Little Known KC Facts
KC’s “Winningest” High Jumper
It is a little more than two years since the passing of Pat Maglashan Sr. He was 84.
Described by Senator Anthony Johnson as one of Jamaica's great athletic pioneers, Maglashan will go down in the annals as one of KC’s great High Jumpers. He ranks with the likes of such outstanding KC High Jumpers as Clive Bariffe, Zele Morris and Alain Bailey. He had the distinction of been the “winningest” KC High Jumper.
In paying tribute to the great, Senator Anthony Johnson wrote thus:
“Mr. Maglshan was captain in 1937 of the first Kingston College team to win Inter-scholastic competition--the Championship Sports. On that occasion, he became the first Jamaican to clear 6 feet in high jump, then regarded as a world shattering accomplishment. He jumped 6 feet 11/4 inches to shatter the class one record which had been set eleven years earlier.”
Both men were just barely 6 feet tall--the father used the 'scissors' jump and the son used the ' Western Roll,’ which were the popular styles of the period. They were challenged by many taller athletes of great promise, but on each occasion, they came up winners.
Mr. Maglashan was a lifelong fan of track and field, and coached many youth teams but he never forgot that he was the skipper of that first team which started the Purples on that remarkable string of sporting victories, despite violent interruptions. Nevertheless, the brave may fall, but we never yield.
