San Juan PUR - Mrs. Judith Simmons, member of the CACAC Executive Council and the president of the Bermuda Track and Field Association has launched her candidacy to run for a position in the IAAF Council. The IAAF in its past congress decided to add another woman in the council starting in 2005. The election for that position is going to be held in Helsinki at the 2005 IAAF Congress.

Mrs. Simmons is one of our most active leaders and definitely has all the qualifications and credentials to be a member of the IAAF Council. Therefore the CACAC Council and the CACAC members are giving Mrs. Simmons all their support.

Mrs. Judith Simmons Presentation Letter

From humble but significant beginnings, I became involved with track and field athletics in 1989, when our younger son Damian joined the Bermuda Pacers Track Club. As his most ardent supporter, it was only natural to volunteer to assist the Club in whatever capacity and at the same time, share in his successes on the track.

As he became more proficient in the 100m and 200m sprints, my knowledge of the sport also grew and as a consequence, I was asked to serve as the Club’s Public Relations Officer, and subsequent to that, I served as President of the Club from 1990 to 1993.

During my term of office, the Bermuda Pacers Track Club increased its membership from 40 to 100 and its coaching staff from one to three and as the largest junior track club in Bermuda, enjoyed much athletic success locally and overseas. New operational strategies and constitutional changes were put in place to ensure future success.

Our goal to make our Club self-sufficient and more knowledgeable about our sport, during my tenure as President, was realized when a group of approximately thirty (30) parents attended a Technical Course under the auspices of our National Governing Body, The Bermuda Track And Field Association (BTFA) to learn all aspects of track and field officiating. At the conclusion of the course, we, as a Club, were able to conduct our own track meets with trained technical officials in every area, as well as assist our National Governing Body with track events listed on their calendar.

Meanwhile at the national level, increased knowledge of the inner workings of a national governing body and the IAAF as our Club’s representative at BTFA Council meetings as well as the successes experienced by the Bermuda Pacers Track Club were instrumental in my being appointed by the BTFA Executive to serve as Team Manager at the 1993 CARIFTA Games in Martinique and again in 1994 in Barbados.

In 1996, the Directors of The Bermuda Track And Field Association sought a new leader, who would be able to effectively,

- Restore the creditability of the BTFA within the region

- Improve administration locally

- Improve the quality of athletic performances internationally

- Organize effective local meets

- Restore good working relations with coaching staff

In order to achieve the above objectives, the Directors identified me as a person with a basic understanding of track and field athletics, who could provide structure and direction for all involved and one who had good business sense, organizational and administrative skills, which was required to blend the needs of the sport as well as motivate and delegate responsibilities to bring together all factions involved in athletics in Bermuda.

Since the election in December 1996, I have been returned as President of The Bermuda Track And Field Association on four successive occasions, i.e. 1997, 1999, 2001 (unopposed) and 2003 (unopposed).

The objectives outlined by the former Directors have all been met and Bermuda is well positioned to fulfill the vision adopted in the World Athletic Plan. In addition, Bermuda has successfully hosted the 2001 CAC Cross Country Championships and the most recently held XXXIII CARIFTA Games – April 9, 10, 11, 2004. On each occasion, I served in the capacity of Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee for those regional competitions, which have been hailed by the region as “the best ever”, with regard to organizational and technical execution.

At CARIFTA 2004, Bermuda’s largest team in recent years consisted of 22 athletes, 15 of whom would experience their first international competition. We placed fourth out of 23 countries on the Medal Table with nine medals - 4 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze. And to add to our jubilation, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt set a new World Junior Record in the 200m with a time of 19.93 seconds (+1.4 wind reading)!

On a Regional basis, in December 2002 at the CAC Congress in El Salvador, I was elected (in abstentia) to serve on the CAC Executive Council and in July 2003 in Grenada at the NACAC Congress on the NACAC Executive Council. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve you and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for the betterment of athletics at home and in our region.

Your confidence in my ability to represent the region well was evidenced by the selection of Alain Jean Pierre (Haiti) and myself to be scrutineers at the 2003 IAAF Congress election and our attendance at the IAAF World Gala and World Athletic Finals in Monaco last September.

I have been asked by leaders of our region to consider running for the additional female position on the IAAF Council, which will be available in 2005.

With the full support of my husband Robin, our sons Robin II and Damian (who is still involved in the sport), the Board of Directors of The Bermuda Track And Field Association, its Coaches and affiliates, I would like to offer myself as a candidate for the 2005 IAAF World Congress election.

It is against this backdrop that I seek the support of every Member Federation in the region to achieve this goal for all of us and I look forward to your continued support

With kind regards,

Mrs. Judith Simmons

President - The Bermuda Track and Field Association 1996-Present

NACAC Executive Council Member 2003-Present

CACAC Executive Council Member 2002-Present