LINCOLN Eatmon, one of the challengers for the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) presidency, promised greater transparency and better welfare for athletes at yesterday’s launch of his team’s election manifesto at the Alhambra Inn in Kingston.

Eatmon expressed confidence that members of his slate are competent and offer “more than just an option” for voting members.

“We are not comparing our team with other teams. What we have done is to get together a group of persons who we feel have all the skills to take the association forward. We want transparency and we want our athletes to be taken care of.

“We are giving the members (the) option that we think they deserve. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t know that we are more than just an option,” said the quiet-spoken attorney.

Eatmon, incumbent president Dr Warren Blake and Seoul Olympics 200-metre silver medallist Grace Jackson are vying for the JAAA top spot in what is expected to be a hotly-contested elections at the association’s annual general meeting on November 29.

Blake, a former second vice-president, has been at the JAAA helm for less than a year after being voted in at an extraordinary meeting following the sudden death of Howard Aris last November. Blake was selected ahead of Jackson in the team which Aris had led since 2004.

Meanwhile, the team behind Eatmon comprises first vice-president candidate Alfred Francis, third vice-president aspirant Edward Hector and current director of records Charles Fuller. Interestingly, all three are executive members of the current administration who have thrown their weight behind the challenger.

Also supporting Eatmon’s ticket is Ian Forbes for second vice-president and Juliette Parkes for general secretary.

They are joined by Barcelona Olympic Games double medallist Juliet Cuthbert, Dr Akshai Mansingh, Dr Praimanand Singh and national sprinter Marvin Anderson — all for executive membership.

Over the years, many have been critical of the JAAA’s administrative and management infrastructure, despite the immense global successes in the track and field arena.

With promises of sweeping changes to financial, administrative and coaching structures within the first six months of his term if elected, Eatmon apparently took aim at Blake’s administration.

“We are not just willing to talk… we can walk the walk,” he said.

Forbes, an internationally certified track and field official, and one with great experience in management, marketing and sales, gave the Jamaica Observer his reason for backing Eatmon and gave insights into the way the association can become better.

“I have observed his modus operandi and his practices and I have full confidence in his ability to lead this organisation and to help with the transformation. With the team we have in place with diverse skill sets we can accomplish a lot. We have a strong message and we’ve been getting good responses from various stakeholders, so I’m quite confident,” Forbes said.