Jamaica has earned a global reputation of producing world-class track and field athletes and administrators; therefore, it should not have been a surprise when Jamaican Christopher Richardson was named the winner of the Esther Maynor Award for outstanding technical officiating at the recent 49th staging of the Carifta track and field championships at the National Stadium.

While many are aware of the Austin Sealy Award for the outstanding athlete of the championships, the Esther Maynard Award, named after the outstanding Barbadian official and administrator, is not nearly as well known.

The award is given to the official who shows high technical competence in their area at the Carifta championships.

Richardson, who has been a fixture at most major meets in the country for the last three decades, mostly at the long/triple jump pit, was not even aware there was an award for officials until his name was called on Monday night at the end of the three days of competition.

“This is really, really special,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “I never knew that I would get something like this, I was not even aware of the award. We are just here to do our jobs and it has paid off.”

The former athlete at Ardene High, where he was coached by Fitz-Albert Coleman, said he had been placed at several areas before he found his niche.

“I started at the call room for one year, then I went to the finish line, timekeeping, high jump, and throws, but eventually settled down at horizontal jumps,” Richardson shared.

Richardson, who is a physical education teacher at his alma mater said sports “was the avenue for me not to get into trouble. I thought this was the best way to give back to the thing that kept me going”.

He is certified to officiate in several events, and has travelled overseas to referee in basketball and is also competent in volleyball.