Mills gives Gayle seal of approval

Former Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Vice-President Glen Mills says he will fully support Garth Gayle, who was elected president at the weekend.

Saturday was a special day for Gayle as the man who has been honorary secretary of the JAAA for over 20 years was elevated to the top position, taking over from Warren Blake, who had been in that position for nine years.

“The win for Gayle was not surprising,” Mills told The Gleaner. “I have known him for a long time, and this is an opportunity for him to bring in a new dispensation to the association. He has the experience and knowledge, and I am wishing him all the best, and I am willing to give him any support he needs.”

Mills is hoping that Gayle will bring in new ideas to the association and also shared why he did not think Gayle’s opponent in the election, Olympian Donald Quarrie, would have been better suited for the presidency.

“I hope he comes into the office with new ideas as we do need a new approach for the sport,” he said. “We know Quarrie’s credentials as a Jamaican in the sport, but I don’t think he was able to connect with the local fraternity as Gayle did, and I think that mitigated against him not being in the trenches day-to-day as the connectivity was not there.

“For him to have been successful, he would have to do more ground work by working with the clubs and schools, and having a much more intimate relationship with the local track and field fraternity.”

Mills said that despite Quarrie’s success at the international level, most notably a gold medal in the men’s 200m sprint at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, that was not enough for him to have been elected.

“The support he has gotten, however, is not an indication of his capabilities, which is unfortunate, but this is how elections go,” he said. “People are going to vote on how they see it and give their support at the poll. Definitely, that is not deserving of a person who has contributed to the sport, but that is how it is.”

But Mills says Gayle should welcome the assistance of Quarrie if offered.

“I think both parties can find common ground on which contribution can be made for the best interest of the sport,” he said.

sports@gleanerjm.com