Debate over U-17 age group change for CAC
Published:Wednesday | July 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic:
Neville 'Teddy' McCook, the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) and North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Area Representative, praised the region for its successes at both the junior and senior levels at international meets.
There was also a big debate at the meeting with regards to changing the age group for the junior Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, sparked by a proposal that the present Under-17 category to be adjusted to Under-18.
Those for the move want it altered to go in line with the age limit of the World Youth Championships.
There was a lengthy debate, with Mexico and Puerto Rico pushing for a change, while Jamaica and The Bahamas pressed for the Under-17 age limit to remain for younger competitors at the CAC Games.
Barbados executive member, Esther Maynard, appealed to members not to make a hasty decision and hoped that the decision will be made later.
The president of NACAC, Victor Lopez of Puerto Rico, also stated that several key members were not present at the Congress and more research should be done before a decision is taken. The members all agreed to postpone the decision to a later date.
Meanwhile, McCook called the performance of regional athletes at last year's World Champs "unbelievable".
Unbelievable
"The region's success at the Berlin World Championships was unbelievable and on a whole we were only two medals behind our European counterparts," he said at the NACAC Congress in Santo Domingo on Sunday, adding that the numerous competitions have also contributed.
He further predicted that the region will soon be on the top of the world in athletics.
McCook also brought greetings on behalf of the IAAF president, Lamine Diack.
"President Diack wants to send special greetings to all members of the NACAC region and is very pleased with the success of the region's athletes and to the administators who are mostly doing a voluntary job," he said.