Blake plans second term

President of the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) Dr Warren Blake will be running for a second term of the local sports governing body.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with STAR Sports, Dr. Blake said he hoped to seek re-election at the JAAA annual general meeting later this year.

Blake first took office in 2011, just after the passing of then president Howard Aris, and served the last year of Aris' term in office. Blake was elected in 2012 to continue as president.

"The second term would be my final term," he said.

"It has been a very challenging four years and I think the team that I have worked with is a very good team. We have had quite a lot of successes and if you look at medal counts, except for one medal at World Youth Championships, this has been the most successful period in Jamaica's track and field history."

One of Blake's major objectives is to take the JAAA into what he calls "a more professional approach to track and field".

"Right now, we survive in the (JAAA) office because we have a

treasurer, (Ludlow) Watts, who is really a full-time worker without any pay," he said.

"He comes to the office everyday and puts in a full shift."

He added that General Secretary Garth Gayle also does extensive work there.

"If we didn't have workers like this who really sacrifice tremendous time and effort to keep the day to day affairs of the organisation going, we'd be in serious trouble."

He added that the association would need to find another way, including finding a sponsor to address the office management issues.

"I think that is something that must happen," he said.