The Inter-Secondary Schools Boys and Girls Championships (Champs) will be staged in Jamaica two weeks prior to that country's national junior track and field team traveling to The Bahamas for the 42nd version of the CARIFTA Games. Jamaica has won them all with the exception of five (four other titles going to The Bahamas and Bermuda won once). Why has Jamaica been so phenomenally successful at the CARIFTA Games?
I believe that Champs is one of the key aspects of the extraordinary achievements by Jamaican athletes. They come right out of Champs, those determined and well-trained athletes, and in most instances, they have been far too much, collectively, for the rest of the region. Jamaica's own CARIFTA Trials were held over the weekend and my friend Lenworth Smith said this: "From the results of the Jamaican CARIFTA Trials, I am now at liberty to say that CARIFTA 2013 will indeed be a spectacular event."
Of course, I feel that very conservative comment covered the great deal of excitement building in Smith as he anticipates the times and distances to be recorded March 29-April 1 during 2013 CARIFTA Bahamas. Indeed, the rivalry, such as it is, between The Bahamas and Jamaica will continue shortly. There has always been a special connection. I've always looked up to, with reverence, the great pioneers of the 1940s in Caribbean track and field, Dr. Arthur Wint, Leslie Laing, Herb McKenley and George Rhoden.
They made Olympic history for the region in 1948 and 1952. Through the years, other Jamaicans have emerged as world-beaters, up to today with Usain Bolt being regarded as the best track and field athlete in existence presently, and for some, the finest ever. Along the way, as track and field developed in Jamaica, there were Bahamians who were part of the school mix in that island, as well as other disciplines. Yes, they competed in the famous Champs competition, soccer and cricket, and did quite well. Smith reminded me of them.
They include Charlie Major Jr. (not to be confused with Charlie Major III), who went to Jamaica College. He is still remembered in Jamaica today, for his blazing starts. It is said that you couldn't get out of the blocks with Charlie Jr. You had to wait to catch him. Some did, but often his incredible starting drive carried him to the finish victoriously. (I mention Charlie Jr. and I think of his father Charlie Major Sr., from another far-gone era. In the 1920s and 1930s, Charlie Sr. emerged as one of the finest high jumpers in the world.)
Other Bahamian school sports luminaries in Jamaica included Larry Bingham (Calabar High); Bert Duncanson (Jamaica College); Vincent Ritchie (Cornwall College); Vincent Parris Jr. (Munroe College); Teran Nicholls (Cornwall College); and Anita Degregory-Doherty (Hampton High For Girls). There certainly is a special relationship in sports between the two countries. The sporting series continues, very soon at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. There are high expectations for this one. (To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com)
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