Back on track: Ephraim returns as NAAA boss with big plans

Track and field administrator Ephraim Serrette returned to the helm of the National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAATT) on November 30 with a comprehensive win over incumbent George Comissiong at the Annual General Meeting, at Five Rivers Secondary School, Arouca.

Serrette, who had served as the NAAA president from 2007-2021 before exiting to take up a role as advisor to Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, defeated Comissiong by a 56-21 margin.

It was a clean sweep for Serrette's slate, with both Paul Voisin (first vice-president) and Dexter Voisin (assistant secretary) being elected unopposed, and Michelle Stoute (second vice-president), former World 400-metre hurdles champion Jehue Gordon (general secretary) and Davine Washington (treasurer) also winning their seats.

The NAAA executive will serve a four-year term.

Speaking to Newsday after his resounding win, Serrette said he answered the call from clubs and track and field stakeholders, and he wants to implement positive changes in what he says will be his final stint in office.

"It's about establishing a high-performance centre where we can advertise for a national technical director to run the sport of track and field," Serrette said.

"It's important for us to have our home-grown (athletes), and work with the Ministry of Sport who have the I Choose Sport programme that identifies talents who are in primary schools and secondary schools."

TT have not medalled at the Olympics since the 2016 Games, when two-time Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott copped a bronze in the men's javelin event – following up his gold medal throw from the London 2012 Games. Jereem Richards put in a sterling effort at the 2024 Paris Games, but he just finished outside the medals in fourth despite running a national record in the men's 400-metre final.

While Serrette acknowledged there have been droughts in the country's achievements at major games, he says more needs to be done to ensure there are more consistent performances.

"When we travel to the Olympics, the largest part of the team is track and field. That dependency on medals is always in track and field and there are only three medals to be won. It's not an easy thing about medalling.

"There is sport science and a number of things happening.

"We don't have control of those who are in schools and a number of things outside (TT). That's the reason I want to develop this high-performance centre so we can have more control over our athletes and prepare them to represent on the big stage."

Serrette said a major part of his previous tenures was his executive's ability to generate corporate sponsorship. He wants to garner the same kind of support in this term and also change the sport's image.

"One of the first things I want to do is rebrand from NAAATT to Athletics TTO. (We need to) change that face.

"Everything I have attained in life is because of sport – track and field. I think the democratic process was exercised because the NAAA would have come a long way."