The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Association of Athletic Associations’ President Drumeco Archer remembered the late Brent Johnson as an excellent pole vaulter and a personal friend, whom he confided in.

Archer’s comments came on Saturday as the Red- Line Athletics Track Club paid tribute to the Johnson family, including Sanai Johnson, a member of the club, at their Stallion and Scholars awards presentation at the New Vision Baptist Church on Carmichael Road.

Red-Line Athletics took a moment of silence to reflect on the passing of the husband and wife team of Brent and E Johnson in a traffic accident on Christmas Day, leaving their daughters track athlete Sarni and tennis player Kinza Johnson recovering from surgery in hospital.

Archer, the special guest at the ceremony, said he just spoke with Brent Johnson on December 23 at his store, Sweet Life at the Mall at Marathon. The former sprinter for St Augustine’s College, who also competed on the CARIFTA and Junior Central American and Caribbean teams with Brent Johnson, said it was so shocking to hear of the tragedy.

“He’s been so exemplary in so many ways,” Archer said. “He was an aggressive businessman, a good family man and a personal friend. On the day that we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, it will be a day we will always remember Brent and Eulona. We deeply mourn their passing and wish their daughters a speedy recovery.”

Brent Johnson, a graduate of St John’s College, was a three-time medallist at the CARIFTA Games in the under-20 boys’ division in the pole vault.

He won a gold in 1985 in Bridgetown, Barbados, had to settle for the silver in 1986 in Guadeloupe and came back in 1987 in Trinidad & Tobago to regain the gold.

He followed in the footsteps of his father, Sammy ‘Bookie’ Johnson, who was a multiple sporting star, having competed in tennis, track and field, basketball, softball and baseball and is now a junior baseball coach.

Moss, a former middle distance runner for St Augustine’s College, said he was so touched when he got the news, but even more when Sarni told the doctor that she needed to reach her coach to let him know that she wouldn’t be able to attend the awards presentation. “It just goes to show the importance that we play in these kids’ lives,” Moss said.

“It really touched me and made the point that we need to continue to encourage and motivate these kids to be mindful of the impact that we have on them,” he added.

Sarni Moss, according to Moss, just joined the club, but she felt she was connected with them.

“Even in her loss of her parents, she remembered the club,” he said.

“So for me, it’s a humbling experience. She’s a young kid, still under 13, so she has a promising future. So we look forward to embracing her when she comes back to us to resume her training.”

Although he knew Brent Johnson as a pole vaulter, Moss said they only met when he came to get Sarni involved in the club.

“He was out at several morning practices and he was pleased with what he saw from us with what we were doing in the club,” Moss said. “As a matter of fact, he and his wife were supposed to be here. They were bringing some of the wonderful cakes that they are known for making.”

That, however, never materialised.