Track & Field Want US$82,095
-For International Events
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
The president of the Liberia Track and Field Federation (LTFF), Mr.
Henry O. Williams said his group is in need of US$82,095 in order to
compete in two major competitions this year.
Addressing a news conference on Wednesday at the LTFF headquarters
on Camp Johnson Road, Mr. Williams disclosed that the money would go
towards the participation of the Lone Star of Liberia at the World
Youth Games in Marrakech, Morocco on July 9-19 and the World Senior
Athletics Games in Helsinki, Finland on August 3-16, 2005.
Mr. Williams indicated that of the amount, US$3,290.00 would go
towards training, US$25,055.00 for the Youth Games while the Senior
World Athletics Games will accumulate US$53,750.
For the World Senior Athletics, he stated that eleven athletes,
eight at home and three abroad, would represent the country in the
competition.
The local athletes he named for the World Senior Athletics Games are
Anthony Whea, Charles Shaw, Britt Karblee, Henry Tucker, Sawola Boakai,
Tennie Sahwo, Cynthia Bee and Ephraim Fayiah. The United States-based
athletes the Track and Field president listed for the World Senior
Athletics Games are Sultan Tucker, O'Neil Wright and Kou Luogon.
At the youth level, Mr. Williams cited Korkulo Roberts, Dyrolyn
Allen, Alice Tiklo, Timohty Kollie and Alberta Williams for the
championshp in Finland.
Mr. Williams revealed that the Minister of Youth and Sports,
Counsellor Wheatonia Yatta Dixon-Barnes is "working with us and doing
everything to have Liberia Track and Field Lone Star team to these
games."
According to him, a budget of US$82,095.00 has been submitted to the
Sports Minister who Mr. Williams said has sent same to the Ministry of
Finance.
For the international championships and subsequent events, Mr.
Williams averred that US-based athlete Christopher Sayeh will serve as
liaison of the LTFF and would coordinate the activities of Liberian
athletes in the USA and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the LTFF president also said the National Championship
will be held in Monrovia on July 1-2, 2005 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe
Sports Complex.
As stated by the LTTFF president, the nation's former 100M champion
Anthony Nyanplu, now based in Canada, has provided medals and the best
coach of the year trophy for the games.
At the same time, Mr. Williams said officials of the LTFF would
participate in various activities in Nairobi, Kenya in other to
advance themselves.
The festivals, he said they would compete in, are Throws and Jumps
and the Anti-Doping Seminars in Nairobi, Kenya. Another competition
Liberian track and Field officials would attend is the IAA World Cross
Country Championships in Canada in September 2005.
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