Commentary: Some Sober Reflections and the Way Forward

by Michael Bascombe

Now that the celebrations have subsided over the successes of our track athletes at the 13^th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in South Korea, it’s probably an opportune moment for some sober reflections on the experiences of the past three weeks when sports highlighted a patriotic and united people.

It’s important for us to begin the reflections on where we came from and what direction we are heading.

We have to acknowledge that two of the world’s youngest and most exciting athletes over the one-lap event are from Grenada. No doubt, Rondell Bartholomew and Kirani James have maintained their competitiveness and rivalry since the Inter-Col Championships, Junior CARIFTA Games, NJCAA & NCAA and now the professional circuit.

However, as we look towards the future and more so in the interest of the upcoming talents that have begun to project themselves on the international scene, there must be some established level of control on how our athletes are recruited to colleges and universities in the United States and the world over. Over the years the Government and the Grenada Olympic Committee have invested a lot of money into the early development of our track and field athletes and except for Alleyne Francique, Randy Lewis and Neisha Bernard-Thomas the ratio between input and output has been uneven.

While we don’t expect every potential athlete to continue with track as a career, we must however recognise that Grenada was once ranked number three among Caribbean countries with the most number of track and field athletes on scholarships in the United States. Jamaica and the Bahamas were leaders. However, very few of our athletes moved to the next level even though they were tops in their various events in college.

Permit me to dig into some history to explain that Jamaica’s successes to date is not because of the exceptional ability of Usain Bolt but instead started since 1948 when Dr Authur Wint secured the island’s first track gold medal in the 400 metres at the Olympic Games in London. Four years later he teamed up with Herb McKenley, Leslie Laing and George Rhoden to win the 4x400m relay at the Games in Helsinki. At that same Olympic Games Rhoden also set a world record in the 400m. Jamaica’s successes continued through the years with the likes of Donald Quarrie, Bert Cameron, Grace Jackson, Raymond Stewart, Juliet Cuthbert, Merlene Ottey and others and most recently Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake, among others.

But a major factor and probably seeding ground for the Jamaicans has been the attention and focus placed on their homegrown talents and the structures put in place to ensure that their athletes have successful careers but remain grounded in their roots and act as a conduit to other young athletes. I refer to their annual Boys and Girls Champs, the premier track and field event in Jamaica, and which attract scores of overseas recruits and international media. The successful athletes and schools are also selected to represent the island at the Penn Relays in the United States.

Here is where our National Primary Schools, Private Schools and Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships should take centre stage. But I am afraid until there is an overhaul of the current format of the Inter-col Championships (which hasn’t changed in at least a decade or more) then we may fail to take it to the next level and thereby attract overseas recruits who otherwise flock to Jamaica and the Bahamas.

This (attracting the overseas recruits) will also give us some amount of leverage in securing the best deals at college for some of our athletes. Parents, schools, coach, athletic association, sports ministry and other major stakeholders should have an input in determining what the best options for our athletes.

While we are basking in the glory of the recent successes of two of our professional track athletes there are already indications that their appearances in National colours may be limited and their coaches and agents are totally in charge.

The word is that these athletes may have to miss representing Grenada at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico next month, on the advice of their coaches. If that is true, then we are in for some serious issues in the future when these athletes reach the pinnacle of their careers.

The Ministry of Sports, Grenada Olympic Committee and the Grenada Athletics Association must now take the bold step and put structures in place to ensure that in the future there is a process that must be adhered to and not the backdoor system.

The message must also be sent to these overseas coaches and agents that we are sending you athletes who are already running fast times and that there must be a good level of respect shown to the little island called GRENADA. They are reaping the benefits in the shortest possible time and in return showing scant courtesies to the foundation of our athletes.

In the meantime, as we hope and pray for the wellbeing and successful future of our athletes and that good sense shall prevail, let’s focus attention on what should be done to avoid any reoccurrences.

With the likelihood of the athletics stadium being completed in the New Year, I am suggesting the twinning of an athletics programme between the St George’s University and the T.A. Marryshow Community College where our talented track and field athletes could remain at home and train with some of our qualified coaches.

Both institutions could also use their international accreditation status to invite overseas coaches for small stints on the island which could also benefit some of our local coaches. They include Wayne McSween, Albert Joseph, Denise Williams, Bruce Swan, Timothy Britton and Trevor Modeste, among others. Our coaches have the knowledge and can only benefit from the finesse and experience along with evolving techniques from the more established overseas professionals but some lack the interpersonal skills needed to help the athletes.

This can and should save us thousands of dollars in the long run which could be used in upgrading other facilities around the island to enhance the talent identification and grassroots programmes of the Ministry of Sports and the athletics association.

We will also be able to empower ourselves as serious negotiators with agents on behalf of our athletes. We should draw on the experiences and expertise of Alleyne Francique and Randy Lewis in their negotiations with agents. Let’s protect and meaningfully support our Athletes as our Nation’s Ambassadors - current and future.