National Amateur Atheltic Association president Ephraim Serrette has admitted that 2019 was a difficult year.
He made the comment as the NAAA recognised the performances of athletes at its annual end of year award function at the Radisson Hotel in Port-of-Spain on Saturday evening.
Serrette said there were challenges both on the field and administratively, but said the performance of the athletes last year was creditable.
Noting specifically that the NAAA needed to maximise on the use of its resources, he said, “We are the best performing sport at the Olympics. The record will show that Trinidad and Tobago has won 17 Olympic medals and 14 came from the track and field. That speaks volumes for our sport. We must feel cheated, where funding is concerned.”
He added, “We have produced Darryl Brown as a world junior athlete, Keshorn Walcott and we can produce many more. We have to challenge our universities to do things to keep our athletes at home at UTT and UWI.
“We have got to attract our athletes. The only difference I can see is the competition which is had in the United States. We have got to set the pathways and instead of four years to attain a degree, then we can give our athletes a five-year programme. We will then be able to compete regionally and internationally in a major way.”
Last year at the same event, then NGC chairman Gerry Brooks was the feature speaker and told the gathering: “It’s not where you start; it’s where you are going! Good is the enemy of great!”
Brooks then highlighted the work in 2018 of Michelle Lee Ahye and Jereem Richards, but told the gathering,“Colleagues, 2018 is over! This is 2019—the beginning of a new year. We are 360 days away from a new decade—the 2020s. This must be our decade!”
When it came time to honour the athletes, reigning Commonwealth Games 200 metres champion Jereem “The Dream” Richards, of Abilene and Zenith’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste were named the 2019 senior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awardees.
Cougars Athletic Club’s Shaniqua Bascombe was meanwhile voted as the female Youth Athlete of the Year and Point Fortin New Jets’ Devin Augustine the boys’ Athlete of the Year.
Kaizen Panthers’ Safiya John (female) and Zenith’s Tyriq Horsford walked away with the Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year honours.
The Cougars Athletic Club also continued their run of success after being named the Champion Juvenile Club of 2019.
However, history was made in the Junior Club Championship when there was a tie between Cougars and Memphis Pioneers. Memphis was adjudged the Champion Senior Club.
Honour Roll
Special Awards
President’s Rising Star Award
Devin Augustine (Point Fortin New Jets)
Most Outstanding Athlete
(Girls’ U-9) — Yanque Stewart (Toco Titans)
(Boys’ U-9)—Jommally Mark (Memphis)
(Girls’ U-11)—Jenique McLaren (Toco Tafac)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-11) —Akul Simon (Memphis)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Girls’ U-13)—Kaori Robley (Mecury)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-13)—Imanni Mathew (Titans)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Girls’ U-15)—Kayleigh Forde (Cougars)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Girls’ U-15 Field)—Janae DeGannes (Zenith)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-15)— Keone John (Memphis)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-15 Field)—Farrel Gerry (Mercury)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-15 Multi-Events)—Dorian Charles(Point Fortin New Jets)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Girls’ U-17 - Track)—Shaniqua Bascombe (Cougars)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Girls’ U-17 - Field)—Shakira Kirk(Tobago Falcons)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-17 - Track)—Devin Augustine (PFNJ)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-17 - Field)—Jayden Scott (Mercury)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Girls’ U-20 - Track)—Akilah Lewis ( Concorde)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Girls’ U-20 - Field)—Antonie Sealy (FAD)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Girls’ U-20 Multi-Events)—Safiyah John (Kaizen Panthers)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-20 – Track)—Genesis Joseph (Health Olympians)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Boys’ U-20 – Field)— Tyriq Horsford (Zenith)
Best Multi-Event Athlete (Boys’ U-20)— Anson Moses (Tobago Falcons)
Most Outstanding Cross Country Athlete (Female)— Sjaelan Evans (Unattached)
Most Outstanding Cross Country Athlete (Male)— Sherwin Stapleton (Road Runners)
Most Outstanding Female Athlete (Road Running)— Tonya Nero (Athletic Central)
Most Outstanding Male Athlete (Road Running)— Sherwin Stapleton (SRoad Runners)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Women Open)— Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Zenith)
Best Combined Events Athlete (Women Open)— Tyra Gittens (Kaizen Panthers)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Women Open – Field)— Cleopatra Borel (Rebirth)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Men Open – Field)— Keshorn Walcott (Rebirth)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Women Open – Track)— Michelle-Lee Ahye (Rebirth)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Men Open – Track)— Jereem Richards (Abilene)
Most Outstanding Athlete (Men Open – Field)— Keshorn Walcott (Rebirth)
Outstanding Performances Awards for 2019
Akeem Stewart - Parapon American Games (Tobago Falcons)
Nyoshia Cain - Parapon American Games (Simplex)
Champion Club Trophies
Champion Club (Juvenile)— Cougars
Champion Club (Junior)— Cougars & Memphis
Champion Club (Senior)— Memphis
Athlete of the Year Awards
Youth Athlete of the Year - Female— Shaniqua Bascombe (Cougars)
Youth Athlete of the Year - Male— Devin Augustine (PFNJ)
Junior Athlete of the Year - Female— Safiya John (Kaizen Panthers)
Junior Athlete of the Year - Male— Tyriq Horsford (Zenith)
Senior Athlete of the Year - Female— Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Zenith)
Senior Athlete of the Year - Male— Jereem Richards (Abilene)