NACAC NEWSLETTER December 2015 Volume 2 Edition 3 1 NACAC NEWSLETTER December 2015 Volume 2 Edition 3 IN THIS ISSUE President Message 3 General Secretary Report 5 Athletics Canada: A year to remember 7 NCAA Top OECS Athletes 8 NACAC Athletes of the Year 13 CADICA Championships 14 Women Commission Report 15 Sponsors 16 2 NACAC NEWSLETTER December 2015 Volume 2 Edition 3 PRESIDENT MESSAGE It is hard to believe that we are less than one week away from the end of the 2015 year that, not only flew by, but it was full of a mix of great news and unfortunately bad news. Nevertheless, when we look at the balance of achievements and accomplishments of both the NACAC AA and Athletics as a whole, it is positive due to our athletes from grassroots to high performance. It was a year full of expectations due since there were Continental Areas Election Congresses in all six Area Associations and, moreover, there were elections for all the IAAF elected positions including, for the first time in many decades, two great individuals were running for the presidency of the IAAF. These particular situations kept everybody in a stage of expectations and busy either campaigning or trying to define each one particular individual future. I do not have to go over the outcome or specific results of the different elections since you all know those results but I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those individuals who ran for elected positions at all levels and were elected and also congratulate those who put their name forward for elections and did not get elected. With all the elections over in all the different organizations such as National Federations, Continental Areas Associations and at the IAAF level, it is time that we evaluate our past performance and find out what was done correctly and what we need to do to make our sport, from national level to the world level, better and more attractive and popular for the community. 3 NACAC NEWSLETTER December 2015 Volume 2 Edition 3 In the area of development or competition I can assure you that our progress will continue and, as we have demonstrated in the last WAS and Olympic Games, NACAC AA will continue to be the world leaders. There are a number of factors which contribute to continue our progress will but there is one that stand way above the others and that is the great importance and significant value that the sport of Athletics (Track and Field) has in our school systems. Very few countries in our Area do not have a strong Athletics program in the school system but those are catching up. As far as we have that advantage over the other Continental Areas, it will be very difficult for them to match our development. Therefore, we tip our hat for the thousands, if not millions, of individuals that day in and day out give their time, effort, support, and service to the development of Athletics in our schools. On behalf of the NACAC AA Council and the entire NACAC Athletics Family our respect and admiration to all of you for your contribution to our sport, to the development of our youth and to the development of a better world. Finally, there were many expressions of unity, inclusion, working together in our Congress and meetings in 2015 therefore, it is time to practice what some of you are preaching. As your President, along with the dynamic Council that we have in place, we are ready to bring the whole Family together and move forward no matter if there are disagreements and discrepancies but, as you and I know, we are not here to serve ourselves. We are here to develop Athletics and moreover or Youth. Therefore, Let Stand Together… Merry Christmas and a Happy and Successful New Year… 4 NACAC NEWSLETTER December 2015 Volume 2 Edition 3 GENERAL SECRETARY REPORT After two years in this position as NACAC AA General During these two years, 85% of all these officials had the opportunity to work at the Area Secretary, we can point out the achievements that our area Championships such as Central American and the has been able to get. As far as the officials is concerned, we Caribbean Juniors, Pan American Juniors, Central have to emphasize that we have increased the number of American and the Caribbean Seniors, NACAC U International Area Officials. In 2014, it should be noted that 23, Youth Olympic Games Trials, CARIFTA Games, we increased from 11 to 15 International Area Race Walking CADICA, the Pan American Sports Festival, Race Judges. Also, at the end of that year, from 11 International Walking Challenge in México, Central American Area Technical Officials that we had, we increased to 23. With and the Caribbean Games, Pan American Race both courses and assessments for race walking judges and Walking Cup and the Pan American Games. technical officials in our area, we were able to update them We were able to establish a system of evaluation with the best resources available for officials. of the performance of our officials in each of the NACAC International Area Race Walking Judges Panel competitions in which they were involved. In that 2015-2018 way we were able to observe their performance and the work of each one of them and we have David Weicker (CAN), Gary Westerfield (USA), Patricia Hanna (USA), William J. Pollinger (USA), Daniel J. Pierce (USA), now an assessment which is more fair and Ricardo Servín (MEX), Juan H. del Toro (MEX), Ricardo Ortiz objective, supports accountability and help us, as (GUA), Jorge González (ESA), Rolando Abrego (ESA), Isaac a criteria, at the moment in which we are going to Vargas (CRC), Luis A. Quijano (CRC), Jorge L. Vega (CUB), select officials who are sent to the evaluations of Roberto Apaceiro (CUB) and Belkis Mañon (DOM). the International Association of Athletics Associations (IAAF). NACAC International Area Technical Officials Panel 2015-2018 At the end of this year 2015, it is noteworthy that Daniel Michaud (CAN), Alice Kubek (CAN), Betsy Reed (USA), the NACAC Executive Council determined the Carol Coram (USA), Laurie Boemker (USA), Mike Armstrong creation of 12 Commissions. Never before we (USA), Edward Gorman (USA), Gerardo A. Medina (MEX), had been able to achieve that. The following Carlos Barrios (GUA), Rubén Quintanilla (ESA), Catherine Commissions will be working together Umaña (CRC), Nathanael Duran (CRC), John P. Clarke (CAY), from 2016 to 2019: Technical, Coaches, Garth Gayle (JAM), Faustino Heredia (CUB), Roberto Apaceiro Women, Medical/Doping, Press/Media, (CUB), Tania M. Bull (PUR), Michael A. Serralta (PUR), Noel Cross Country/Road Races, Race Walking, Cedeño (PUR) Esther Maynard (BAR), Karl W. Williams (VIN), James Kelly (SKN) and Patrick J. Mathurin (ACL). 5 NACAC NEWSLETTER December 2015 Volume 2 Edition 3 Marketing, Development and Competition, Athletes and Press/Media Commission the Finance and Ad Hoc Amendments Working Groups. Michael Bascombe, Chairperson (GRN), Javier The members of those Commissions are: Clavelo (CAN), Carlos Clemente (ESA), Terry Finisterre (LCA), Dennis Gordon (JAM), Deen Technical Commission Greenway (IVB), Kwane Lawrence (TTO), Garth Gayle, Chairperson (JAM), David Katz (USA), Esther Gustavo Lopez (CRC), Enrique Montesinos (CUB) Maynard (BAR), Jesús Molina (CUB), Rubén Quintanilla and Carlos Uriarte (PUR). (ESA) and David Weicker (CAN). Cross Country/Road Races Commission Coaches Commission Allan Baboolal, Chairperson (TTO), Natalio Debz Victor M. López, Chairperson (PUR), Diane Woodside (PUR), Antonio Lozano (PUR), Bill Roe (USA), (BAH), Wendell (Curazao), Richie Mercado (USA), Glen Wallace Williams (ISV) and Thelma Wright Albertina (Curazao), Jamil Justiniano (PUR), Evelyn Farrell (CAN). (ARU), Maurice Wilson (JAM), Race Walking Commision Women Commission MaryAnne Daniel, Chairperson (USA), Carlos Evelyn Claudio, Chairperson (PUR), Stephanie Hightower Barrios (GUA), Tim Berrett (CAN), Ricardo Servín (USA), Carla Nichols (CAN), Catherine Jordan (BAR), Vilma (MEX) and Cándido Vélez (PUR). Charlton (JAM), Phillipa Arnett Willie (BAH), Geen Clarke (CRC), Donna Watson (BER), María Caridad Colón (CUB), Marketing Commission Pauline Davis (BAH) and Anne Phillips (USA). Victor M. López, Chairperson (PUR), Alain Jean Pierre (HAI), Rob Guy (CAN), Noel Lynch (BAR) Medical/Doping Commission and Stephanie Hightower (USA). Dr. Adrian Lorde, Chairperson (BAR), Dr. Warren Blake (JAM), Dr. Ana Cintrón (PUR), Dr. Hans Larsen (USA) and Dr. Rafael Robles (GUA). 6 NACAC NEWSLETTER December 2015 Volume 2 Edition 3 ATHLETICS CANADA The paralympic stream was equally It's been a very successful year on and off the field impressive, winning 11 medals at the of play for Canadian athletics as we reach the IPC World Championships, and a best- three quarter mark on the Road to Rio. Going into ever 43 at the Parapan Am Games to 2016 Canada counts two reigning World place third on the medal table. Champions in Shawn Barber (pole vault) and Derek Drouin (high jump). 2015 also saw the The National Track League continues to emergence of a sprint superstar in Andre De be a success story providing good Grasse. De Grasse smashed Canadian records, competitive opportunities in the won double gold at the Pan Am Games and stood western hemisphere for all athletes, on the podium along with Usain Bolt at the World but especially those in the NACAC Championships in the 100-metres. region. The 2016 edition of the series will play an important role in At the top end Canada’s Paralympic athletes are qualification for the Olympic Games equally impressive featuring Brent Lakatos who with events on June 17 (Vancouver, has quickly become the face of wheelchair racing BC), June 19 (Victoria, BC), June 22 winning gold at the IPC World Championships in (Halifax, NS), June 25 (Guelph, ON) and the 100m, 200m and 800m, as well as rising star July 16 (Edmonton, AB).