CHAMPS 100; DEFINITELY WORTH THE 100-YEAR WAIT

As the nation eagerly awaits the starts of the Champs centenniel next week, those who can should try to get hold of a copy of the book that chronicles the creation of the legacy of the most successful high school track meet in the world, Jamaica’s version of the Junior Olympics.
Written by Hubert Lawrence, perhaps the best track and field analyst in the world today, Champs 100 takes us back to the years when only a handful of schools contested for the title right through to current renewals, from the days when it required only 35 points to win it all, to a time now when 35 points might not guarantee a school a top-10 position.
The book sheds light on the student athletes who excelled then and who went to to become leaders of this wonderful nation.
It speaks of the exploits of Norman Manley, who missed out on an opportunity to compete in the Olympics because of a world war, but who held a 100-yard sprint record for more than 40 years, to the amazing accomplishments of Usain Bolt, who has been wowing the world ever since he first set foot on the track as a skinny teenager from William Knibb.
What makes this book really special is that for all that is right about Jamaica on the track, this country has been equally bad documenting its history. The challenges that were encountered putting this book together are as legendary as the performances of the athletes.
The book is also a good read. From the beautifully written foreword by writer Colin Channer to the appendices, Champs 100 is worth its weight in gold.
You also get the see never-before seen pictures of Ali McNabb, who made his name locally as a footballer blessed with incredible kicking power, racing against Olympic silver medallist Lennox Miller. It makes you remember that before Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson battled to a historic second-place tie in the 100 metre finals at the 29th Olympiad in Beijing, China, they had been locked in battle for St. Jago and Manchester High respectively. Also, who remembered that Simpson used to run the hurdles as well?
We get to relive the exploits of Trevor TC Campbell during the early 1970s. Campbell never lost an individual race at Champs.
There is so much valuable information in this book, every library, every school, every media house, every person – whether you are a fan of track and field should have one. Because this is a book not just about the history of champs, it is a book about an important piece of the tapestry that makes this nation great.