Lindsey Joseph returned to the track for the first time in almost 30 years and earned two medals at a regional masters track and field competition over the weekend. He competed in the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Masters Athletics (TTAMA) Championships, held May 23-24 at the newly renovated Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
Joseph, 52 years old this year, took bronze in the men’s 50-54 100m dash in 12.07 seconds, and was also third in the 200m in 24.99 seconds. Trinidad & Tobago’s Garvin Farmer, who is two years younger, won both events.
Joseph started athletics at 17, which is later than most. Five years after he began, he was the only local runner chosen for Saint Lucia’s training squad ahead of the country’s Olympic debut at Atlanta 1996. Although he did not meet the qualification standard and missed the final team, he says the experience showed him his potential. Unfortunately, an injury in 1997 put his ambitions on hold for over 20 years.
“After turning 40, I realised I was very unfit. I made a decision to focus on my health and fitness, so I resorted to what kept me fit in my 20s: athletic training,” revealed Joseph. “After some time, I realised I was still fast, so I began looking for opportunities to compete at my age level.
“Training can be difficult sometimes. Getting easy access to safe, level grounds free of dips and holes, which can cause injury. Most times, I am up in the hills in Fond Assau, where I live, doing my sprint training on flat asphalt road surface, which helps. When I can, I make my way to the Soufriere stadium to get some sessions.”
Since the local Senior Games ended after Covid, it has been harder for Saint Lucian masters athletes to find opportunities. However, the recent return of athletes like Bernard “Fox” Henry and marathoners Ava Fevrier and Yvette Adair has helped revive the movement. Local masters athletes are now working with the Saint Lucia Athletics Association to regain international affiliation.
Joseph hopes this is just the beginning of great things for the masters community.
“I got involved in the planning of the Saint Lucia Senior Games in 2018, and we were able to have a meet in 2019,” he recalled. “In 2023, I participated in the Barbados Senior Games, where I won gold in the 100m 45-49, with a record of 11.86 seconds, and I came third in the 200m. I am hoping it would inspire others and encourage the formation of our own structured masters athletics association.”
Congrats to the young man !