Deep sorrow JAAA’s Blake says World Relay athletes passed fresh scene of accident that took Mason’s life
The athletics fraternity was plunged into mourning following the tragic death yesterday of high jumper Germaine Mason who represented both Jamaica and Great Britain.
Mason, 34, was reportedly heading home from a party about 4:20 am when he apparently lost control of his motorcycle, which ran off the Norman Manley Highway in Kingston. He was pronounced dead at hospital.
Dr Warren Blake, president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), told the
Jamaica Observer that Mason’s death was sad and even more hurtful, because members of Jamaica’s team to the World Relay passed the accident site on their way to the Norman Manley International Airport.
“When it happened this morning we were in the process of sending a team overseas to compete at the World Relays and the actual news came to us from the people who were going away. They passed the accident on the way,” said Dr Blake.
“The JAAA is deeply saddened about the tragic loss of the athlete in the prime of his life and it has put the whole athletic fraternity into mourning,” he added.
“We extend our condolences to his family and friends. He was always a very pleasant individual, fierce competitor and someone who will be deeply missed,” said Dr Blake.
Mason, a former student of Wolmer’s Boys’ School is Jamaica’s national record holder in the high jump event with 2.34m. He won gold at the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic.
He was a part of the MVP track Club before switching allegiance in 2006 to represent Great Britain.
Mason, matched his personal best of 2.34m to claim silver at Beijing Olympic Games — one of a then-record 47 medals won by Britain in China. Mason was eligible to represent Britain because his father David was born in London.
Mason also a starred at youth level where he won silver and bronze medals at the World Junior Championships in 2000 and 2002, respectively. At the 2002 event, held in Kingston, track legend Usain Bolt announced himself to world.
Mason and Bolt remained friends and Bolt was said to be at the same party that Mason attended before the jumper met his demise.
— Howard Walker
