rachael.king@guardian.co.tt
“We are just trying to cope,” said Leah Johnson, sister of national quartermiler Deon Lendore, who lost his life in a car accident on Monday evening in Texas, USA.
Heartwrenchingly, Johnson said the day of his death was the last time she spoke to her sibling.
“He was normal, jovial. There was no sign of what was coming. No signs, no signs,” repeated Johnson still in disbelief over the tragic death of the 29-year-old.
A native of Arima, Lendore, who was a member of the local club, Abilene Wildcats, and a former student of Queen’s Royal College before earning a scholarship to attend Texas A&M University, competed at three consecutive Olympic Games in 2012 in London, England, 2016 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and earlier this year at the virus-delayed Tokyo 2020 in Japan. The highlight of his career was anchoring the national 4x400m relay team to a bronze medal at the London 2012 Games.
In 2016, at the World Indoor Championships in Portland, USA, he also claimed two bronze in the 400m and 4x400m relay and repeated with another bronze in the individual event, two years later at the same event in Birmingham, England (2018).
Yesterday, his sister shared that they were informed that there were four accidents that day and the one that was reported locally was the incorrect one.
Over the past two days, condolences messages from here and overboard have been sent out, to name a few, locally from President Paula Mae Weekes, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, National Association of Athletics Administration of T&T (NAAATT) president George Comissiong and T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis, who posted a touching video tribute in honour of the star athlete.
Texas A&M head track & field coach Pat Henry has also reached out to Lendore’s family according to Johnson.
“I have been in contact with Mr Henry and I spoke to Mr Lewis from the TTOC today (yesterday). A lot of people are reaching out but right now we are trying to deal with the situation, the tragedy, to put everything together piece by piece to know what to do about the service, concerning his body. We’re are just trying to put everything together as best we can,” said Johnson, who is in mourning along with mother Christina Edmund and brother Jovan Lendore.
Details of crash which killed T&T Olympian
Yesterday, according to KBTX3, the Texas Department of Public Safety released information detailing the crash that killed Lendore, the 2014 Bowerman winner, NCAA Champion, and current Texas A&M track & field volunteer assistant coach which it stated happened on Monday around 6.30 pm on FM 485 about four miles northeast of Cameron.
Sgt. Bryan Washko released the following statement to KBTX:
“Texas DPS Troopers responded to a major collision between three vehicles on FM 485. A 2015 Volkswagen Jetta sedan, operated by 29-year-old Deon Christopher Lendore of College Station, Texas, was traveling westbound on FM 485. A 2018 Infiniti SUV, operated by a 65-year-old female from Conroe, Texas, was traveling eastbound on FM 485 approaching Lendore.
“According to the investigating Trooper, the Volkswagen crossed over the center stripe and side-swiped a vehicle that was traveling eastbound. The Volkswagen continued traveling westbound and drifted across the center stripe again and collided with the Infiniti head on. Lendore was pronounced deceased on scene by Justice of the Peace Precinct No 1 Greg Hoelscher. The driver of the Infiniti was transported to Baylor Scott and White in Temple for incapacitating injuries. The driver of the vehicle initially sideswiped was not injured. The crash investigation is still active and open. Next of kin have been notified.”
Texas A&M University also released a statement to the News network. It said: “Deon Lendore, the 2014 Bowerman winner, NCAA Champion, and current Texas A&M track & field volunteer assistant coach, passed away in an automobile accident returning home from practice Monday.
“This is very difficult to express, I can’t even express this loss,” head track & field coach Pat Henry said. “Over the years, our relationship had changed to not only one of my athletes to coach, but he was loved by my wife, children and grandchildren. He was part of my family. It hurts, it really hurts. My thoughts are with his family and the efforts to get through this very difficult period of time.”
Lendore served as a volunteer assistant coach for the past two seasons while training professionally under contract with Puma.
Lendore competed for Texas A&M from 2012-2015. In 2014, he went undefeated through 14 races at 400m while claiming individual NCAA titles at the indoor and outdoor championships. Lendore also played a vital role in the 4x400m relays that claimed the NCAA outdoor title and swept the SEC Championships. Following his record-setting season, he was named Texas A&M’s first and only male winner of The Bowerman, which is awarded to the most outstanding collegiate track and field athlete. He was named Texas A&M’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2014 (tie) and 2015.
“Deon Lendore leaves an enormous legacy not only at Texas A&M, but on the world stage,” Director of Athletics Ross Bjork said. “It is an unthinkable tragedy and tremendous loss for the track and field community and for Aggies everywhere. He was a wonderful representative of Texas A&M Athletics both as a student-athlete and a volunteer coach, and we offer sincere condolences to Deon’s family, teammates and his friends.”