By Kiev Chesney
Quietly amidst all the haste by this country’s athletes to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, teenager Jonathon Fagundes is on a mission.
Fagundes, who is campaigning in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, has set himself the goal of improving his times in an effort to one day make his country proud.
Fagundes, the former national schools’ 800m, 1500m and 3000m champion has not yet had the opportunity to represent his country during his brief but immensely productive athletics career.
The multi-talented athlete first came to prominence as a BMX racing cyclist.
Bu he always had a passion for track and field, according to his father and it came as no surprise when he decided to give his bicycle a much-needed rest and to hit the track.
Fagundes made his debut at the Hampton International Games this yearin Trinidad and Tobago and just as he did locally, he instantly made a name for himself.
His come-from-behind heroics in the male U-20 1500m when he came out of nowhere saw him nabbing a close third place in the event.
Fagundes clocked a speedy 4:12.66s which was one second behind the winner Sherwin Stapleton (4:11.66) and .09s seconds ahead of the fourth-place finisher Christian Benn who had been in front of him up to about 30m before the final straight.
Fagundes was not finished there.
He returned in the under-17 800m where he broke the two-minute mark, clocking 1:59.53s to claim second place and gain the satisfaction of defeating local rival Ricardo Martin (2:01.02s) who outshone him at last year’s national track and field school championships.
According to newspaper reports, the organizing committee of the Hampton Games recognized the abundance of talent possessed by the young ‘GT warrior’ and made a promise to pay his airfare for the event next year.
Fagundes has since remained in Trinidad where he trains and competes in all of the local competitions.
According to information provided by Fagundes’ father, Jonathan was able to reduce his personal times when he competed at the Trinidad National Junior Champion-ships where he clocked 16:38s in the 5000m and 4:10s in the 1500m.
The following weekend at the senior championships, Fagundes lowered his 800m timing once again, this time running a blistering 1:58s, which he followed up with a 4:12s in the 1500m the next day.
Fagundes continues his campaign towards becoming a world class athlete and according to his father he wishes to thank his family and Luana Fernandes, who made his trip to Trinidad possible.
