TT sport needs major capital investment

Delivering the feature address on Saturday at the National Association of Athletics Administrations Awards (NAAA) 2016 ceremony at the Radisson Hotel in Port-of- Spain, Carmona did not hesitate to give his advice on how to improve track and field in this country.

Carmona spoke about more investment in sport and proper planning. “We need major capital investment from both the public and private sector, locally and nationally and therefore your organisation must be equipped and made ready at the strategic, management and operational levels. In this regard, if we clinically examine what has happened, we can evaluate and analyse where we are currently and project where we ought to be in the future. Our sporting philosophy must therefore create a way forward, a veritable road map to sporting success and excellence.” Carmona suggested that TT can follow some of the steps taken by popular track and field facilitator Dr Vern Gambetta.

“Dr Vern Gambetta, a world renowned strength training and conditioning specialist and coach guru in several sporting disciplines including track and field espoused that the success of athletes are predicated on organisations applying the following and I quote, ‘A philosophy of being coach driven, athlete centred and administratively supportive.’” Carmona called on local sporting officials to ensure their athletes well-being is a priority. “As administrator officials of sport, athlete-centred leadership must always be at the core of your dispensation.

As the movers and shakers of sport and policy development, we must ensure that legislation and policies coincide with the needs of the athlete and the sport.

“Governing bodies in sport have a duty and a responsibility to ensure the holistic well-being of the athlete and do so fairly, justly and without compromise. We must ensure therefore that the best, the most skilled, the most deserving athletes are afforded the opportunity to compete and represent TT through a system of genuine meritocracy.

As sporting administrators, remember at the core of your dispensation is stewardship, not dominance, you are a facilitator, not a dictator.”

HONOUR ROLL

Athletes of the Year Awards
Youth Female – Janae Spinks
Youth Male – Tyriq Horsford
Junior Female – Khalifa St Fort
Junior Male – Akanni Hislop
Senior Female – Michelle-Lee Ahye
Senior Male – Keshorn Walcott
In recognition of Global Excellence
(Para-Athletics) – Nyoshia Cain, Akeem Stewart

Most Outstanding Athletes

Distance Women Open Road – Tonya Nero
Distance Men Open Road – Curtis Cox
Cross Country Women Open – Samantha Shukla
Cross Country Men Open – Matthew Hagley
Women Open Track – Michelle-Lee Ahye
Women Open Field – Cleopatra Borel
Men Open Track – Machel Cedenio
Men Open Field – Keshorn Walcott

Outstanding Performance Awards

President’s Rising Star Award – Rae-Anne Serville
For Academic Achievement – Che Richards (National Scholarship Winner)
For Outstanding Performances in2016
Javelin Gold (Carifta Games Record) –Tyriq Horsford
100m National Junior Record at National
Open Champs – Khalifa St Fort
200m National Record at National
Open Champs and Olympics - MichelleLee Ahye
400m National Record at Olympics –Machel Cedenio
88.68-metres Qualifying Round Men’s
Javelin at Olympics – Keshorn Walcott

Most Outstanding Athletes

Girls U-10: Lesanne Hodge
Boys U-10: Isiah Clarke
Girls U-12: Janae De Gannes
Boys U-12: Keone John
Girls U-14: Shaniqua Bascombe, DestinyWilliams
Boys U-14: Shakeem McKay
Girls U-16 (track): Rae-Anne Serville
Girls U-16 (field): Safiya John
Boys U-16 (track): Avindale Smith
Boys U-16 (field): Christopher Crawford
Girls U-18 (track): Janae Spinks
Girls U-18 (field): Ianna Roach
Boys U-18 (track): Onal Mitchell
Boys U-18 (field): Tyriq Horsford
Girls U-20 (track): Khalifa St Fort
Girls U-20 (field): Chelsea James
Boys U-20 (track): Akanni Hislop
Boys U-20 (field): Che Richards

Champion Clubs

Junior – Memphis Pioneers
Senior – Memphis Pioneers, Rebirth Athletics Club
Juvenile - Memphis Pioneers.