Servants of track and field hailed at Puma meet
MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Organisers of the recent Charlie Fuller Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) Puma development meet at the Kirkvine Sports Complex honoured the memory of the late track and field statistician and administrator, Charlie Fuller.
Several others who have given outstanding service to track and field over many years were also honoured.
They included Garth Gayle JAAA general secretary; Anthony Myers, a veteran starter at track and field meets; Jackie Minott who is central to the High Mountain Coffee 10k road race in Manchester; and Donald Hawthorne, track and field coach at St Jago High and lecturer at G C Foster College of Physical Education and Sport.
A citation in honour of Fuller was presented to his wife Olive and son Cyprian. It highlighted his contribution to track and field development as a keeper of records for the JAAA, and in the development and unearthing of talent in Manchester and beyond.
Fuller, who died last year, was a founding father of the Puma development meet which has now been renamed in his honour.
The citation noted that Fuller “was dedicated to the development of athletics for over 30 years (and) … was devoted to the upliftment of young people and gave unstintingly to the cause with passion, energy and affection expressed through selfless investment in sport and education”.
Olive Fuller described the recognition accorded her late husband as “a great honour”.
Hawthorne said he was “humbled” yet “proud” for being recognised for his contribution to athletics. Hawthorne is credited for assisting the development of world class athletes such as Nicole Mitchell, Percival Spencer, Yohan Blake, and Nickel Ashmeade.
“…Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down … but all in all I think I have enjoyed most of it and my success and my progress has been steady (and) good,” he said of his years in athletics.