THIS WEEK IN NACAC
Vol. 3
No. 5
23 January 2022
Gardiner leads NACAC’s 2022 adventures in Track and Field history
NACAC Athletes have begun 2022 just where they left off in 2021, committed to setting trends and creating track and field history.
Bahamian, Steven Gardiner, reigning Olympic Champion, began his year with a historic national record on 3.,06 in the Indoor 300m earlier this month.
On Friday 28 January, Gardiner let the world know that he is only just getting started and is fully committed to his own place in history.
He set a blistering 31.56 in the 300m while winning the 300m at the South Carolina Invitational in Columbia. This time is the world’s fastest ever recorded of the 300m, erasing the previous best set by American, Noah Lyles, in 2017.
Another NACAC athlete, also reigning Olympic champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, of Puerto Rico, clocked 36.52 in winning the women’s 300m.
Her performance saw her set a new Puerto Rican record for the event, her second in two weeks.
Athletes welcomed a return to the Millrose Games at the New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory, New York, USA, after covid-19 caused the cancellation of the event last year. As is customary, the athletes delivered thrills and numerous record performances.
US athletes dominated the event as expected. However, several athletes from around the world in attendance also registered their readiness for World Athletics Indoors a mere few weeks away.
The Honour Roll, however, reads:
Women’s Wanamaker Mile: Elle Purrier St. Pierre, 4:19.30 Men’s Wanamaker Mile: Ollie Hoare, 3:50.83
Women’s 3,000 meters: Alicia Monson, 8:31.62
Men’s 3,000 meters: Geordie Beamish: 7:39.50
Women’s 800 meters: Ajee’ Wilson, 2:01.38
Men’s 800 meters: Bryce Hoppel, 1:46.05
Women’s 400 meters: Wadeline Jonathas, 52.51
Men’s 400 meters: Christopher Taylor, 46.38
Women’s 60 meters: Aleia Hobbs, 7.11
Men’s 60 meters: Christian Coleman, 6.49 Women’s 60-meter hurdles: Britany Anderson, 7.91 Men’s 60-meter hurdles: Devon Allen, 7.51 Women’s Pole Vault: Sandi Morris, 4.75 meters Women’s Long Jump: Tara Davis, 6.59 meters Women’s Weight Throw: Erica Belvit, 19.82 meters
There was some consternation at the competition however when it was announced that world record Shot Put holder, Ryan Crouser had established a new Indoor record for the event. The entire Shot Put event at the Meet had to be cancelled following the revelation that the measuring laser system used in the competition had been malfunctioning.
NACAC Council confronts 2022 with optimism
NACAC looks to the current year, 2022, with much optimism. That’s the word coming from President Mike Sands, following the first meeting of the NACAC Council on Thursday 27 January, convened via Zoom.
Thursday’s meeting highlighted the fact that in 2021, NACAC continued to lead the world in the sport, amassing the majority of gold medals amongst the members of World Athletics at the Tokyo Olympics which had been postponed by one year.
According to Sands, the stage is already set for NACAC to serve up significant milestones at both the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, 18 – 20 March and Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA, 15 – 24 July 2022.
Sands noted that “with the Outdoor Championships being held in the NACAC Area, our athletes are preparing to provide exciting and outstanding performances in an amazing competitive atmosphere.”
Around NACAC
Guadeloupe – Caribbean Games 2022
The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and the Organising Committee of the Caribbean Games 2022 (OCOCG2022) today marked the 150 day countdown for the Caribbean Games scheduled to begin on 29 June and conclude on 3 July.
Reports from Guadeloupe indicate that there is growing interest in the Games and many are hopeful that because they involve U23 competition, patrons can expect to see some of the likely Paris2024 Olympic Hopefuls in action.
Jamaica – 2nd Carifta 2022 Info Session on Monday
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 49th Carifta Games, chaired by Hon. Michael Fennell, will convene the second in its series of Info Sessions on the event at 4.00pm (Jamaica Time) tomorrow, Monday 31 January 2022.
The Info Session follows on the circulation of the Technical Manual on Thursday 27 January as promised by the Competition Director, Ian Forbes.
The LOC will update the Carifta Family on the progress being made in respect of preparing for the Member federations will certainly use the opportunity afforded by the Info Session to raise whatever concerns they may have arising from the latest information in their possession.
Nicaragua
The new athletics season has begun in Nicaragua, the member federation that only recently hosted the NACAC Age Group Championships.
On Sunday 30 January, it was a very proud NCA President, Xiomara Larios Toruño, who inaugurated the new season with the 22nd National Cross Country Championships. The event was held in the municipality of Larreynaga, Malpaisillo, in the Department of León.
Sunday’s event saw a total participation of 212 athletes (75 women and 137 men) from 20 clubs. The member federation is using the event for the selection eight (8) athletes who will represent Nicaragua in the Central American Cross Country Championships scheduled for 19 – 20 February in El Salvador.
The president of the member federation expressed her gratitude for the support for the event that was received from the municipal mayor, Doctor Enrique Gómez Toruño.
VIN – Kids Athletics in progress
Technical Director of Team Athletics St Vincent and the Grenadines and NACAC Director of Coaches and Camps, Chester Morgan, who also serves as the Vincentian lead for the promotion of Kids Athletics, On Saturday 29 January, conducted a training session with children from the Barrouallie and Layou communities in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The session was conducted as part of the programme approved by World Athletics as part of its A Athletes Olympic Dividend (AOD).
The children were full engaged in 18 activities, six from each RUN, JUMP and THROW. Morgan was assisted in the conduct of the session by a group of young enthusiastic athletes and officials from the areas involved.
Following the conclusion of the Kids Athletics Session, some athletes were the beneficiaries of the first set of shoes, bags and water bottles that TASVG received from Project Lace Them Up, started and organised by Vincentian US-based athlete, Jabari Khensu and his father, Yemi Khensu.
TASVG’s coaches will meet tomorrow, Monday 31 January, to engage in discussions relative to the year’s roll-out of developmental meets and competitions as outlined in the annual Calendar. Now that the country has a synthetic track, the discussion will also focus on the selection process regarding overseas-based athletes.
NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series advances
The NACAC Development Department is extremely pleased with the level of interest shown by participants in the NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series which completed its second session
– on Energy Systems & Energy System Training, on Thursday 27 (Spanish) and Saturday 29 January (English) respectively.
The series will feature the third and final session during this week, with the topic being Periodisation.
Sesión 3 – Periodización: planificación del entrenamiento
THURSDAY 3 February 6 – 8 pm en Español Martin Palavicini
Session 3 – Periodization: Planning of Training
SUNDAY 6 February 3 – 5 pm in English Peter Thompson
Attendees are reminded that all times in the programme are in Central Time which is two (2) hours ahead of Caribbean time and one (1) hour ahead of Miami time.
Conducted via Zoom / FREE registration is required – REGISTRATION LINK All times CDT (GMT -6)
Meetings this Week
Monday 31 January 2022
4.00 pm (Jamaica Time)/5.00 pm Eastern Caribbean Time) – 2nd Carifta Games Info Session via Zoom
Tuesday 1 February 2022
8.00 am Eastern Caribbean Time – Area Presidents Meeting with World Athletics’ leadership
Wednesday 2 February 2022
10.00 am Eastern Caribbean Time/9.00am Miami Time – NACAC Weekly Meeting
Thursday 3 February 2022
6.00 – 8.00pm (CET) Sesión 3 – Periodización: planificación del entrenamiento
Sunday 6 February
3.00 – 5.00 pm (CET) in English – Periodization: Planning of Training
Keith Joseph
P.O. Box 680, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines
Tel: (784) 457 9062 (H); (784) 457 2970 (O)
