Source: Trinidad Express By Kwame Laurence
Double Olympic silver medallist, Richard "Torpedo" Thompson has slammed the decision to stage the National Senior/Open Track and Field Championships just two weeks before the World Championships, in Daegu, Korea.
The local meet was originally scheduled for June 25 and 26, but had to be postponed because rain delayed completion of the new track at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. At a June 21 press conference, the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) announced that the Championships will now be held on August 13 and 14. The World Championships will be staged in Daegu, Korea between August 27 and September 4.
"It's absolute madness," Thompson told the Sunday Express, "to even entertain the thought of having a National Championships two weeks before the World Championships. Two weeks before Worlds, athletes are usually either at their training base fine-tuning for the games, or on their way to the host country. In this case, the World Championships will be held in South Korea, so an ideal situation would be to travel there that weekend–August 13-14--to acclimatise.
"Competing in any Championship for any athlete is mentally, physically and emotionally draining, so to put us through that two weeks before means we will be at a disadvantage in Daegu."
"There's also the possibility," he continued, "of someone getting injured. Any level of injury can mean someone having to stay out of the World Championships because he/she doesn't have sufficient time to recover. For the NAAA to come to such a decision is extremely inconsiderate, and shows utter disregard for the athletes and their preparations to represent the country at the highest level in late August. This has been really bothering me and the other athletes."
The NAAA's decision to postpone the Championships came on June 17, the same day the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) explained in a press release that German contractor Porplastic needed "at least 14 full days without precipitation" to finish laying the new track at the Crawford Stadium.
Thompson, who earned silver behind Usain Bolt in the men's 100 metres dash at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said the NAAA, SPORTT and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MSYA) should have ensured the track was laid before the weekend of June 25 and 26.
"It is very unprofessional of the NAAA, SPORTT and MSYA, and disrespectful to us as athletes, who train so hard every day to fly the flag, to not have the track ready in time for June–when it should have been–to have our official trials. It is distasteful and even moreso hurtful to see how little they care about us. This would never happen in the US, Jamaica, Canada or any other nation that has Olympic and World Championship medallists who currently represent the country.
"Imagine (world junior champion in the 400m hurdles) Jehue Gordon, who is based in Trinidad but represents T&T, has to train on grass at CIC grounds, while all of his competitors are training with the best facilities. He's at an instant disadvantage.
"I would just like to appeal to the necessary authorities to do something about the way we manage our facilities in T&T. A brand new Mondo track was laid five years ago, both at the Hasely Crawford and Dwight Yorke (stadiums). There is absolutely no reason why it should be in such a state already."
At the June 21 press conference, NAAA secretary and Games Committee chairman Allan Baboolal said switching the Championships to the Yorke Stadium, in Bacolet, Tobago, was not an option.
"Tobago's track is absolutely no good for this type of competition," Baboolal had told the media.
Thompson criticised the use of the Crawford Stadium for concerts and Carnival shows.
"I am an avid supporter of Trinidadian culture and support Soca music like no other, but every time an event takes place it destroys our facility more and more, and the athletes suffer as a result. Just as the Government spent millions of dollars in prize money for these competitions, in 2011, to promote our culture, I suggest that a few extra is allocated for building a facility where Soca Monarch and events of that nature can be hosted in the future."
Thompson, who finished fifth in the 100m at the 2009 Worlds, has declined selection for the July 15-17 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Championships, in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
"I'm getting ready to head to Europe. I'll be running in a couple races there over the next month. I will not be taking part in CAC. My agent, Emanuel Hudson, wrote them (NAAA) a letter, informing them that I will not be available for the games, as I have already made commitments long in advance to some of the European meets. I will go up against some of the world's best–including Bolt and Asafa (Powell)–and will use these races as preparation to get a feel for my competition at the World Championships."
Thompson, who earned Olympic silver under the guidance of Dennis Shaver, his coach at Louisiana State University (LSU), travelled to Dallas recently to get input from former US sprinter Jon Drummond.
"I have been working with Drummond temporarily as there are a few things that I needed to work on, and I felt as though he was the perfect person to address those errors and get me ready for the World Championships. Everything is working out well so far."
Thompson said he has been putting out a lot in training.
"I know it will pay off when it counts! As usual, a lot of people have counted me out, but I am confident that I will surprise all the doubters. I will be ready by Worlds for sure," the 26-year-old sprinter declared.