Dedicated to Dunkley
CC athletes compete in honour of deceased driver
Published:Thursday | May 13, 2021 | 12:11 AMDaniel Wheeler/Gleaner Writer
For every event that Clarendon College (CC) take part in throughout the 2021 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletic Championships (Champs) this week, they will do so with the memory of their fallen driver Keith Dunkley, who throws coach Davion Chantiloupe described as the school’s biggest fan.
The school is still reeling from the loss of Dunkley, who died on May 5 in a three-vehicle accident outside Chapelton in the parish. Dunkely was later taken into surgery; however, he fell into a coma and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
DEATH AFFECTING PREPARATIONS FOR CHAMPS
Chantiloupe said that the loss is still being felt throughout the CC family, adding that it has severely affected their preparations for the competition on top of the complications caused by the pandemic. However, they are banding together and are committed to giving their best despite their grief.
“It was a very difficult week for us, both coaches, athletes, everyone from Clarendon College. He was our biggest motivator. It was very hard preparing the athletes, and then with the whole on and off with Champs, it was a really difficult task, but we are holding up,” Chantiloupe told The Gleaner.
For more than 15 years, Dunkely was an ever-present in the lives of the CC family, transporting the various teams that represented the school, including the track and field squad.
Chantiloupe said that he was always in the midst of their training sessions, providing constant encouragement even at their lowest points. It was the athletes who decided that they would try to honour Dunkley with every performance at Champs, to pay homage to the way he touched their lives.
“Even from the feedback from the athletes, they decided that this Champs would be dedicated to Mr Dunkley, especially because he was always our number one fan,” Chantiloupe said. “Right around, if you can check from football to quiz to track and field, he is our number one fan. He is always there, always motivating us no matter how down we are, he is always our number one fan. He was a person who was 24/7 committed to CC.”
CC athletes Athilia Pryce, 41.04m, and Shanara Richards, 40.66, both finished in the top eight of the final of the girls’ Class Two discus yesterday. The event was won by Holmwood Technical’s Cedrika Williams in a new Champs record of 47.04m, besting the 2018 mark of 46.69m set by Marie Forbes of Vere Technical High School.