During the first five years of the 1970s, sprinting supremacy in the country passed on from Kevin Johnson to Mike Sands. Between 1972 and 1975, Sands was head and shoulders above the rest, and dominated the 100, 200 and 400 meters like never before and ever again (up to now).
At the same time, he was the anchor of the national 4x100 meter (m) sprint teams. Unfortunately during that period, there was only one other elite performer he could count on. That was the great Bahamian high hurdler John Danny Smith.
Nevertheless what I recall most from those years was how we got the most out of our sprint relays every time out. We knew that Smith was incredibly speedy out of the blocks and would hold his own against the best the world had to offer. We knew also that if Sands ever got the baton in contention, he would be in the mix at the finish, but, we never had the high quality middle speed. What we had though was passing precision. What we had was team dedication.
Smith would come home from Florida State University and work with fellow sprinters for weeks at a time before international competitions. Sands would come in from Penn State. They would be right there at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, putting in the work and maximizing the collective potential with the local-based sprinters.
There was Sands, frustrated because of the lack for speed depth available for the relays but very focused on the technical aspects. He knows sprinting. He understands how relay teams should be put together. That's why I challenge him to take on the responsibility of leading our sprint program, with a strong emphasis on the relays.
There is another side to Mike Sands as an athlete that few are aware of. I have never seen a harder worker. In fact, it was Sands' hard work ethic that enabled him to develop into a world elite sprinter. He was not naturally gifted like Johnson. Sands had to work hard for everything he got through track. Anybody who can go through the rigors of training for the two short sprints as well as the full lap ought to be lauded. Sands and Pauline Davis-Thompson are special in that regard.
As the person in charge of the sprint relays, he would structure sessions for the squads. If our quarter-milers adopt the workload of Sands in training, the exchanges would be consistently smooth and they would have a better chance of taking the country to the No. 1 world spot in the men's 1,600m relay.
I think too, that he would do wonders with our female sprint relay group. Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie is closing out a fabulous career. Chandra Sturrup, I understand, will come back just for London 2012. However, there is Sheniqua Ferguson, Nivea Smith, Anthonique Strachan and Cache Armbrister.
Sands can help them keep the grand legacy of the 'Original Golden Girls' alive.
(To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at fredericksturrup@gmail.com)

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