Government $$ for CARIFTA Games.
T&T Newsday.
Government has decided to assist the National Amateur Athletic Association to prepare for the 34th CARIFTA Games. The Games takes place at Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago, during the Easter period. The NAAA were asked to stage the games, originally scheduled for Grenada, following the devastation of the “Spice Island” by Hurricane Ivan. Sport Minister Roger Boynes, in making the announcement of government assistance stated, the Tobago House of Assembly had been upgrading the stadium at a cost of TT$6.5 million. He said NGC had agreed to purchase $300,000 in field equipment.
Stars shy from HC Stadium track.
Trinidad and Tobago (CMC) track and field star athletes Darrel Brown, Mark Burns and Fana Ashby may miss this year’s June 18-19 National Championships because the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) has not certified the track at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. This was confirmed by the National Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA) secretary Alan Baboolal, who said that the track had never been certified by the IAAF. Booblal’s confirmation came after the TT trio’s agent John Regis expressed his concern. “It has been brought to my attention that the track which will be used for the Trinidad and Tobago National Championships is not an IAAF certified track,” Regis said.
He added: “This causes me great concern for the athletes I represent: Darrel Brown, Marc Burns, Nicconnor Alexander and Ato Modibo and not only will their times not be recognised but competing on such a track could also hinder the athletes’ insurance claims should any of them become injured.” Regis said that the officials should either contact an IAAF representative “come and inspect the track, or consider holding the National Championships elsewhere, as these athletes may be advised not to compete at the Championships by their insurers.” If the relevant authorities do not acquire certification in time for the nationals, then the NAAA might just switch the venue to the Tobago based Dwight Yorke Stadium, which is gearing up to host this year’s edition of the CARIFTA junior track and field championships.
Henry Rolle the coach of the Trinidadian ace sprinters and coach at Auburn University where Brown and Ashby are students, said the 2003 World Championships silver medallists and his training partner are in good shape for the 2005 season. “Marc (Burns) is great. He and Darrel are complementing each other. They’re very focused, and taking one meet at a time,” he said. He also complimented Ashby’s efforts at last weekend’s NCAA championships in Arkansas, which saw her victorious in the 60 metres and taking silver in the 200 metres saying he was “satisfied and happy.”
