We failed Richard Thompson.
Andre E Baptiste (Guardian).
Richard Thompson ran his race in T&T at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA) Championship 100 metres. That is the truth. And while Thompson is too much of a professional to say this and confirm he was not at his best in Daegu, that is the reality.
Let us examine what happened. 1) The NAAA was due to hold its Championships on June 26 and 27 which was perfect for most of the athletes. It did not happen. 2) Government authorities (Ministry of Sports and the Sports Company) announced a week before, that the running track surface at the stadium which was being changed, would not be completed in time. 3) The NAAA then either had to find an alternative venue or change the date. 4) With no other stadium with an adequate surface, the Championship was postponed for August because many of T&T’s leading athletes were already committed to international meetings prior to the World Championships. 5) It was then decided to host the Championship on August 13 and 14. 6) This annoyed most of the foreign-based athletes and some asked for exemptions, such as Kelly Ann Baptiste, Cleopatra Borel-Brown. These were granted. 7) Others were not so fortunate. Thompson was one such person who asked for an exemption, but because there were several persons within the qualifying standard competing for three places, his request was denied. 8- Renny Quow’s request was also denied because the times of several of the 400 metres athletes were out of the required qualifying standard.
Now those are some of the facts as to what transpired before Daegu. Thompson was forced to compete and ran a national record, a season best and a personal best of 9.85 to win convincingly from Keston Bledman who placed second, with Aaron Armstrong third. While the country applauded and celebrated with Thompson—albeit rightfully so, because it was a marvelous race and augurs well for our standard—we need to put aside the emotions of the Government officials who sought to bask in the glory that this was an outstanding fast track, and it was one of the best in the world, and our athletes would become faster and possibly better because of it. Unfortunately, it is possible that no one sought to educate these persons that like a horse race, where there are different surfaces (sand and grass), there must be some order in athletics, and the track at the World Championships was a Mondo surface—just like the previous one at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The current surface is not a Mondo surface. Whether anyone will say so or not, it must make a difference. It is like practicing to swim in a 50 metre standard size Olympic swimming pool and practicing to swim in a 25 metres swimming pool.
Thompson’s 9.85 was at the wrong time. In hindsight, he was correct to ask not to participate, because he was one event away from a major time. A number of leading 100 metres runners do their best ever time at Olympics and World Championships and there is no guessing why. It is also, no accident that this occurs because most international coaches ensure that they have their athletes peaking at the right time for these events. Together, we all contrived through our own ineptitude to allow this to happen to both Thompson and Bledman. They should not have been allowed to compete in a tough race a mere two weeks before this championships. Our athletes were the only ones to do this and we paid the price. So when I raised these questions a few days before the team left, my critics condemned me on isports on i95.5fm on Thursdays and Saturdays (6.15pm to 8pm). They disagreed with my theory about the proximity of the two races. It is obvious that yet again, I was correct.
Just for reference, the Jamaican trials were held from June 23 to 26. The US held their trials from June 25 to 28. Our Championships took place on August 13 and 14. The World Championships was from August 27 to September 4. Even a novice would question the logic and timing of our Championships. It is for this reason and this reason alone, that I, firmly lay the blame for T&T’s male athletes running so poorly in the individual 100 metres events at the feet, hands, chest, mouth and maybe even heart of the following: The Ministry of Sports, Sports Company of T&T and the Minister of Sports Anil Roberts. Together they should all accept collective responsibility for the events as described above involving the dates of the NAAA championships being switched. The original dates of June 26 to 27 may have resulted in better performances. Instead of being concerned and patting each other on the back about the supposed speed of the surface after Thompson’s blistering 9.85, all of the governmental authorities should have been monitoring the work and completion process at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, long in advance of the planned June dateline.
If it is that this was not done on a timely basis, then someone needs to be held accountable and severely punished. It is ludicrous that by this delay in completion an entire country has been left to ransom and many young athletes in limbo. We have not been told of any hefty fines or contingency clauses against the contractor. Unless of course, this was not the fault of the contractor, in terms of time given for completion or in terms of the local work that was promised to be completed before the contractor laid down the surface. There is too much at stake for the triumvirate of Sports Ministry, Sports Company and Sports Minister to accept everything too lightly and calm. It can almost look to some, as if persons who should know better intentionally want our athletes to fail.
I refuse to accept that sort of conspiracy theory. It is akin to saying that Usain Bolt intentionally false started so his country man and coaching understudy Yohan Blake would win the 100 metres final on Sunday. Without a doubt, it was too much to ask our athletes, particularly when history will show that all the major athletic countries will never attempt something so stupid. The NAAA was placed in a tricky position by the failure of the authorities to have the stadium ready for this well documented and advertised event.
We can always ask why is it that the authorities took so long to realise that the job would not be completed, but to use excuses like unpredictable weather and rain is inappropriate, particularly given that the history of the month of June is rain-infected days. Let us hope that such errors can be eliminated quickly in the future and that those in authorities that profess to have knowledge of sports begin to demonstrate such with much more energy. We have too many persons in authority being sidetracked by trivial and personal matters.
Instead of seeking catering jobs, sponsoring arrangements, argumentative discussions, some of those in charge need not to betray our trust, but need to find a way to cooperate with others and put aside petty jealousy. Sports Minister Anil Roberts needs to ensure this is done at all times, even if it annoys some of those closest to him. Thompson, Bledman and Armstrong did not fail us in South Korea. Instead it was we, the people of T&T who failed them because we accepted substandard explanations and lack of proper alternatives for our athletes. It cannot be coincidence that our only medal has come from Kelly Ann Baptiste, who was allowed to miss the NAAA Championships and was therefore fresher than most of the others. In the final analysis, let me on behalf of the Ministry of Sports, The Sports Company and the Honourable Minister of Sports Anil Roberts say: Sorry Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman, Aaron Armstrong and all the other local athletes.
