By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER postponing the event two weeks because of the inclement weather, the Silver Lightning Athletic Club will host the fifth William “Knucklehead” Johnson Cross Country Championship on Saturday.

The early morning riser will begin at 7am at St Augustine’s College where Johnson, a former middle distance runner, has been employed as the facilities manager for the past 30 years.

Silver Lightning’s head coach Rupert Gardiner said they are appreciative of St Augustine’s College for allowing them to stage the event on what is described as the ideal course for cross country.

“Last year, we had over 500 athletes and this year, we are expecting more,” Gardiner said. “This is an annual event and so we would like to thank Health and Wellness for partnering with us.”

It should be noted that Johnson still holds the Bahamas’ longest track and field record in the men’s 1,500 metres at three minutes and 45.72 seconds.

For that accomplishment alone, Gardiner said his former rival and close friend Johnson deserves the recognition and more and they’re happy to honour him while he is still alive.

Johnson, who now serves as the facilities manager at St Augustine’s College, said he’s humble and grateful to Gardiner and Silver Lightning for continuing to stage the event.

“Holding the record for this long is bittersweet in that it shows how good I was over the years but, at the same time, it demonstrates a lack of progress in distance running in the country,” he said.

“I’ve seen so many young people who had more talent, but never got around or stayed around long enough to break the record. So it’s bittersweet.”

Having grown up in the Fox Hill community, Johnson said SAC is considered home to him because he got to train on the track. 

But he said that SAC also boasts of having the best facility to accommodate cross country. 

“We have steps, you have hills, you have grass and the road, all of the terrains, one that you want for training. So I’m delighted that it is here.”

With the event being staged at SAC for the first time, Johnson said all of the winners can boast of being a record setter, so they hope to put on a good event and to have everything in place to safeguard them around the course.

Dawn Johnson, one of the vice principals at SAC, welcomed the rest of the sporting community to join the SAC family in hosting the event on their campus.

“It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to allow Mr Rupert Gardiner to host the William “Knucklehead” Johnson Cross Country Championships,” she said. “As you know, this is the home of Mr Johnson.

“Even though he did not attend St Augustine’s College, we have adopted him because he’s been here probably most of his life. He is an honorary SACer and we have the best course in Nassau and this is the place to have a cross country.”

There will be competition in the open, under-20, under-17, under-15, under-13, under-11 and under-9 and under-7 for male and female covering distances from two miles to 800 metres from the highest to the lowest categories.

For those not interested in running, they can compete in the walk category, which comprises under-20, under-30, under-40, under-50 and 50-and-over for both male and female. 

Trophies will be presented to the top three finishers in each division. 

Special prizes will be distributed to all of the competitors who complete the course.