Veteran coach Errol Messias has departed Calabar High for rivals Kingston College (KC) and will join forces with Hamin Pagon in spearheading KC’s middle and long-distance running programme for the upcoming athletics season.

Messias made the switch after approximately 30 years at the Red Hills Road school, where he, along with head coach Michael Clarke, masterminded some memorable victories. Following Clarke’s departure from Calabar in 2022, he was appointed interim head coach.

However, he was overlooked for the head coaching role after serving as interim in 2022, when the school appointed Corey Bennett to the role, and again after Bennett’s departure last year when throwers coach Julian Robinson was hired to fill the vacancy.

Messias had some tremendous battles with KC’s Pagon over the years, especially when the influx of African runners landed at North Street.

He coached many former Calabar standouts such as Kimar Farquharson, Kevroy Venson and Rivaldo Marshall in battles against likes of Aryamanya (Ari) Rogers which lifted the profile of middle and long distance races at Champs.