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Trinidad and Tobago’s track and field stakeholders are pleading with the private and public sector to support the local sport, so as to help young athletes reach their true potential.
On 28 – 29 June, the NGC NAAATT Junior Championships, which also has significant financial support from Republic Bank, was staged at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain and drew over 800 young athletes from across Trinidad and Tobago.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
With selections on the line for upcoming regional competitions as well as university scouting opportunities, the meet fulfilled its technical purpose.
Yet, beyond the action on the track, the resounding message from officials, coaches and athletes is that Trinidad and Tobago’s track and field system is under-resourced, and continued progress requires urgent investment in both funding and training infrastructure.
Paul Voisin, first vice-president of the NAAATT and chairman of the meet, acknowledged the strong turnout and praised the coaches for managing across such a wide age range.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
Still, he was candid about the financial strain many clubs face.
“To get 800 athletes from all over Trinidad and Tobago is a success,” Voisin told Wired868, “but for teams coming from Tobago, the cost is heavy, and most of those clubs are unsponsored.”
Voisin highlighted that much of the sport is run by unpaid volunteers and lamented the lack of institutional support for clubs.
“We do not have the equipment for the schools and we still compare ourselves to the [best in the] world,” he said. “Half these children do not have sneakers to run.”
Voisin noted that while the Ministry of Sport offers developmental support, there is little to no direct funding for clubs, nor adequate planning for athlete training when facilities are under repair.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
“Even after Carifta, we did not have a stadium to train,” he said. “There was no alternate venue offered.”
He called for club subventions to cover equipment and operational needs, and questioned the practice of evaluating success only by medal count.
“I don’t count medals,” he said. “I look at what you can invest.”
Despite limited resources and unpredictable weather, the Junior Championships produced several strong performances.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
Fifteen-year-old Chelsea Charles of Point Fortin New Jets clocked an impressive 14.89 seconds in the Under-17 100m hurdles—despite only two months of formal training and no access to a track in the weeks prior.
Her coach, Eric McCree, explained that his team was forced to train on public roads due to flooding.
“We did fairly well given the conditions,” he said.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
The New Jets also picked up silver medals in the Under-20 Girls 200m, 400m, and Javelin events, as well as bronze in the Pole Vault.
“We have no equipment for that,” McCree noted. “It’s horrible for me, but I’ve had to improvise all along the way.”
Kelvin Nancoo, head coach of Cougars Track and Field, praised his team’s overall showing, especially in the Under-15 and Under-17 divisions. Jonas Gaitan stood out with a personal best of 21.07 seconds in the 200m.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
“He beat everybody but didn’t win the final because he felt something, and I wouldn’t take that chance,” said Nancoo.
He expressed disappointment that his top Under-20 sprinter, Dylan Woodruffe, finished outside the top two, which he attributed to fatigue from recent competitions.
Like others, Nancoo called for greater investment in school-level sport and criticized the practice of clubs recruiting athletes away from smaller programs.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
“We can’t just sit and hope things align. Give the child the opportunity to be the best they can be,” he said.
Wendell Williams of Jumpers Inc was equally vocal about the need for better planning and standards.
“We need to treat this as a championship, not a development meet,” he said.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
Williams’ athletes turned in several strong performances: national triple jump record holder Kenisha Shelbourne registered a personal best of 5.83m in the Long Jump, finishing second to US-based athlete Janae DeGannes. Zane Martin also earned silver in the triple jump with a personal best of 11m.
“Everyone who competed from our training group did well,” Williams said.
Shelbourne herself was measured in her self-assessment.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
“I was not too pleased with my performance, but this year was a great year for me,” she said. “For Carifta, the crowd really pushed me and gave me motivation.”
Her Jumpers Inc teammate, Franca Worrell, also drew praise from coaches for her composure under pressure. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Tyrique Vincent of Concorde Athletic Club secured personal bests in both the long jump and pole vault.
“The competition was stiff,” he said, “but something about your home crowd is special.”
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
Dana Charles, a 16-year-old sprinter with Point Fortin New Jets, said the experience revealed her potential.
“My performance meant that I could do better than I thought I could,” she said, after running strong races in the 100m and 200m without proper training facilities.
Her goal now is to make the Carifta tryouts.
Event Committee chairman Dexter Voisin commended the efforts of both athletes and meet officials, noting that the weather posed a significant challenge.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
He confirmed that the Championships hosted a number of Carifta medallists and saw participation from UK and US-based athletes such as Shane West, who competed in the 100m and 400m hurdles.
“We did not have enough officials to manage the number of athletes at times, but I think it was a success,” he said. “This is about our juniors showcasing their talent.”
Voisin also acknowledged that without ticket sales and with fluctuating crowd sizes—partly due to heavy rains—the meet continues to depend heavily on corporate support.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
Sponsors for this year’s Championships included Republic Bank, NGC, Puma (which outfits the national team), and Blue Waters.
“We are appreciative of all our sponsors for greatly assisting us with the financials,” he said.
The Championships underscored the depth of talent in local athletics, but also highlighted a familiar tension. Strong performances continue to emerge across Trinidad and Tobago. But almost every coach and official agreed that talent alone is not enough.
Photo: Johann Corneille/ Wired868.
To sustain growth and to develop athletes ready for the world stage, the sport requires consistent financial support, access to adequate training venues, and a long-term strategy that treats junior athletics not just as a development tool—but as a serious, competitive system worth investing in.
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Joshua Forte is an intern, who studied literature at St Mary’s College where he discovered a love for writing (and a talent for arguing about sports in essays). A self-proclaimed sports junkie, Joshua believes in serving God, speaking his truth, and never turning off a match early.
