Carifta trials at Dwight Yorke Stadium

This decision was made after the tracks at the recently certified Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, were damaged from recent Carnival activities. President of the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAAs) Ephraim Serrette expressed the view that it will cost his association a lot more money to take 45 teams, including officials to the sister isle for the trials, carded for March 21-22.

Yesterday, Serrette, a former national sprinter told Newsday that there are punctures to the tracks which were caused by either tents or scaffolding placed on it.

He made it clear that because of the extent of the damage, his association is unable to allow athletes to run on it, for fear of injury.

“We need to have a proper assessment of the track before any competition could take place there,” Serrette said

The damage is evident on the Southeastern end of the track near a curve. Attempts to reach stadium manageress Stephanie Skeete proved futile yesterday, but Newsday understands that the trial games has been confirmed for the Tobago venue.

But the athletic boss also pointed out that he is concerned over the readiness of the Tobago facility to host the games.

“The track at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, like the Larry Gomes, the Ato Boldon and the Manny Ramjohn are all just jogging tracks and not competition tracks,” Serrette said.

He was quick to point out, however, that the Tobago track was modified and certified to accommodate the Carifta Games in 2005, which included field events.

Newsday was also told that Government had been contemplating whether to patch the affected areas of the track at the stadium or take the entire games to Tobago, so complete resurfacing work can be done in time for the staging of the Caribbean Games to be held July 12-19 at the stadium and other venues.