getting back on track in the French Caribbean territories  with the U15/U17 and U20 athletes preparing for the annual inter-regional competition scheduled in Guadeloupe for the Easter weekend in lieu of CARIFTA.

Middle and long distance runners are suffering the most as all the road races, trails and non-track events have been cancelled.

Since non-essential travel to non-EU countries is still banned, athletics officials are making the best of what is possible, without being able to really confront other athletes from the region. Preparation camps and qualification meets for CARIFTA are still being held in preparation for the competition at the new dates, 13 – 15 August, in Bermuda.

TTO’s Tyra cops double gold at NCAA

Trinidad and Tobago athletics enthusiasts are singing the praises of Tyra Gittens who, at the NCAA Indoor Championships over the weekend, won gold in the Pentathlon and followed up with a repeat performance in the High Jump, leaping to 1.90m.

Meanwhile, the NAAATT, the member federation from Trinidad and Tobago, completed its 4th Test Events last weekend and will be commencing a new series of Preparatory Meets from the weekend of 21 March, increasing the number of events and athletes as the country emerges from the worst of the pandemic.

VIN’s athletes in good showing

Shafiqua Maloney and Mikeisha Welcome did St Vincent and the Grenadines proud at the NCAA Indoors.

Maloney, now doing more of the 800m finished a credible 3^rd in the event, in a time of 2:01.22 which is both a personal best and a new national record for St Vincent and the Grenadines. This performance also placed her 8^th on the all-time list of the NCAA.

Meanwhile, in the 4 x 400m, Maloney accomplished an impressive split for her leg of 50.8

Welcome, a sophomore at the Oklahoma University, finished 8^th in the triple jump with a leap of 13.35m.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know of the World Athletics Pledges as of 8 March 2021, International Women’s Day?

Here are the pledges:

#WeGrowAthletics by empowering women to pursue leadership positions

#WeGrowAthletics by breaking with traditions

#WeGrowAthletics by ensuring a platform for women’s voices and tackling online abuse

NACAC, as an Area Association of World Athletics is fully committed to the realization of the aforementioned pledges.

We are all in this together and NACAC is a world leader in athletics.

JOB OPPORTUNITY IN NACAC

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]

URGENT REMINDER…URGENT REMINDER…URGENT REMINDER

NACAC is urgently reminding member federations to participate in the World Athletics World Plan consultation process, which started in late February and runs through to the end of April. We are encouraging you to respond to the Member Federation specific survey. It is your opportunity to have a major input into the decision-making process of your international federation, the world leader in sport.

The World Plan for Athletics 2022-2030 will be our major guide for the growth and development of Athletics. You must be a part of this exciting period in our sport.

The final approval of the Plan prepared after the consultations have taken place will be when you sit at the Congress and vote in November 2021.

The survey is available in English, Spanish and French and you only have to do it once for your member federation.

ANOTHER URGENT REMINDER – MF ANNUAL REPORT

NACAC is once more bringing to the attention of all of our members the challenge we have given ourselves as an Area Association

The Circular from World Athletics sent by email dated 18 January 2021, served notice of the requirement of submitting your MF 2020 Annual Report. Please note that while World Athletics has set its deadline for submission of the 2020 Annual Report  as 31 March 2021, 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 15 March

With World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and World Athletics Heritage Director Chris Turner

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

Tuesday 16 March

8.00pm ECT – NACAC Development Commission Meeting

Wednesday 17 March

World Athletics Council Meeting – Day #1

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

7.00pm – Meeting of NACAC Competitions Commission

Thursday 18 March

World Athletics Council Meeting – Day #1

7.00pm ECT – NACAC Council Meeting