Ato backs Doldron for re-election

ATO BOLDON has thrown his support firmly in the corner of incumbent National Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA) president Ken Doldron ahead of Saturday’s executive elections at the Audio Visual Room, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Doldon, a retired Defence Force sergeant major, will square off against retired Brigadier Carl Alfonso seeking another three-year term as head of local athletics. Boldon a quadruple Olympic medallist, made his declaration at the 2004 NAAA annual award ceremony at the Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Port-of-Spain, on Sunday night.

The ceremony, which lasted three-and-a-half hours, resembled that of a political meeting as members of the NAAA executive repeatedly highlighted the work done during Doldron’s term of office, which began in 2001. Boldon who was presented with an award for excellence in the sport during the function, stated: “I’ve always been a critic of the NAAA’s but we have Sagicor on board. We have Adidas on board and therefore, this administration must be supported.” The 30-year-old sprinter retired from competitive action after the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and, during his acceptance speech, thanked God, his family, his father Guy, corporate sponsors NFM, Mario’s, Toyota, RBTT, Oakley’s, Reebok, and his alma maters Newtown Boys’ RC and Fatima College, for their support throughout his career. The 1997 world 200 metres champion further stated he was “making himself available on a full-time basis to further the sport in this country.”

A resident of the United States since 1988, the current national 100m champ revealed his positive and negative views on wearing the red, white and black colours on the international stage. “The worse (reason) is that we are a culture of cynics,” he admitted, but later countered, “no one can celebrate, support and party like a Trinidadian and a Tobagonian.” At the function, Jamil James and Candice Scott were acclaimed 2004 Athletes of the Year, and received award plaques. James finished third in the 200 metres final, in a time of 21 seconds flat, at the World Junior Championships in Grossetto, Italy, in July while Scott, the 2003 WITCO Sportswoman of the Year, finished ninth in the hammer-throw at the Athens Olympics with a personal best of 69.94. Both athletes took time out from studies in the United States to attend the ceremony.

The 20-year-old James is enrolled at the University of South Carolina, while the 24-year-old Scott is a student at the  University of Florida. The best athletes from the Under-11s to the seniors were announced, with Curtis Cox and the dreadlocked Pilar McShine adjudged best road runners, Nicconnor Alexander and Fana Ashby, best track athletes (senior) and Wanda Hutson, Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Jamil James, best track athletes (Under-20). Scott, Borel, Under-20 shot putter Annie Alexander and Under-20 national sprint champ Marcus Duncan were also praised for their outstanding performances during the year, while Zeno Constance, Aubrey Edwards, Ray Davis, Dr Jessie Noel and Douglas Barzey were honoured for long-service to the sport. Also speaking at the function were Amadeo Francis, a vice-president of the IAAF and president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC); Sports Ministry Permanent Secretary Trevor Percival, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee secretary Elton Prescott and Sagicor general manager Allan Cabral.