TRINIDAD AND Tobago’s inability to secure qualification for the men’s 100-metre event at the Tokyo Games should give the men’s 4x100m relay team a chance to place all efforts on mastering their performance for the one-lap event.
So says George Commissiong, president of the National Association of Athletics Administrations of TT (NAAA), who believes TT’s shortcomings for the individual event will serve as a platform to enhance the team’s chances of securing a podium place in the relay.
Since the last Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016, no national sprinter was able to dip below or equal the revised 10.05 seconds Olympic standard for the men’s 100m.
This means that TT will field an Olympic contingent without any entrant for this event; the first time since the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea.
Those selected, among the 57-member Olympic team, to participate in the men’s 4x100m relay are three-time Olympic medallist Richard "Torpedo" Thompson, Adell Colthrust, Kion Benjamin, Eric Harrison and Akanni Hislop.
“Of course, not having anyone qualified in the men's 100m is a disappointment, but we also see this as an opportunity,” said Commissiong on Sunday.
“We have suffered from inadequate relay preparation in the past as athletes, through necessity, had to focus on their individual events and would only be available after those events were completed.
“On this occasion, members of our men's 4x100m can focus all their efforts on the relay.”
The Tokyo-bound track and field team comprises of 21 athletes and six officials.
At the Games, TT will be represented in seven disciplines – track and field, boxing, cycling, judo, rowing, sailing and swimming.
Commissiong added that the pandemic placed added pressure on some athletes to qualify, especially those who were unable to go abroad and capitalise on professional training and top-flight international competition.
He was still pleased with TT’s track and field contingent and lauded their efforts, to qualify for the July 23 to August 8 Games.
“Covid19 created a number of challenges for our sport. Notwithstanding, we have been able to field a decent team in terms of age and gender composition.
“Some of the athletes have had a pretty good season on the National Collegiate Athletic Association circuit whilst others have not had the full benefit of competition, given limited opportunities.
[caption id="attachment_899073" align="alignnone" width="600"] George Commissiong -[/caption]
“With the team having been selected, members can now focus on getting fully prepared for when competition starts,” he said.
However, following the release of the 57-member TT Olympic team by the TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) on Saturday, national sprinter Jonathan Farinha has cried foul on his omission from men’s 4x100m relay team.
On Friday, the NAAA submitted its final list of track and field athletes to the TTOC for ratification.
Farinha, however, believes he was snubbed out of selection to the squad. He made these remarks on the grounds of having defeate
