We are not cheats says MBCC’s principal
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Dr Angela Samuels-Harris, principal of the Montego Bay Community College has come out in defence of Jamaica’s track and field competitors after the latest set of positive drug tests that has rocked the sport and the nation.
While addressing Friday evening’s ceremony for the presentation of certificates to the successful participants in the first ever IAAF Level 1 coaches’ course held in Jamaica outside of the Corporate Area at the MBCC, Samuels-Harris said, “We are not cheats when it comes to track and field,” and described the situation “a few bumps on the road, but we will sort them out soon”.
Samuels-Harris was responding to the news that five more Jamaican athletes, including former World Record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson had returned positive drug tests at the JAAA National Senior Championships in June.
The course could not have come at a better time she said, as given the requirements of coaches these days, “your roles are even more important now … and you all must take your roles as mentors, role models and leaders seriously”.
All 21 participants, including two women, in the 10-day course that was taught by IAAF-certified instructors Wayne Long and Lorna Vernon were successful and were presented with certificates.
The course was organised by the County of Cornwall Athletics Association (COCAA) in association with the GC Foster Sports College, and participants ranged from primary, prep and high schools coaches.
Meanwhile, Samuels-Harris charged them that they must expect to fill several roles in the lives of their students including “coaches, parents, guidance counsellors, mothers and fathers, uncles and aunts and providers,” adding that “this is a special calling that you have and to whom much is given, much is required.”
Stephen Smith, president of COCAA described the course as “a dream come true” as, after many meetings and discussions, the course was finally a reality.
“This is a big stepping stone, the first big step to the top for most of you,” Smith said, adding that each coach has the responsibility not just to prepare their students for winning, but also to ensure they performed at their very best.
