CACAC President Victor Lopez and Herb McKenley (© A. Finlayson)
Last Thursday evening (27 Nov) the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica was packed with Track and Field luminaries for the first leg of the Inaugural CACAC Hall of Fame.
Under the presidency of Victor Lopez from Puerto Rico, the CACAC Hall of Fame was formed as an initiative to preserve the exceptional performances, contributions and services of members of the Central American and Caribbean Family that represented the region at the highest level throughout the years. What a rich legacy the CAC has!
In the case of athletes the criteria are:
1. To have won a medal in an Olympic or World Championship.
2. To have competed in at least one CAC Championships or Games.
3. To have been retired at least five years.
In the case of director or administrator the criteria are:
1. To have served and contributed to the sport in an exceptional way for twenty years or more.
2. To have been an example to others as a citizen and ambassador of the region.
The first inductions were done Thursday evening, November 27th in Kingston, Jamaica, and Saturday, November 29th at the Hotel Nacional in Havana, Cuba.
The Jamaican inductees were:
Richard Ashenheim, renowned Track and Field Statistician
Dr. Herbert Elliott, Physician
Grace Jackson 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m
Hon. Herbert McKenley 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m
Donald Quarrie 100m, 200m, 4x100m
Dr. George Rhoden 400m, 800m, 4x400m
Dr. Arthur Wint (deceased) 400m, 800m, 4x400m
Present for the ceremonies in Kingston were the Minister of Sports, Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller, Mike Fennel, president of the Jamaican Olympic Association, Neville “Teddy” McCook, IAAF Area Representative, president of the JAAA, president of the JAAA’s Patrick Anderson, Victor Lopez, president of the CACAC, and many other Track and Field luminaries.
Those inducted in Havana were:
Silvia Chivas 100m, 200m, 4x100m
Maria Colon Javelin
Alberto Juantorena 400m, 800m, 4x400m
Silvio Leonard 100m, 200m, 4x100m
Jesus Molina Administrative
Dr. Ricardo Perez Physician
Ana Quirot 400m, 800m, 4x400m
Subsequent inductions for this inaugural class will be done in Hamilton, Bermuda during the Carifta Games in April, where statisticians Bernard Linley of Trinidad and Tobago, and Rey O’neal of the British Virgin Islands will be inducted, and in Xalapa, Mexico in May during the Grand Prix where Olympic and World Champion walker Ernesto Canto will be inducted.
The CACAC Hall of Fame is sponsored by Mondo and is intended to be an annual event.