Former national sprinter says he has been sidestepped

Raymond Graham, Star Writer

OLYMPIAN Raymond Stewart is happy but surprised that he will be one of the honourees at this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships. Speaking at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in College Station, Texas last weekend Stewart said: "I am happy but I am very surprised after seeing so many years pass by with little or no recognition."

Stewart represented Jamaica at four Olympic Games. He went to his first at Los Angeles in 1984 just out of Camperdown High where he was coached by Glen Mills, the present coach of world 100 and 200 metres record holder Usain Bolt. In Los Angeles, he finished sixth in the men's 100 metres final and was a member of the 4x100 metres relay team which earned a silver medal.

Championships star

The former Boys' Championships star also competed at five World Championships. He reached the semi-finals of the 100m while still a schoolboy in 1983 and then, four years later, won a silver medal in the same event, after first-past-the- line, Jamaican-born Canadian, Ben Johnson, was disqualified. The 44-year-old Stewart went on to reach four consecutive World Champion-ships 100m finals.

Stewart, former national female sprinter Beverly McDonald, coach Fitz Coleman and meet official Carol Cuffley are the four honourees at the April 1-4 meet. The former national 100 metres junior record holder thinks he has been sidestepped because of his personality.

"I have seen where other people have done less than what I had done over the years and have been recognised, but because I am a straightforward person, I have been penalised. I think I was given this accolade only because I was mentioned by the principal of my high school," continued Stewart.

Stewart, who was on one of the fastest college 4x100 metres teams ever when he joined up with Andrew Smith, Gary Sholars and Horatio Porter of Texas Christian University (TCU) to clock 38.23 seconds, stated that he got more recognition from his university.

"We have been given several awards by TCU and the Penn Relays for our achievements and it is a pity to know that it took the Jamaican fraternity so long to recognise my achievements," he said. In closing, Stewart also stated that he is surprised that he has not been asked to help with the national programme.

experienced

"I do not know what criteria they use to select coaches of national teams but I think with my experience, both as an athlete and as a coach, I have a lot to offer as I have been there and done that and on most occasions these athletes need experienced persons to consult with and I think I have a wealth of experience, but because I am a no-nonsense person I have been sidestepped over the years," concluded Stewart.