Inspired run for Burke

Barbados’ newest sprint star Mario Burke returned from his gold medal run at the CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas on Tuesday night thrilled to have taken the 100 metres race to emulate the feat of Obadele Thompson.
Acknowledging the great motivation which Thompson and Andrea Blackett would have provided at their alma mater, Harrison College, Burke expressed the hope that his gold and three silvers would inspire more students to come out and join the school’s sports programme.
“I have always enjoyed training and competing and my success in The Bahamas has given me even more confidence to strive for greater goals in athletics,” Burke said.
“I hope that will also encourage more of my schoolmates to take up athletics as College has a proud history of success in sports.”
The sprinter was mobbed by banner-bearing fans and family as he led the second batch of athletes out of the arrival hall.  
Similar expressions of love and adulation were showered on gold medallist Rivaldo Leacock of Lester Vaughan Secondary and the other athletes.
In spite of the late hour of arrival, the crowd waited and cheered the athletes who performed above expectations after leaving the island short of track training.
Barbados finished the Games with 20 medals – four gold, 14 silver and two bronze. (KB)