Word out of Jamaica is that a number of that country’s past and current athletes are seeking to sprint into sport administration.
With the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s (JAAA) annual general meeting and elections set for November 29, 1988 Seoul Olympics 200-metre silver medallist Grace Jackson is among those vying for the presidency.
Jackson spent the last few years on the administration that also featured other Olympians Donald Quarrie and Vilma Charlton.
Reports are that Jackson and attorney-at-law Lincoln Eatmon will challenge incumbent Warren Blake, who took over as president following Howard Aris’ death last November.
Some of the island’s most celebrated names in track and field are also making themselves available to serve the sport in another capacity for the first time.
Sprinter Michael Frater, the 2005 World Championships 100m silver medallist, two-time Olympic silver medallist Juliet Cuthbert, 1996 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Deon Hemmings, 2009 100m hurdles world champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton and former sprint hurdler Maurice Wignall are expected to run for spots in the highly anticipated election.
Frater has replaced Quarrie on the slate of Blake and will be installed, if elected, as the vice-president with responsibility for athlete relations. Hemmings will also be on Blake’s slate of candidates, replacing Jackson.
Cuthbert will face the over 300 members of the JAAA as a part of the Lincoln Eatmon-team, while Brigitte Foster-Hylton is understood to be a member of the Jackson slate, as is Wignall, the 2006 Commonwealth Games 110m hurdles champion.
Blake and his experienced team, which has presided over the island’s most successful period in international track and field, is expected to be hard-pressed by Eatmon in particular, who also boasts the likes of Alfred Francis, Hector Edwards and Ian Forbes among his ranks. (EZS)
