Trinidad and Tobago's best on show at Athletics Open Champs

THE 2023 National Gas Company/National Association of Athletics Administrations Open Championships will be held at the newly refurbished Hasely Crawford Stadium from 2 pm on Saturday and 3 pm on Sunday.

Entrance fee is only $100 daily.

A NAAA media release on Thursday, said, “This weekend’s event is significant in many ways. It will determine our national champions, provide a final opportunity for the athletes who have not yet attained the qualification standards for the upcoming World Athletics Championships to do so and it will assist the association in team selection.”

The Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in TT from August 4-11. The Hasely Crawford Stadium has been renovated for the games.

“More importantly, this year our open championship serves as the ‘hard test,’ a measure of how well-prepared we are to host the athletics segment of the Commonwealth Youth Games,” the NAAA release said.

“The event will be like a final dress rehearsal, when it is expected that all systems will be functional and running smoothly. Joining the senior athletes will be most of the junior athletes who would have competed very successfully at the 2023 Carifta Games and at the recent North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Under-18 and Under-23 Championships held last weekend in Costa Rica.”

Bmobile is also a supporter of the championships.

A media release by bmobile said, “By continuing its partnership with the NAAA for the hosting of the National Championships, bmobile plays a crucial role in identifying, supporting and elevating promising athletes.”

Senior manager, corporate, environmental, social and reputation management at bmobile Khamal Georges said, “At the heart of bmobile's commitment lies a passion for nurturing local talent and empowering athletes to achieve their full potential. By creating opportunities for talented individuals to shine, bmobile actively contributes to the growth and development of track and field in TT.”

Looking ahead to what he describes as a weekend of keen and exciting competition, President of the NAAA George Comissiong said that the recent performances of TT’s athletes at international events lend themselves to a potential blockbuster event.

"To date, we have had some very positive showings at the international events at which we have competed.”

Two-time Olympic javelin medallist Keshorn Walcott and two-time 200-metre Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jereem Richards will be among the national athletes on show this weekend.

With athletes from the Caribbean, as well as countries like Ivory Coast and Liberia, joining the talented field, the competition promises to be fierce and enthralling.