Sixteen-year-old Tina Clayton produced the most outstanding performance over the weekend (9-11) as her team Jamaica dominated the NACAC U23 and U18 Championships, the first of the area’s regional events in 17 months.
Clayton improved her 100m personal best from 11.25 to 11.17 to claim gold in the U18 category. Despite her impressive time, the best by world ranking standards, the mark was not among the 17 championship records broken at Costa Rica’s National Stadium. Her countrywoman and 2018 world U20 champion Briana Williams kept her 11.11 time clocked at the previous edition in Mexico in 2019.
A world leader among U18 athletes, Clayton’s 11.17 places her third-fastest among U20 athletes in 2021, behind fellow Jamaicans Williams (10.97) and Ackera Nugent (11.09).
Two other 16-year-old Jamaicans also left their mark in San Jose. Alana Reid ran 23.78 for 200m gold and became the first U18 woman to break 24 seconds at the championships. Reid also anchored her team to the 4x100m title in 45.49. She was joined by 100m silver medallist Serena Cole, Clayton and Kerrica Hill.
World leader Jaydon Hibbert broke the 16-metre barrier with a 16.02m leap in the triple jump, a 34cm improvement on his previous best.
The world’s fastest U20 sprint hurdler and fourth-fastest ever, Nugent, returned to the regional event where she placed second in the U18 category and to the same stadium where she claimed silver at the Pan American U20 Championships in 1999. The 2021 NCAA bronze medallist easily dominated the 100m hurdles in 13.64, despite a strong headwind of -2.2m/s.
Sprint hurdler Orlando Bennett (13.65), 400m specialist Charokee Young (52.06) and long jumper Shakwon Coke (7.88m into a -2.6m/s wind) also shone for Jamaica, all in the U23 category. Alicke Cranston also impressed with his 10.42 winning time in the 100m.
Alexander Ogando, member of the bronze medal-winning team for the Dominican Republic at the 2021 World Athletics Relays in Poland, impressed on the final day by winning the 200m in 20.59, just 0.05 shy of his personal best. Ogando, who has run 45.01 for 400m, will be a key piece in his country’s mixed relay at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
With the CARIFTA Games suspended two consecutive years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the regional championships opened an elusive competitive opportunity for U20 athletes in the region. Eighteen-year-old Bahamian Camille Rutherford took the sprint double in 11.36 and 23.42, a personal best at the longer distance.
National record-holder and Tokyo-bound Jonathan Jones won one of the five gold medals for Barbados by covering the one-lap race in 46.20, in a close battle with Jamaica’s 2018 world U20 silver medallist Christopher Taylor, who was second with 46.58. Taylor is also qualified for the Summer Games.
Shiann Salmon, Taylor, 100m silver medallist Odaine Mcpherson and Young joined their efforts to set a new standard of 3:20.71 in the mixed relay, contested for the first time at the championships. Their Jamaican teammates Kishay Rowe, Roshawn Clarke, Oneika Brissett and Delano Kennedy set the new time of 3:25.27 in the U18 category.
Juan Diego Castro led the home team with a victory in the 800m in 1:48.82. Fourth at the 2017 World U18 Championships, he has improved his national record in both the 800m and 1500m. His 17-year-old compatriot Sharon Lisseth Herrera set a meeting record in the 5000m race walk with 23:18.14.
In the same event, Guatemala’s Yasury Betzayda Palacios rewrote the record books with a 22:31.13 effort in the U23 category. In total 13 records were broken, plus the two mixed relays.
With 61 athletes, Jamaica dominated the medal tally with 67 medals (39 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze), ahead of the host nation (19-20-23=62) and Bahamas (17-18-7=42). All 19 participating nations won at least one medal. Due to Covid restrictions, some regional powerhouses did not attend, including the United States, Canada, Cuba and Mexico.
Ephraim Serette to challenge for NAAA TT presidency with plans for high-performance centre and youth development
Former president of the National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAA TT), Ephraim Serette, has announced his intention to run for the presidency of the organization at its Annual General Meeting on November 30, 2024. Serette, who stepped down in 2020 to take up a government advisory role, now seeks to return to the helm, citing a renewed vision for the development of athletics in Trinidad and Tobago.
Serette, a former sprinter who gained prominence by defeating Olympic champion Hasely Crawford to win the 100m senior national title in 1977, explained his decision to Sportsmax.TV earlier this week.
“I would have stepped down from office to take up the position of advisor to the Minister of Sport. I thought it would have been a conflict of interest to be advisor to the minister and heading a national governing body. That has ended, and during that time, because of my passion and commitment to the sport, I’ve never really moved away. I continued to be around the sport, and during those years, clubs and athletes have been saying, ‘We need you back.’”
During his previous tenure as president, Serette introduced several impactful initiatives, including registering the association as a non-profit, securing significant sponsorship deals such as a three-year, $12 million Memorandum of Understanding with the National Gas Company, and creating transparent policies for athlete selection.
“I ran the association through the eyes of an athlete because, as an athlete, there was a big gap between the administration and athletes. I bridged that gap where athletes could have communicated with the board, website, policies for selection — a number of procedures and policies that were developed under my watch,” he said.
Serette outlined an ambitious agenda should he reclaim the presidency, including plans to establish a high-performance centre to develop elite athletes, strengthen school-level engagement, and rebrand the organization.
“One of my major projects is to develop a high-performance centre,” he revealed. “I need to work with the Ministry of Sport, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth Development, and the Ministry of Health. If I can get those four ministries to come on board, funding can come from each of these ministries. We need to identify athletes and get in their minds what they are preparing for; it’s more than just training to make a team.”
Serette stressed the importance of working with schools to identify talent at an early stage, aligning athletes with clubs, and building a more robust support structure. He also plans to collaborate with the Primary and Secondary Schools Track and Field Associations and implement programs inspired by Jamaica’s successful school-based sports model.
“We will work closely with the schools, identifying athletes and aligning them to clubs in the districts. The Minister of Education is on board with coaches coming into schools and trying to align schools to clubs because our system is club-based, not like in Jamaica where the sport is school-based.”
Another key focus for Serette is engaging corporate sponsors and revitalizing partnerships to fund athlete development. He also aims to address the trend of young athletes leaving Trinidad to pursue opportunities abroad.
“What I am seeing happening here is that at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, they are not developing programs to attract our athletes to stay home. There is also another major development where young athletes are now leaving Trinidad to go to school in Jamaica. These are some of the things we have to address.”
Reflecting on the state of athletics in Trinidad and Tobago, Serette emphasized the need to cultivate a winning mentality among athletes.
“What I am seeing with our athletes is that many of them are satisfied with just making teams. Yes, there are only three medals to be won, but when you go to these competitions, it should be about doing a best performance that takes you to the next level.”
With a vision centered on youth development, high-performance training, and re-engaging stakeholders, Serette believes his leadership can help the NAAA TT address current challenges and set a new trajectory for success. The stage is now set for a highly anticipated contest between Serette and incumbent president George Commissiong, who succeeded him in 2020.
JAAA announces Puma sponsorship renewal, calls for unity in sports development
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has officially renewed its partnership with global sportswear giant Puma, securing a deal that it claims surpasses an offer of approximately USD $6 million annually from rival Adidas. The announcement was made during the JAAA's Annual General Meeting on Saturday, November 23, 2024. However, the JAAA did not reveal any details regarding the new deal.
JAAA President Garth Gayle expressed gratitude for Puma’s unwavering support, particularly during the challenging pandemic years. “Puma has been an invaluable partner, supporting grassroots initiatives, high school programs, and major national events like the Boys and Girls Championships and the Gibson Relays,” Gayle noted. “Their commitment far exceeds that of their competitors, ensuring we can continue to deliver excellence in athletics.” This renewed sponsorship, Gayle emphasized, will bolster the JAAA’s efforts to sustain Jamaica’s dominance on the global stage while fostering talent development at home.
In addition to the sponsorship announcement, the AGM saw the unopposed return of the JAAA executive, including Gayle as president. However, some changes were made to the team, reflecting a focus on inclusivity and modernization. Gayle reiterated the association's commitment to increasing athlete involvement in its operations by establishing sub-committees that accommodate their training and competition schedules. "We share the concern of those who ask for more participation by our athletes and are addressing this with structured opportunities for involvement," Gayle said.
Gayle used the platform to advocate for greater collaboration between the JAAA and the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA). He urged the Minister of Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, to convene a joint meeting in the new year, emphasizing the importance of unity in advancing Jamaican sports. "The ‘Jamaica’ in the names of both associations reminds us that we serve under one flag with the development and opportunities for our athletes and sportspersons our shared commitment," Gayle stated.
Reflecting on 2024, Gayle highlighted significant milestones, including the hosting of key local events such as the JAAA/Puma Development Meet and the Jamaica National Junior & Senior Championships. Jamaican athletes also shone on the international stage, competing in six major competitions, including the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow and the Paris Olympics. While acknowledging challenges, Gayle celebrated the resilience and dedication of athletes and coaches. The JAAA also saluted its technical teams, volunteers, and stakeholders for their contributions, including Doctors Bruce and Blake for their work with the Athletes Integrity Unit and the Anti-Doping Commission.
As the JAAA looks to the future, Gayle emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration to build on Jamaica’s track and field legacy. He expressed optimism about upcoming initiatives, including enhanced coaching development and expanded competition opportunities at the regional and international levels.
In closing, Gayle led a moment of silence to honor members of the track and field community who passed away over the past year, affirming the JAAA’s commitment to their legacy and to fostering an environment where athletes can thrive. With the renewed Puma sponsorship, the unopposed return of the executive, and a unified vision for the future, the JAAA is well-positioned to continue driving the success of Jamaican athletics.
T&T Olympian Khalifa St Fort announces engagement
Two-time Olympian and Trinidad and Tobago track star Khalifa St Fort has announced her engagement, sharing the joyful news on social media on Sunday. The 26-year-old sprinter, who represented her country at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics in 2021, shared a heartfelt post celebrating her upcoming union.
"God writes the best love stories, and ours is my favorite. ‘I have found the one whom my soul loves’ Song of Solomon 3:4," she wrote. "I can’t wait to spend forever with you. You truly are my answered prayer. I love you now and always. ?"
St Fort, known for her electrifying performances on the track, also holds a silver medal from the 2018 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia and was a key member of Trinidad and Tobago's 4x100m relay team that won bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. She is also a two-time World U20 medalist, underlining her pedigree as one of the Caribbean's premier sprinting talents.
However, the sprinter has largely stepped away from competition in recent years, focusing on her education and other personal endeavors. Her last recorded competitive appearances were in May 2022.
The announcement has been met with an outpouring of congratulations from fans and fellow athletes, celebrating the new chapter in the life of one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most accomplished athletes.
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