THIS WEEK IN NACAC
21 June 2021
NACAC congratulates Aliann Pompey
Aliann Pompey, of Guyana, has been appointed Head Coach of the Track & Field and Cross Country programme at St John’s University, New York.
Aliann has always been highly regarded by NACAC, first as an outstanding athlete and later as a coach.
The quiet demeanour that characterises Aliann often hides her commitment to our sport and her achievements within it.
Many recall her gold medal performance in the 400m at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002. She was third in the same event at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, one year later.
She competed at the Olympic Games of 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Aliann has been coaching at St John’s for the past several years and has been the Chair of the Athletes Commission of Panam Sports.
NACAC extends sincere congratulations to Aliann Pompey on her achievements and considers her a genuine friend and supporter of our family.
Aruba has new Executive
Virginia Dirsk is the new President of the Aruba Athletiek Bond. She was elected at the organisation’s Elective General Assembly, on Tuesday 15 June 2021.
The elections, managed by Michael Serralta of NACAC, also saw Nizana Solognier elected as Secretary, Moraima Luydens, Treasurer, and Safiera Schippers, Richard Luydens, Lemike Werleman and Fernando de Graf, elected as Commissioners.
The scrutineers appointed by NACAC for the elections included, IOC Executive Board Member, Nicole Hoevertsz, NOC President, Roy Mezas, NOC Sports Director, Edmundo Josiah and Aruba Sport Unie Board Member, Moises Fernandez.
Following the Assembly, NACAC General Secretary, Keith Joseph, and Mr Michael Serralta, convened a meeting with the new executive at which attention was placed on the immediate work to facilitate a comprehensive review of the Constitution of the organisaton.
NACAC congratulates the membership of the Aruba Athletiek Bond for their support for the process prepared by the NACAC Governance Commission and the conduct of the elections.
NACAC Gender Leadership Course ends
The final two sessions of the latest NACAC Gender Leadership programme took place on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 June.
A total of 26 persons from several of our NACAC member federations English and Spanish speaking, including three (3) men, participated.
The sessions were on Mentorship and The Leadership Journey. At the end of the final session there was a graduation ceremony, thoroughly enjoyed by the participants who felt more confident in their own preparation for leadership as well as for conducting courses in their won member federations.
Some of the participants felt confident enough to express themselves in terms of the value of the programme in its entirety.
The NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group will meet in September to decide on next steps.
Around NACAC
BAH
The stage is set for the National Championships/Olympic Trials of the Bahamas over the next weekend, 24 – 27.
Bahamas’ top athletes will all be on show, seeking to book their seats on the plane bound for Tokyo next month.
Some athletes from the Caribbean who have been short of competition relative to making the standards for Tokyo, will also be in attendance at the Championships. These include Ashley Kelly of the BVI, Ti-Adana Belle of Barbados, Mulern Jean of Haiti, Priscilla Frederick-Loomis of Antigua and Barbuda.
Trinidad and Tobago will have a large contingent at the Championships that features Deon Lendore, winner of the 400m at the Inaugural NACAC New Life Invitational in Miramar on 5 June, as well as the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relay teams, yet to qualify for Tokyo.
The Championships will, on Friday 25 June, feature the juniors. The seniors take centre stage on 25 – 27.
On Monday 28, there will be the Blue Marlins Last Chance Invitational, at which the overseas competitors will be in full competition through to the finals in all events.
JAM
The highly anticipated clash between Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah in the 100m will be one of the highlights of next week’s Jamaica Olympic Trials, 24 – 27, inclusive.
Expectations for a very successful competition are particularly high with some holding the view that the women will take charge. Thompson will do the double – 100m/200m.
Young Brianna Williams, coached by Ato Boldon in Miramar, is expected to do well amongst the seniors and has hoped of making it to Tokyo.
Fedrick Dacres has already make the standard for the Discus Throw and should retain the national title.
Some of the younger athletes who performed well at the Boys and Girls Champs are expected to rise to the occasion and show their readiness to compete at the highest level.
According to JAAA President, Garth Gayle, “the competition at the Trials will be among the most exciting of all time. There is a good mix of the senior athletes with some dynamic juniors involved and track and field enthusiasts would be in for a very good, entertaining experience.”
USA
NACAC Indoor Athlete of the Year, Ryan Crouser, made good on his improvement in the Shot Put by establishing a new world record for the event, 23.37m, on the very first day of competition at the USATF’s Olympic Trials on Friday 18 June 2021.
Joe Kovacs (22.34m) and Payton Otterdahl (21.92) took second and third places respectively, behind Cruser.
Sha’Carri Richardson, proved herself the best of the female sprinters in the US when in Saturday 19 June, she easily won the 100m final in a time of 10.86, ahead of Javianne Oliver (10.99) and Teahna Daniels (11.03) respectively.
Patrons may have been expecting a better time in the finals as Sha-Carri had earlier posted 10.64 in winning her semi final.
Inaugural NACAC Invitational 100m winner, Trayvon Bromell (9.77 – world leader), cruised to victory in the 100m final at the US Trials on Sunday 20 June. With a time of 980, Bromell headed Ronnie Baker (9.85) and Fred Kerley (9.86) shutting out 39 year old Justin Gatlin (10.87), who finished 8th.
In the Women’s 400m, while Quanera Hayes won in 49.78, the kudos went to Allyson Felix (50.02), the crowd favourite, who, in finishing second qualified for her fifth Olympics – a 20 year achievement. Felix is already the most decorated US Olympian in history. Wadeline Jonathas (50.03) finished third.
Felix will no doubt contest both the 400m and the 4 x 400m relay for the US in Tokyo.
Michael Norman, won the 400m in 44.07, followed home by Michael Cherry (44.35) and Randolph Ross (44.71) respectively.
The US Olympic Trials usually mirror the track and field competition programme of the Summer Olympics and this year is no different. Competition continues through to Sunday 27 June 2021, with Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 being rest days.
VIN
Team Athletics St Vincent and the Grenadines conducted its first Trials for this year’s National Championships on Saturday 19 June 2021 at the national stadium.
Nellie Ambriton was an easy qualifier in winning the 1500m for U20 athletes in 4:21.37, while Zekisha Kelly of Mustangs led the field in the 100m 12 – 14 in a time of 3:41.34.
In the 100m, Shonte Matthias of IT DAT (12.83) headed the U17 Girls, Devonte Mack of High Performance (11.55) in the U17 Boys, Grenisha Thomas of IT DAT (12.73) in the U20 Girls, Kyle Lawrence of IT DAT (11.10) in the U20 Boys were all easy qualifiers.
TASVG’s National Championships are set for 3 – 4 July 2021 at the national stadium.
Meanwhile, the TASVG Selection Committee has to return to the analysis of performers relative to the team for the NACAC Championships in Costa Rica in early July. The inclusion of an U-20 Invitational component to the Championships opens up a few more possible spaces on the team.
One major challenge facing TASVG, however, is the financial challenges attendant to getting athletes to Costa Rica given the limitations of travel options. This may force a reduction in the team size.
Weekly Meetings
Monday 15 June
9.00am – NACAC Staff Meeting
Wednesday 23 June
2.00pm ECT – Weekly Meeting – Mike Sands, Michael Serralta and Keith Joseph
Friday 24 – 27 June
Commencement of the BAH National Championships
Commencement of the JAAA Olympic Trials, Kingston, Jamaica
