Caribbean Sports Network

EPHRAIM SERRETTE, president of the National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) has called on clubs to play their role to ensure a top-quality National Championships. Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Serrette expressed disappointment in the number of athletes that had to be scratched belatedly from events.

“I’m not happy with the scratches. Clubs need to understand that this is a product,” the former outstanding national runner said.

Serrette lamented that the Women’s 200m final had to be cancelled because of the limited number of entrants.

“It does not auger well to bring more sponsors on board when we have two to three athletes lining up for a National Championships race,” he said. “We have to meet with the clubs to make them understand what we are trying to achieve,” he added.

Serrette expressed satisfaction, however, with how the meet was organised as the supporters got to see a finished product.

The NAAA boss commended 2010 sprint double champion Richard Thompson for purchasing 100 tickets for his supporters.

Thompson’s posse came out dressed in black on Saturday to cheer the Olympic silver medallist to victory in the men’s 100m final.

He did not disappoint, storming past the finish line first in 10.01 seconds. He returned the following day to claim gold in the 200m, clocking 20.37 seconds.

Serrette praised Thompson’s performance and also hailed Simplex Moriba Morain for his double gold medal performance. Morain ran an impressive 10.33 seconds to win the 100m event and scorched the track on Sunday, timing 21.21 seconds to place first in the 200m final.

“In building the championships we must not lose focus on the juniors,” he said. Serrette revealed that it was a master stroke to join for the second year the National Junior and Senior Championships. “From what I have been seeing it is a good decision,” he said.

Serrette pointed out that because of the low number of entrants in some events it was more spectator friendly to have athletes in the Under-17 and Under-20 and Senior events compete alongside each other.

He argued, however, that if it was an Olympic year of World Championships year the number of entrants would have been much higher.

Serrette expressed hope that through the introduction of pole vault event at the National Championships, more local athletes will be inclined to get involved in the sport.

Four Americans participated in the novelty event and Serrette is hoping that they would inspire athletes in TT.

Serrette noted that the NAAA will be very busy in the coming months with the CAC Juniors, NACAC Championships, World Juniors, CAC Games and Youth Olympics.