Friday, July 31st marks sixty one years since The Bahamas first participated in International Track and Field.
It was at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada that the team of Irrington “Rinky” Isaacs, deceased, Leonard “Skeeter” Dames, and Cyril “Peepsight” Johnson, along with Chef De’ Mission and BAAA president Cyril “Cap” Richardson.
Isaacs participated in the 100 yards and 440 yards; Dames participated in the 100 yards and 220 yards and Johnson participated in the 440 yards and 880 yards.
Isaacs was the first to participate, placing seventh in the third heat of the 100 yards in 10.7 seconds. Dames ran the fourth heat finishing sixth in 10.3 seconds.
In the 220 yards Dames finished fourth in the third heat running 23.9 seconds.
Johnson ran fourth in the second heat of the 440 yards in 51.8 seconds.
Isaacs was fifth in the fifth heat of the 440 yards running 54.3 seconds.
In the 880 yards Johnson placed seventh in the first heat in 2:10.2.
None of the athletes advanced out of their heats but they can all be credited as pioneers in setting the stage for what we now call, “The Bahamas, Small Country, Great Athletes”.
We celebrate them for their pioneering efforts today.
