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JAAA's Garth Gayle loses bid to join World Athletics Council

Published:Thursday | August 17, 2023 | 8:56 AM
Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association president Garth Gayle speaking with the media at a press conference in Budapest, Hungary for the World Athletics Championships. - Gladstone Taylor photo.

Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) president Garth Gayle has lost his bid for a seat at the World Athletics Council following elections at the World Athletics Congress today.

According to Gayle, he tallied 86 votes but this was not enough to get elected.

Despite the disappointment, he is pleased with how diverse the board is with 10 of the 13 members being women.

"The first eight votes based on numbers were women. And I am pleased about that because it says that the sport is diversifying. We have hard-working women worldwide, so they must be recognised and given their place," Gayle said.

 "Unfortunately, I didn't make it but I will continue to work as vice president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) and as president of the best association in the world, the JAAA, in spite of its challenges."

Former Commonwealth Games 200m champion Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands and Donna Raynor of Bermuda are the Caribbean representatives on the board. 

Meanwhile, Sebastian Coe was elected as World Athletics president for a third term. 

- Daniel Wheeler 

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