NAAA HONOUR 'MAC'
BAILEY
By Mark Pouchet
Express
March 31, 2000
Page 75
"My
eyes are a sea of darkness but in my heart there is
light."
It
was a sightless Emmanuel McDonald Bailey who accepted a special award from the
NAAA at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium last night. Sightless but happy.
After
the 79-year-old former Olympic medallist was led to the podium by NAAA first
vice-president Kenneth Doldron, he addressed the gathering, recounting his
glory days and pledging his love for T&T.
Bailey
also told how his father only learned of his sprinting ability when he did
something wrong.
"He
tried to catch me and he couldn't," he said with a smile.
For
43 years after 1955, he remained in the Guinness Book of Records as the British
AAA double sprint champion, and as the only T&T would record-holding
athlete whose 100m Belgrade run gave him a share of the mark along with Jesse
Owens.
But
Bailey made it known that the NAAA award was more special to him than any
other.
"I've
received many kudos in the past, but of all of them I cherish this one
especially."
Then
it was on to the other awardees.
Ato
Boldon was adjudged Most Outstanding Male athlete for his two 9.86 second runs
in 1999. The first came in Athens,
Greece where Maurice Greene sprinted to a world record of 9.80. The second was recorded in Lausanne,
Switzerland.
Rhonda
Hackett was voted the Most Outstanding Female for establishing the Shot Put and
Discus national records last year.
It
was no surprise that Phoenix's Darrel Brown captured the prize for the
Outstanding Under-17 male during 1999.
But
in a country where national heroes are often not duly celebrated, the evening
belonged to Bailey.
|
HONOUR ROLL |
|
|
Under-15 Track Female: |
Wanda Hutson |
|
Under-15 Track Male: |
Kern Harripersad |
|
Under-15 Field Female: |
Racine Romain |
|
Under-15 Field Male: |
Jared Sampson |
|
Under-17 Track Female: |
Kimberly Walker |
|
Under-17 Track Male: |
Darrel Brown |
|
Under-17 Field Female: |
Charisse Bacchus |
|
Under-17 Field Female: |
Leron Johnson |
|
Under-20 Track Female: |
Adia McKinnon and Alicia
Cave |
|
Under-20 Track Male: |
Sheridan Kirk |
|
Under-20 Field Female: |
Candice Scott |
|
Under-20 Field Male: |
Clevon Dillon |
|
Senior Track Female: |
Sascha Springer |
|
Senior Track Male: |
Ato Boldon |
|
Senior Field Female: |
Rhonda Hackett |
|
Senior Field Male: |
Dave Stoute and Wendell
Williams |
|
Road Runner Female: |
Pilar McShine |
|
Road Runner Male: |
Ronnie Holassie |
|
Combined Event Female: |
Anna Lee Walcott |
|
Combined Event Male: |
Brent Harry |
|
Most Outstanding Female: |
Rhonda Hackett |
|
Most Outstanding Male: |
Ato Boldon |