ON Saturday the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) didn’t echo with starting guns. It echoed with choir voices, applause, and songs.

At centre court — usually the home to the Sunshine Girls — there was no casket. However, on a podium marked 1st, 2nd and 3rd — There was only one thing: the urn of Coach Stephen “Franno” Francis.

Hundreds filled the arena, waitng in silence as a photo of Francis on a large screen overlooked over the proceedings.

The University of Technology, Jamaica Choir opened the thanksgiving service with All creatures of our God and King as urn bearers Pearnel Charles and Gloria Charles led the procession.

Sport Minister Olivia Grange delivered the Government’s tribute to the man who built Jamaica’s sprint dynasty.

“Stephen Francis was a legendary athletics coach and more. He was a mentor, a teacher, a colleague, a friend, and sometimes, perhaps, a very demanding voice reminding you that you could do better,” Grange said.

Jamaica’s sprinting sensation Tina Clayton signs the condolence book. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

“He believed in hard work. He believed in discipline. He believed in preparation. And, above all, he believed in the potential of people. Above all, he had a strong belief in Jamaica and the potential of our people.

“He proved we did not need an overseas college or camp to run 9.7 seconds. What was needed was discipline and a good coach who would not accept ‘good enough’. We go above gold — a platinum medal [is deserved]for your life’s work, Franno. Rest in peace, ‘Big Coach’.”

The outpouring of respect and love for Francis, which everyone spoke about, was evident as long before the scheduled time of 11:00 am for the start of the service family, friends and well-wishers began to descend on the NISC to pay their final farewell to the legend.

Olympic and World 100m hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton traced MVP Track and Field Club’s (MVP) beginning to 1999.

“I first met Stephen Francis in the summer of 1999… he told me that he thought I had world-class potential but it would take some work. It was after that meeting the club MVP had its first athlete,” she said.

“Franno was my coach, my physio, my support psychologist — everything. Being on the European cicuit alone without a coach, I had lost two consecutive races to Gail Devers of the USA and I had to race her for a third time. Franno was watching the races from home and he picked up the phone and called Patrick [Foster-Hylton’s husband] and told him to borrow $2,000 and go to the race because I am going to beat Gail. And guess what, I won the race,” Foster-Hylton said.

Sport Minister Olivia Grange (right) speaks with Paul Francis, brother of the late Stephen Francis. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Former 100m World record holder Asafa Powell stood to speak not as an Olympian, but as a son.

“Today, I’m not here as a former world record holder, or an Olympian. I’m standing here as that little country boy whose life was changed by one man,” Powell said.

He remembered in 2001, Boys’ and Girls’ Champs a false start, and a disqualification with no future in mind.

“Then one day, Paul Francis showed up at my school… He asked if I would want to come to UTech. Truth is, I had no idea what UTech was. My parents left the decision to my brother Nigel and me, and we took the chance. That decision led me to Coach Stephen Francis, and from the moment I met him my life changed forever,” Powell remembered.

The conditions were rough.

“When my father took me to the track house the conditions weren’t great… But what kept me there wasn’t the building. It was the family coach created. Coach became more than a coach. He was another father,” Powell said.

Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah (right) and Olympian Shericka Williams pay tribute. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

He remembered topping up the transmission oil in Franno’s leaking Proton Saga daily.

“It seemed like a small thing back then, but now it feels priceless.”

Powell said Franno was a seer.

“I remember one day he said, ‘You’re going to break the world record, you know,’ and I laughed. Honestly, I thought he believed in me more than I believed in myself. Years later, when I broke the world record in Athens, I remembered that conversation. He wasn’t dreaming, he was seeing,” Powell said with emotion as his voice broke.

Powell said that Francis was funny. He recalled an event in Italy with no train tickets, and an inspector coming.

North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletic Association President Mike Sands (left) exchanges pleasantries with agent Cubie Seegobin (centre) and Jamaica Olympic Association President Christopher Samuda. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

“Coach told us, ‘Don’t say a word. I’ll handle it.’ The officer came around and spoke Italian… Coach shook his head. The officer said ‘Speak German or Dutch’, coach said no. The officer then said ‘Speak English?’ Coach looked at the man and said, ‘No language.’ We could barely hold our laughter in. It was that moment I’ll miss the most,” Powell said as the audience broke into laughter.

“Not just the medals or the records, but those simple moments that became unforgettable,” Powell added, before breaking down in tears.

Foster-Hylton had to finish Powell’s speech.

MVP Track Club President Bruce James delivered the remembrance of Francis’s final months.

Olympic and World 100m hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton (right) and retired eight-time Olympic medallist, Jamaican track and field retired sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are all smiles. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

“Franno and the team had just returned to Jamaica from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland. They left Poland on March 23, except he was sick. Franno was too sick, [so mush so] that he could not make it to training,” James said.

“After a week of missing training Franno called me and said that he was calling because he was too sick to drive but he wanted me to arrange a driver to take him to training in the morning, leave him, and carry him back after the afternoon session. Too sick to drive but he wanted to get to training by any means necessary,” James said.

James said that it was his time to tell the ‘big man’ no.

“I did not arrange the drive but I did send the doctor to his home. Sadly, Franno continued to decline and the only option for him was to be hospitalised,” said James.

The eulogy was delivered by Francis’s brother, Paul Francis.

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce read Ecclesiastes 3:1-13, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Throughout the service attendees clapped, cheered, and sang.

No race was run on Saturday but the standard Francis demanded was still there.

Olympic and World 100m hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton (left) completes Asafa Powell’s speech after the former 100m World record holder broke down in tears while delivering his tribute at the thanksgiving service for the life of Stephen Francis at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)