Among sports’ more intriguing events is the relay in track athletics, which is also, without doubt, especially difficult and technical.

With baton in hand, some athletes
— presumably benefiting from adrenalin rush, driven by loyalty to team and country
— take on ‘wings’ not seen when they are competing as individuals.

Mr Davian Clarke, the former national 400-metre runner, described by the late, great track and field scribe Mr Hubert Lawrence as a “baton genius” readily comes to mind.

There are others such as 400m runner Mr Gregory Haughton and the sprinter, now coach, Mr Michael Frater. It seems fair to say that such competitors are the ultimate team players.

In contemporary Jamaican competitive sport, the personality that most readily fits the bill is Mr Javon Francis.

Time and time again Mr Francis, on the anchor leg of the 4x400m relays, has brought immense glory to country, teammates and himself with his will and determination twinned to talent. For sure, none who saw it will likely forget his storming unyieldingly, courageous run at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to earn his country a silver medal.

He was similarly impressive in pushing Jamaica to a silver medal finish at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia in his first season as a professional.

Mr Francis has been hindered down the years by injury but now, at 29 years old, the good news from his coach Mr Fitz Coleman a is that he is “free of any injury concerns”. Having recently changed camps Mr Francis is undoubtedly looking to achieve greater feats, starting with the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. An individual medal — regardless of colour — would surely be a dream come true.

But first Mr Francis must make the team at national trials in June. And as his coach puts it “command a lane” for himself.

We are reminded that last season he failed to make Jamaica’s team for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, after falling short in the 400m semi-finals at the national trial.

Now, according to his coach, Mr Francis is focused and in good physical condition,

Patience and meticulous preparation will obviously be central to plans approaching the national trial. Patience, to such an extent, that Mr Francis, a former Calabar High School star, is yet to begin his competitive season.

“Right now, one thing is rightly sure is that he is very strong and we have put in a very good platform for his general conditioning…

“He has been off the charts for a while and so we are not rushing to get him out there because he needs to build back and get himself fine, as he is new to me and I am new to him. I do believe that he still has a lot left in him,” says Mr Coleman.

Crucially, according to the coach, special attention is also being paid to the “mental side”. That aspect, we all know, is essential in life, not just competitive sport.

We know we speak for all well-meaning Jamaicans in wishing Mr Francis well on his journey forward.