THIS WEEK IN NACAC
30 November 2020
Past week in brief
Gayle is new JAAA President
After serving for the past 20 years as Honorary Secretary, Garth Gayle, on Saturday 28 November 2020 easily won the presidency of the JAAA, the governing body for the sport of athletics in Jamaica.
Gayle’s opponent for the presidency was Jamaican Olympic gold medalist, Donald Quarrie.
Gayle has previously served on the NACAC Council and on the Technical Committee of the then IAAF. He currently chairs the NACAC Competitions Commission.
Marie Tavares, former deputy to Gayle on the previous executive, made her own step in Jamaican athletics created history by being elected the first female Honorary Secretary of the JAAA.
The remaining members of the executive reads:
Ian Forbes – first vice-president;
Lincoln Eatmon, second vice-president;
Michael Frater, third vice-president;
Vilma Charlton, fourth vice-president;
Ludlow Watt, treasurer and
Brian Smith, assistant secretary.
Committee Members:
Keith Wellington, Heleen Francis, Julette Parkes-Livermore, Ewan Scott, Judith Watt, Fedrick Dacres, Carl Bruce and Gregory Hamilton.
Leroy Cooke – Director of Records
NACAC extends congratulations to Garth Gayle and his newly elected executive team. We expect that the historically high performance standards of Jamaican athletes will continue and that all of NACAC will work towards ensuring that the region remains the leader in global athletics.
NACAC Constitution Review nearing completion
Robert Hersh, Chair of the NACAC Constitution Review Working Group convened a meeting of the members on Friday 27 November 2020, to discuss the latest proposed amendments to the constitution.
Most of the work has been completed and the Working Group’s next meeting from which the final draft is expected to emerge, is scheduled from Friday 11 December at 8.00m AST.
Once the Working Group completes its draft it would receive full discussion by the NACAC Commissions and the Council. Following that, the NACAC Congress will have the final decision in accordance with the existing Constitution, a feature that is embedded in the proposed amended version as well.
NACAC remains extremely pleased with the pace of work of the Working Group, and the leadership provided by former IAAF Vice President, Robert Hersh, and current World Athletics Council member, Abby Hoffman, in the exercise.
THIS WEEK
NACAC XC 2021
The NACAC Cross Country Championships, scheduled for Honduras on Saturday 20 February, 2021 will again come into focus when Competitions Director, Michael Serralta, meets with the Technical Delegate, Carlos Clemente of El Salvador, and Local Organising Committee (LOC) members via Zoom on Friday 4 December 2020, beginning at 8.00pm AST.
Calixto Sierra, President, Honduras Athletics Federation will be in attendance along with a cadre of Honduras competition personnel, Jaime Velasquez (Meeting Director), Samy Martinez (Transportation Commission), Julio Galeas (Technical Director) and Victor Rodriguez (Competition Director)
NACAC Council Meeting
The NACAC Council will hold its final meeting for 2020 on Thursday 3 December 2020 beginning at 7.00pm Eastern Caribbean Time (6.00pm Miami Time).
At Thursday’s meeting the Chairpersons of NACAC Commissions and Working Groups will be invited to make presentations on their work.
NACAC Information Session # 4
The fourth edition of the NACAC Information Session will take place on Saturday 5 December, beginning at 10.00am Eastern Caribbean Time (9.00am Miami Time).
The NACAC Council will update members on its work programme and the challenges being faced.
Marketing
Having been informed that PUMA will not be renewing its contract with NACAC, President Sands has begun in earnest a search for a replacement sportswear company.
For the past several years the NACAC contract with PUMA saw an annual grant to some cash as well as uniforms for technical officials at the NACAC Championships, including the annual Carifta Games.
The NACAC leadership is well aware of the significant financial savings that the provision of uniforms for technical officials at the Championships allowed organizing committees to benefit from over the years.
NACAC is also aware of the challenging economic times occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic all around the world but feels confident that opportunities will avail themselves for marketing of its products going forward.
