New Mondo track for CAC Juniors

Certification from the world body governing track and field will allow the times recorded by athletes to be accepted internationally.

Certification has been given already to the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago.

At the launch of the CAC Junior Championships yesterday at the Crowne Plaza in Port-of-Spain, Ashwin Creed, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs said Government is providing $6.3 million towards the staging of the hemispheric competition.

And an additional $1.5 million has been set aside to assist the NAAA with miscellaneous expenses.

Government’s assistance is the largest contribution towards the championships, but officials are urging Corporate Trinidad and Tobago to join in to make the event a huge success.

Significant contributions have come from a number of companies — among them the National Gas Company (NGC) which gave $150,000; Petrotrin, Sagicor, Guardian Holdings Limited, Toyota Trinidad and Tobago Limited and the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB).

Cheryl Ryan-Mohammed, the Executive Director of L&M Promotions, marketing arm for the championships invited Corporate TT to come on board the track and field fiesta which is dedicated to the country’s first and only Olympic gold medallist to date — Hasely Crawford.

Companies can make their contributions in the following categories — US$20,000 for the Gold sponsor; US$10,000 for the Silver sponsor; and US$5,000 for the bronze sponsor.

The corporate sponsors will in turn receive numerous benefits including the right to free advertising at the championships venue.

According to Ryan-Moham-med, her company’s aim is to increase the attendance at the competition this year.

She said that a number of promotional programmes labelled “Run It To Win It” have been introduced.

The promotions are all being named after sprinter Crawford who won the 100 metres event at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

She said Crawford is being positioned as a role model for the young people in the twin island republic.

The promotion begins next week and will feature mini track and field championships at schools across the nation. Ryan-Mohammed said Corporate TT’s contribution will also allow a number of underprivilege children to attend the championships.

Over 500 athletes are expected for the CAC Junior Championships and according to NAAA president Ken Doldron, Trinidad and Tobago will be a force to be reckoned with.

He pointed out that local athletes gave a good performance at the last championships in Vera Cruz, Mexico at which Marcus Duncan and Annie Alexander set two world records.

Doldron said many of the athletes who competed in Mexico will be back, while others have staked strong claims for selection with good performances at the CARIFTA trials last weekend.

He said the NAAA was approached to host the championships following good reports when the CARIFTA Champion-ships were held in the sister isle of Tobago two years ago.