BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A large number of track and field officials received strong words of displeasure in an email recently from top technical official James Kelly after they failed to turn up for a competition this month in celebration of World Athletics Day.
Kelly serves the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletics Association (SKNAAA) as its elected Technical Officials Representative, and he informed SKNVibes that he was greatly displeased at the current trend among his peers who only want to participate at the “big meets”.
“I really believe that their mindset is not focused on the track and field, especially when it comes to the development meets and other ‘small meets’, as they so call them. In relation to bigger meets, you will find all of them showing up,” he stated.
For Kelly, a lack of interest from the officials can adversely affect the development of the sport and its athletes within St. Kitts-Nevis.
“It is really unfair to the athletes who come out every Saturday or Sunday to perform without the qualified and certified technical officials there to ensure that their times are falling in line with the regulations of the IAAF.
While all technical officials operate on a volunteer basis for the SKNAAA and give large amounts of free time, Kelly said that is no reason to ignore development meets at which the officials can improve their skills and gain a better understanding of the athletes.
The sport of track and field has rapidly developed since St. Kitts-Nevis built its national stadium for the 2008 Carifta Games and the SKNAAA has seen a surge of interest from youths wanting to become the next Kim Collins or Virgil Hodge.
“It is because of the development of the track and field that it is becoming an issue. We have more and more athletes turning out to compete at these meets. It is just really unfortunate that the athletes are competing and the officials are not here.
“If we have consistency, it goes a long way in relation to the level of the athletes’ performance,” Kelly said.
The technical chief also opined that officials must maintain the high standard they have established if they hope to continue being an example for the region. Apart from the development of the nation’s athletes, many opportunities are available to officials who go the extra mile in their duties.
“Basically at this point in time, I think we are probably one of the most organized [associations] in the Caribbean… It is really unfair for myself, who is the only Level 2 [certified official] in the Leeward Islands to be going here, there and everywhere while other people are not getting the experience.
“Once they make a commitment they should try as hard as possible to honour their commitment,” Kelly stated.
