First, I congratulate Michael Russell and his team for another hard fought victory at the annual high school Championships. To he entire team of student athletes, parents/guardians, coaches, management and the wider support group I say KINGSTON COLLEGE... yes we can!
I am so blessed to have been able to execute my second active tour of duty with Kingston College track and field team between 1993 and 2007. This is something all sons of Melbourne Park and Clovelly Park dream of doing at some point in their respective lives. My first active tour of duty with the track and field team was between 1978 and 1983. I actually started at Kingston College in September 1975.
The first tour was special because on entering KC lost our first Champs in 15 years and I felt personally responsible since we lost the title in the first year that I joined the family. I was blessed to have participated in one of the great Champs performances with athletes like Dwignt Davis, the late Desmond Morris (RIP), Marlon Pottinger, Kenneth Gray and Wainsworth Small. At the end of my first tour I was the captain of the historic KC team which moved from last position (#41) to first (#1) at Sabina Park with athletes like Courtney Harrison, the late Ruel "Popeye" McKenzie (RIP), Ian Harriott, Milton Smith and Carlton Aiken.
During my break from active duty at KC it was coincidental that our school went through its longest drought without the Mortimer Geddes "Champs" trophy. As a result it was extremely special to me that during my second tour (now as coach) we were able to rebuild Kingston College's supremacy in track and field. Again I was blessed to be a part of a solid team of human beings: Michael Vassell, Kavon Lewis, Michael Samuels et al. The recent 6 year victory reign was due to a lot of input from you guys.
It was special that what brought me back to Kingston College was sitting in the grandstand and watching my school get ZERO points in hurdles (a long way from the purple patch built by Kirk Douglas in my time as an athlete). I vowed to rebuild that standard and at the end of my second chapter of active duty KINGSTON COLLEGE our team won all hurdles races and had a quinella in the 400m hurdles open.
There were many great memories duting both tours of duty, however, my single most impressive memory is being invited as the honouree to the annual KCOBA function in Atlanta a few years ago. These honourable gentlemen recognised the contribution of my entire family to to the history of Kingston College.
I just want you to know that I will always treasure the invitation and honor your chapter afforded my wife and I. I was really moved by the entire occassion and it was the only time in my second tour of duty that I can recall my wife being included as an equal part of my contribution to our beloved school and our younger brothers. The statitisticians will remember me for coaching Jamaica's national junior record holders in the boys and girls sprint hurdles; for coaching about five of the top ten junior male 400m hurdlers of all time; and for coaching one of only two high school quarter milers to run a 45 second 400m at Championships etc. However for me I know as a family we will hold this memory of that special function in Atlanta dear to our hearts FOREVER!!!
Thank you to all involved and special thanks to my friend for life Seymour "Ricky" Edwards (classmate from 1st form September 1975 to upper 6th form June 1982).
