Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer 
MCCOOK
FORMER JAMAICA Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) president, Neville 'Teddy' McCook, is the new chairman of the JAAA's selection committee.
McCook, who is also the International Associations of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Council member and area representative for North America, Central America and the Caribbean (NACAC), will head a six-member team.
The other members of the committee are Brian Smith, director of record Carol Long, Olympians Vilma Charlton and Grace Jackson and Clive Walters.
CONTROVERSIAL
SELECTION POLICY
The Gleaner has learnt that they plan to change the controversial selection policy and are slated to meet soon to discuss the subject, with recently-elected president Howard Aris.
When contacted JAAA General Secretary Garth Gayle was tight-lipped; and also refused to confirm McCook's appointment.
Gayle would only say: "A press conference will be held and all the information will be disclosed."
In a telephone interview conducted later, McCook spoke of his new position within the local organisation.
"I have been asked to be chairman of the selection committee," he said.
The selection policy posed problems for the JAAA at the Sydney Olympics when national champion Peta-Gaye Dowdie was replaced in the women's 100m event by the legendary Merlene Ottey, who had finished fourth at the trials, and other teammates held a public demonstration.
AUTOMATIC SPOT
Before Sydney, the first three athletes were automatically guaranteed a spot at the Olympics.
The controversy sparked a rule change, which came about when the Pat Anderson-led administration took office in 2000. It assured the first two qualifiers spots on the Olympic team, while the third person is decided by the selection committee. This was done to protect athletes who are injured and unable to compete at the trials.
At the last Olympics, in Athens last summer, Jermaine Gonzales, who finished third in the 400m at the Olympic Trials, was controversially excluded from running the men's 400m individual spot by Davian Clarke.
USE OF DISCRETION
McCook, who is also the Secretary General of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), says this policy facilitates the use of discretion. He said there is no reason to set trials over a year in advance and two weeks after trials persons are still being asked to prove themselves.
He said: "People know well in advance, it is your responsibility to come fit and tell you something, during my system we never had much injuries. Now you have people who have injuries and don't come and all those things and they are still put on teams."
According to McCook, the reason for the change was due to "some weakened people" he continued to say.
"My policy worked very well ... Everybody can count, one, two, three and it's easy for you. What happened, people changed the policy to benefit certain things."
The top man in regional track and field went on to explain why such a change should not have happened.
"The events we are strong in now, we are so deep that one, two, three is what we should be looking at. I am really disappointed they changed it."
However, when asked if he would recommend a change, he answered.
"We're supposed to have a meeting to make some recommendations to the executive for their first meeting on the second Wednesday in January. So until I do that, I don't think I should give my views because I am part of a team and it could be reversed.
"I have been asked to be chairman of the selection committee and we are going to look at all aspects of it and make recommendations to the full board. But the point is, they will have to decide very quickly so the people know well in advance what the policies are," explained McCook.
Meanwhile, The Gleaner has further learnt that first vice-president Grace Jackson will head the competition's committee, Edward Hector the middle/long distance committee and Trevor 'TC' Campbell is the new chairman of the four-member Youth Programme committee, which also includes former head Alfred Francis.
