Toco Secondary is proud that its graduate Keshorn Walcott struck gold in the men's javelin at the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday. The golden throw brought memories of his Olympic triumph in London, England in 2012.
Principal of Toco Secondary, Verona Davis, said the school was overjoyed.
"(We are) very elated. (The Olympic gold) had a great impact because it was a surprise, as he was young. But this time we always knew he could do it."
Thirteen (13) years ago, Walcott was a student at the time. Hundreds made their way up to Toco on the day of his return from London. Among those were Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and several members of the then Cabinet.
While at Toco, Walcott won four Carita Games titles (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), the 2010 and 2012 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior crowns and the 2012 World Under-20 gold medals. He topped all those accolades with Olympic gold, becoming the youngest-ever Olympic champion in the event at the age of 19 years.
Vessigny Secondary's acting vice principal, Marlene Emanis, is rating the silver medal won by Jereem Richards in the men's 400 metres in Tokyo as good as gold.
"We are extremely proud. We are proud of the silver. For us, it is more than silver. It is more than gold or diamond. Whatever Jereem does, we are very proud of him," said Emanis.
Richards attended Vessigny before moving on to the ASJA Boys College. However, Emanis said that Richards holds Vessigny dear to his heart.
"What we appreciate about him is that he continues to remember us. Whenever he comes home, he visits the school. He takes time to meet the teachers and talk to the students," said Emanis.
Meanwhile, the coach of the Point Fortin New Jets Athletic Club, Eric McCrae, is hoping Walcott's golden throw and Richard's silver dash will bring more track and field success.
"Congratulations for their outstanding performances at the World Championships. You made us proud. We are hoping in the future we will not just be getting medals from individuals after long spells and that we have a continual flow (of medals) like Jamaica," said Mc Crae, who believes that changes are needed in the local track and field fraternity.
"That will call for serious introspection as to how we manage ourselves as clubs, the administration of track and field and a combination of things and know that getting medals at the senior level calls for a little more robust and structured system but that can only be accomplished here in T&T through input from the business sector and the government.
"As kids approach the age of 20, that support system that they have normally fades away and they tend to look in different directions away from track and field. If we set a projection, this can be achieved. It will take everybody on board, in the administration, the clubs and the businessmen men and the government. It is not an easy task to get to that critical mass where it runs and feeds on itself."
