Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer
FOR 28 years Victor Jones has watched junior athletes grow from high school stars at Boys and Girls Championships into national heroes.
Mr. Jones, from Elleston Road, Kingston, has been volunteering as an official at Boys and Girls champs "because track and field is a part of me. I got involved as an official without motivation from anyone. I got involved instinctively."
His responsibilities include adjusting hurdles, starting blocks, and overseeing races to maintain fairplay.
However, these responsibilities require far more than saying 'ready, set, go'.
"There are innumerable cases where I am the reason athletes compete. They are often times so nervous, that when told to get into the starting blocks, some athletes breakdown in tears," he revealed.
In such instances, he says he usually embraces female athletes and encourages them to take a deep breath,
while using macho words to motivate the males.
"This is a part of me and I intend to do this as long as I can," he said.
How to become an Inter Secondary School Sport Association (ISSA) volunteer:
Aspirants must submit a passport size picture and a copy of birth certificate, and be physically and mentally healthy.
For more information telephone: 905-0805, 969-5776 or fax; 925-3980
