NEVILLE 'TEDDY' McCook, OJ, will not run as IAAF area represen-tative again but will face the start for the presidency of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACACAA) in next July's race.

In a interview with The Gleaner this week, president of the NACACAA, Amadeo Francis, confirmed that his vice-president, Keith Joseph of St. Vincent, would also be in the race for the positions of presidency and area representative.

Francis said he assumed McCook would be the other candidate for both positions.

However, when contacted, McCook, who has been considered as one of the main people behind the region's surge in world athletics, said he has only considered running in the presidency race.

"I am thinking about running as president but I have not decided yet," McCook said. "I don't plan to run as an area representative again."

Though McCook did not want to give a reason why he would not consider a run for both positions, The Gleaner has been informed that president Francis is supporting Joseph.

New ideas, visions

The president also said he hopes the new president will bring new ideas to the organisation he will be leaving.

"I hope the new president will come in with new ideas," Francis said. He further added that he hopes the candidates will express their visions to the region and allow the voters to decide

In the meantime, McCook maintained he intends to continue to serve track and field at the highest level and will be running as an IAAF independent council member at the next congress.

As to his chances, McCook, who is chairman of Jamaica's selection committee, said: "I don't see myself not being elected - I think I have a fairly good chance. I can't see a representative from Jamaica being left off. "Jamaica's track and field is so strong that I don't see them leaving off a Jamaican. I feel I have contributed a lot of athletics."

He will be vying for one of 11 independent spots on the IAAF 28-member council which is made up of the IAAF president and his four vice-presidents, a treasurer, four women and six area representatives.