Browne leads T&T keirin sweep
Immediately after receiving funds to compete at the Pan American Cycling Championships in Chile next month, T&T swept the keirin final at the UCI (International Cycling Union) sanctioned Keirin Revenge at the Valley Preferred Cycling Centre in Pennsylvania, USA on Friday night.
T&T’s participation at the Pan American Cycling Championships from September 1-6 was uncertain, due to lack of funds at the Sport Company of T&T (SporTT). Fortunately it was revealed last week that SporTT will make the funds available for the 12-member Pan Am Cycling team.
T&T proved on Friday night in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania that they can compete with the world’s best. Three T&T cyclists including Kwesi Browne, Njisane Phillip and Jude Codrington qualified for the final, alongside Canadian Joel Archambault, Jeremy Presbury of New Zealand and American James Mellen.
Browne, who won bronze in the keirin at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games last year, won gold ahead of Phillip (silver) and Codrington (bronze) to make it a clean sweep for T&T. Quincy Alexander and Justin Roberts also competed in the keirin event, but did not qualify for the final.
Bravo lauds TTOC’s funding initiative
Captain of the T&T Red Steel Dwayne Bravo has lauded the initiative by the T&T Olympic Committee to establish an Elite Athlete Welfare Fund with the aim of inspiring the nation’s athletes to win 10 or more Olympic Gold medals by 2024.
The Fund which was launched back in January was designed to complement the Elite Athlete Fund already in effect by the Government and people of T&T and managed by the Ministry of Sport.
Bravo said, “I think it’s good. I am an athlete and I believe athletes could only do so much. They need support. If the aim is for this medal count by the 2024 Olympics, then that means they have a target in mind, they have a goal set and I think it’s important that whatever assistance they can get from government, from companies, then we are working for 2024. I think they can be successful and achieve the ten gold medals.”
With the one-year mark to Rio 2016 now in effect and prospective athletes count down the days, he said, “I just want them to give it their best shot. The Olympics is something that comes once every four years. It’s like the (ICC) Cricket World Cup for us and it’s a dream come through for any athlete to be part of the Olympics and to represent the country.
My advice is for them to work hard…give it their best shot. Some of them go as individuals, some go as a team, but eventually the T&T Olympic team leaves as a team. It’s important that they give themselves the best chance to be in the best shape, so that they can perform to the best of their ability and also put T&T on the map, again. There is nothing better than representing your country. I love representing T&T. Whenever you’re on that big stage hearing your national anthem playing, seeing your national flag: those colours alone make your feel special.”
Issues related to the insufficient funding of athletes and lack of access and or lack of facilities for the nation’s budding stars were among Bravo’s pet peeves.
In spite of these challenges, he called on elite athletes to get in the right frame of mind and prepare themselves well.
Bravo held the view that once local medal hopefuls prepared well, more often than not, they were going to execute and eventually reap rewards.
“I am reading the papers and watching television and seeing these challenges athletes have for funding, for facilities. They don’t have proper training grounds, proper gyms and I think in this day and age now where sports unifies the country, we can do a lot more where facilities are concerned…where funding is concerned, because most of those athletes go about their business with basically nothing. They don’t get a big salary. In terms of facilities to prepare, to train, we don’t have it here and we expect those athletes to go out there and compete with the best in the world,” he said.
Bravo added, “Obviously, it’s going to be tough. We have the talent, but we need to have the resources to enrich those talents. We just can’t rely on natural ability and natural talent and expect to make it world-wide. I honestly believe we could do a lot more and should do a lot more.”
He’s no big fan of netball, but the mere fact that this country’s athletes were competing in the just concluded Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, caused him to pay great attention to the nightly television newscast and the daily newspapers for progress reports on the team.
Commenting on the outstanding performances recorded by this country’s athletes at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, the Pan American Junior Championships in Edmonton, Canada; the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Senior Championships in Costa Rica; Parapan Am Games also held in, Canada, Bravo had nothing but praise for them, including those who this time around weren’t successful at securing medals.
“It’s not easy to take part in event that is so big and perform at the highest level, carrying the ambitions of an entire nation on your shoulders. It’s not easy! It’s good that it’s going down as one of our best Pan Am Games and with the Olympics right around the corner that in itself would give them confidence.
“Success always gives you that comfort that you can do well at the highest level and do better. Doing what they did at the Games gives those athletes self-confidence and the self-belief that they can actually go to the Olympic and win medals, as well,” declared Bravo.
Physical education and school sport are vital to improving student happiness
New research released this week by the Children’s Society showing English children are among the unhappiest in the world at school makes for “worrying reading” according to leading Youth Sport Trust (YST) chief executive, Ali Oliver.
The report adds further weight to the YST’s strong belief that greater focus is needed on supporting the wellbeing of young people as they progress through school and the vital role that physical activity, high quality physical education (PE) and school sport can have.
The findings, which are outlined in the Children’s Society’s annual Good Childhood report, paint an alarming picture of children’s experiences at school in England, and their wider sense of wellbeing.
An estimated half a million 10- and 12-year-olds are physically bullied at school. The study also reveals that children in England are particularly unhappy about their appearance. Girls came bottom in terms of satisfaction with their appearance and self-confidence compared with girls elsewhere (with the exception of South Korea).
This international survey reinforces just how important the mission of the YST is to build a brighter future for young people through PE and school sport.
The YST’s extensive research illustrates the significant impact PE, school sport and physical activity have on enhancing emotional wellbeing, an essential ingredient for success in the classroom and in life. With declining wellbeing, this is a priority area for the charity.
A key success for the YST has been Girls Active, which has helped tackle the negative attitude that girls have towards their body image. A pilot of the initiative saw the number of girls who are happy with the way their body looks more than double from 25% to 56%. In addition, the percentage of girls that felt positive about school rose from 24% to 78%. This demonstrates the power of PE and sport to improve wellbeing and this is the message that we must continue to spread in order to help tackle this wellbeing crisis amongst young people.
The Class of 2035 Report launched in June this year presented both worrying and optimistic outlooks for future generations. It highlighted the importance of embracing technology in a positive way and explored an innovative “new” approach to PE whereby the subject delivers emotional and social literacy as well as physical. Like the Good Childhood report, the Class of 2035 survey highlighted a worrying decline in children’s wellbeing but it also told us that, by taking action now, we can help ensure a generation which is “fit-for-purpose”.
That is why it is now more important than ever to champion the vital role of PE, school sport and physical activity to enhance physical health, boost mental wellbeing, build resilience, lift academic achievement and create active habits for life. It is a view supported by the Department for Education (DfE) and Public Health England (PHE), with both having produced guidance for school leaders on the value of promoting physical activity and wellbeing in order to support achievement and attainment.
YST chief executive, Ali Oliver, said: “The Children’s Society report makes for worrying reading and sadly reinforces our concerns about the fragile state of wellbeing that many young people face.
“We tirelessly promote how PE, school sport and physical activity make a unique contribution to pupils’ wellbeing and is the most powerful subject in terms of its impact on both physical and emotional health.
Northamptonshire schools pioneer plans to improve wellbeing through PE
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“We are already seeing the impact of new approaches to the delivery of PE and school sport through our network of health and wellbeing schools and we are advocating that PE teachers, with appropriate support and training, can make a real difference to young people’s achievement elsewhere in school life.”
“The YST is demonstrating real commitment in this area. Last month, we launched the PE2020 Active Healthy Minds programme to improve the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of young people, aged 11 to 18, across Northamptonshire. Working alongside Northamptonshire county council and in partnership with Northamptonshire Sport, the programme will see all secondary PE departments introduce a new approach to the teaching of PE which delivers explicit health, wellbeing and achievement outcomes.”
Geraint John to depart Australian Sevens program
The Australian Rugby Union today announced Geraint John will leave his role as Australian Director of Rugby Sevens and Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach at the end of the month for family reasons and will return to the UK.In addition to his current role as Head Coach of the Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens team, Tim Walsh will assume responsibility for the Men’s program in a temporary capacity until a suitable replacement for the Head Coach position is appointed.
The current Australian Sevens coaching structure, including recently appointed set-piece and contact coach John Manenti, will continue to contribute across both Sevens programs. Scott Bowen, meanwhile, will be elevated to the position of Sevens Performance Program Manager, taking on overall program responsibilities held by Geraint John.
Ben Whitaker, General Manager – Pathways and Performance at the Australian Rugby Union, said: “While obviously we are sad to lose Geraint, we respect his decision entirely. We do, however, have the right structure in place to ensure this won’t negatively impact either the Men’s or Women’s players or the program in general. In fact, given all coaching staff including Tim [Walsh] have already worked with the Men’s squad in some detail, we are extremely confident we will maintain the program’s momentum and development until a new coach is appointed.
“Scott Bowen will assume expanded responsibilities as Australian Sevens Program Manager while we are also fortunate to have one of the most experienced Team Managers on the World Series circuit in Luca Liussi to ensure a seamless transition.”
Geraint John was appointed to the role with the Australian Sevens program in June 2014 after succeeding Michael O’Connor and within a month led the country to a Bronze Medal at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Under the guidance of John, Australian finished the 2014/15 HSBC Sevens World Series in fifth spot, 12 points behind fourth-placed England.
The Australian Rugby Union will commence its search for a new Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach with immediate effect.
Podium target
Ahye leads T&T trio into women’s 100 semis
“I came here for one purpose and one purpose only. It's to be on that podium.”
Michelle-Lee Ahye was brimming over with confidence after her opening round run in the IAAF World Championship women's 100 metres dash, here in Beijing, China, yesterday. And the Trinidad and Tobago sprint star had good reason, winning heat three in 10.98 seconds, into a 1.2 metres per second headwind.
“I'm actually in shock to see that time,” Ahye told the Express, “because my coach said to execute the first 40 (metres) and then look to see if I'm in a good position. I did that, I shut it down, looked at the time…I was like wow. It just shows I'm in shape and ready to run.”
Ahye runs in the third and final semi-final heat at 7.54 this morning (TT time). Among her rivals in the race will be Jamaica's 2007 100m world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown. But Ahye is fully fit again, following a troublesome leg injury, and ready for the challenge.
“After that injury it got me enough rest to build back my body and stuff. I'm good,” Ahye declared, “a hundred per cent healthy.”
Ahye's T&T teammates, Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Semoy Hackett will also be on show in the semis. At 7.47am, Baptiste squares off against American Tori Bowie in the second semi. And in the opener, scheduled for 7.40, Hackett takes on Jamaica's defending world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Nigerian Blessing Okagbare.
The top two in each heat will progress to the 9.35am final.
In round one, Baptiste looked very comfortable in winning heat six in 11.13 seconds. The T&T sprint star was also at the Bird's Nest Stadium in 2008, representing T&T at the Olympic Games.
“I have a lot of things in the back of my head. One of them is that I came here in 2008 and didn't do as well as I wanted to, so I'm just embracing the opportunity to compete. For me it's making the final, and once I do that, I feel like everything is possible. Everybody in the eight lanes has an equal chance to run well, so I'm just focused on making it to the final.”
For Baptiste, the experience at the last IAAF World Championships was not a happy one. She left Moscow, Russia in disgrace after it was revealed that she had a positive drug test in April, 2013. After serving a 21-month ban, the Florida-based sprinter returned to competition in February this year.
“Sometimes, because of media, public,” Baptiste told the Express, “it's always going to come up. But for me personally, it's behind me. The way I've performed this year testifies that hard work and training is all I've been doing. Given the unfortunate circumstances, I was in that position, but I feel great knowing I was able to come back, replicate my performances from years past. In that sense, it's completely behind me.”
Hackett is also enjoying a successful comeback season on the heels of a drug ban. She returned to the track in June, following a 28-month suspension.
In heat five, yesterday, Hackett clocked 11.16 seconds, equalling her season's best and securing second spot in the race, behind Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers (11.01).
“I don't feel much pressure,” Hackett told the Express. “I think the 200 is my better shot, but I didn't want to go straight into the 200, so I said let me try the 100, see how I feel, and then it would probably pump my esteem to go into the 200.”