John Messam’s hurdling legacy to live on - JAAA
Published:Friday | December 31, 2021 | 12:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Jamaica Athletics Administration Association (JAAA) president Garth Gayle says that the success the country has experienced in hurdling can be attributed to the foundations laid by late track and field coach John Messam.
The former Vere Technical High and Calabar High coach died on Sunday at the age of 61, after a long illness. While he was an information technology professional, Messam made his contributions on the track, helping to shape the careers of athletes who would compete on the international stage.
While at Vere Technical, he would cultivate the talents of athletes such as Olympian and 100m hurdles Commonwealth champion Lacena Golding-Clarke and 1996 Olympic 400m hurdle gold medallist Deon Hemmings-McCatty, whose Olympic record run would last for almost a decade until it was broken in 2004. Hemmings-McCatty was also the first Jamaican woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
In a statement released on Monday, Gayle said that Messam’s tireless work in improving the standards of the discipline as well as shaping the athletes under his care has had a lasting impact, as Jamaica continues to enjoy success in the events.
“John was a dedicated servant of our sport. For decades, he worked with countless youngsters to improve the art of hurdling while developing them into decent and productive individuals. His influence in local track and field is being felt near and far, as hurdling is now at its most popular levels ever,” Gayle said.
Golding-Clarke. who competed at three Olympic games, emphasised the importance of Messam’s guidance during her days at Vere Technical. In a 2019 interview, she said that Messam’s teaching of key fundamentals helped to shape her career.
“They brought in some of the best coaches around Jamaica who just came in just to teach us technique, and so John Messam was that person for me. I’m just thankful that I had one of the best,” Golding-Clarke said.
Messam excelled at the 1978 Carifta Games, winning the Under-20 110m hurdles title. His contributions to the sport include the founding of Hurdles Crew Jamaica, an organisation aimed at helping at-risk youth by engaging them in volunteer work at track and field events every year. In the statement, the JAAA heralded Messam’s efforts in laying the foundation for success in the hurdles that the country continues to enjoy today.
“He pushed hard and worked tirelessly for the development of quality hurdling in Jamaica. We are now seeing the fruits of his labour with medals being won at every level,” the statement read.
Overall, Jamaica has won 10 Olympic medals in the various hurdles events, including the 400m hurdles, the men’s 110m hurdles and the women’s 100m hurdles.