Having announced himself as one of the best hurdles coaches in the island a few decades ago, Raymond ‘KC’ Graham is now proving that he is arguably the best in the business, following some outstanding performances from his charges at the recent ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

Graham, who returned to his alma mater Kingston College (KC) a few season’s ago with outstanding success, where he coached Omar McLeod to double national junior records in the 110m and 400m hurdles, is one of the most accomplished high school coaches in Jamaica, and has a string of successes in his wake, as he led St Jago High to four ISSA Girls’ Championships titles, as well as six Penn Relays Championships of Americas titles.

The passionate coach had under his care athletes from both KC and Vere Technical High School this season and he felt the lack of respect from some quarters gave him the added motivation to produce quality hurdlers.

“I am very proud of my achievements this season at both Kingston College and Vere Technical, as it has been extremely hard work for me at both schools seeing that I do not get much time because of my full-time job at the Mico University College as a sports director which takes precedent over both schools,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“At KC I was really motivated because a few years ago when Omar McLeod did well, I did not get much credit as a very senior national coach said to me that Omar was already good and KC did not do well and I used those words to motivate me,” he explained.

Graham, who said his hurdlers contributed 36 of KC’s 238 points, losing Class One 110 hurdles favourite, Chadwick Brown, to injury before Champs.

“When the likes of Davion Williams in Class Three; Wayne Pinnock in Class Two and Phillip Beckford and Sherwayne Allen who I started with from scratch did so well, it was really inspiring, as I silenced all the critics,” said Graham.

“I also have high praises for Orlando Smith whose experience before helped and it is a pity I lost Chadwick Brown to injury as he could not have lost in Class One this year. I have got the most points overall this season, 36 since coaching at KC,” Graham said.

Graham, who made his name as female coach at St Jago High in a 15-year stint, had the distinction of coaching the likes of Delloreen Ennis, Michelle Burgher, Andrea Bliss, Melaine Walker, Natasha Ruddock, Tresha Henry, Annakay James and Samantha Scarlett, some of Jamaica’s finest female hurdlers.

He was head coach of Jamaica’s team to the very first World Junior Champiomnships in Poland in 1999 and was also head coach of Jamaica’s females at the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, in 2001. He has been to seven World Championships and two Olympic Games.

With that resume, Graham was asked to assist at Vere Technical with their hurdling programme and having such a passion for the event, he could not say no despite the challenges.

“My time there was very limited but I am pleased with what they have done seeing that this was my second season with them and I used last season to get them ready,” said Graham.

“I must say Britney Anderson is the most talented female hurdler I have ever coached and she is a special talent and I have coached a lot of female hurdlers.”

Anderson sped to 11.10 seconds to win semi-final one of the girls’ Class Three 80m hurdles, lowering the old mark of 11.13 seconds set by outstanding Rushelle Burton of Camperdown High in 2013.

He also had high praises for 15-year-old Sanique Walker who ran 57.20 seconds in the 400-metre hurdles. “If it was not for injuries the likes of Amoi Brown and Roxanne Foster would have been sure medallists, while Codeisha Lewis made me extra proud after her silver medal in Class Three 80 metres hurdles,” he added.

Graham, who was head coach of Jamaica’s team to the Pan American Games, said coaching at the high school level calls for patience and most of the coaches at this level are not patient.

“They do not try and do things on their own as they are book coaches. I try a new strategy every time and that works for me as I am not in too many fancy drills in training like I see other coaches are doing. My thing is just simple and I tell my athletes not to watch the hype of what others are doing but stick to my workout which they do and it is always working,” said Graham.

Meanwhile, Graham is pleased with the current crop of young hurdlers in the island and believes they will continue to fly Jamaica’s flag high on the international scene.

“I am really impressed with Shannon Kallawan of Edwin Allen as she reminds me of Melanie Walker. I will not be surprised if Kallawan makes it to Rio as she has been running low 56 on her own all season and I see her running high 54 or low 55 at the Jamaica Senior Trials,” said Graham.

The likes of Anderson, Sidney Marshall and Freeman of Manchester High and Shaunette Allison from Holmwood Technical are the best among females in sprint hurdles that he thinks has bright futures.

The powerful Dejour Russell of Calabar High, Graham thinks will go far once he keeps his size down and along with USA-based Damion Thomas is very promising.

Graham’s outstanding work was not left unnoticed and he was recruited to the Hampton University in Virginia in 2007 where he spent three years.

“I must thank coach Maurice Pierce the present head track and field coach at Hampton University. He is a specialist hurdles coach and working with him for three years where he worked with several of the top hurdlers in the United States also helped me as he gave me the opportunity to work with some of his hurdlers,” he noted.