Alastair Aitken reports on .......
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Alastair Aitken
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| JIM McNAMARA an IRISH LEGEND (May 2013) |
| Mike Gratton Looks Back (April 2013) |
| Aldershot Champions Again (April 2013) |
| NATIONAL 12 STAGE ROAD RELAY (April 2013) |
| VICTORIA PARK WOMEN'S RACE (April 2013) |
| VICTORIA PARK 5 WITH MARTIN & HICKEY (April 2013) |
| World Trial and Inter-Counties Part Three (March 2013) |
| World Trial and Inter-Counties Part Two (March 2013) |
| World Trial and Inter-Counties Part One (March 2013) |
| Southern Cross Country Champs - Part Three (February 2013) |
| Southern Cross Country Champs - Part Two (February 2013) |
| Southern Cross Country Champs - Part One (February 2013) |
| MIDDLESEX CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (January 2013) |
| HARRY TEMPAN RETIRES AT 87 (December 2012) |
| Running Still - 133 years of Highgate Harriers (August 2012) |
| FRANK SANDO (14/3/31 - 13/10/12) |
| GREG RICHARDS (October 2012) |
| THE MIDDLESEX & OPEN 10K (September 2012) |
| NINA ANDERSON (September 2012) |
| MO FARAH - HIS BREAKTHROUGH YEARS (August 2012) |
| WILLIAM SHARMAN (August 2012) |
| DWAIN CHAMBERS (August 2012) |
| JOB KINYOR from Kenya (JULY 2012) |
| CHRIS TOMLINSON (July 2012) |
| ARIES MERRITT (July 2012) |
| TYSON GAY in London (July 2012) |
| CHRISTIAN TAYLOR TRIPLE JUMP WORLD CHAMPION 2011 (JULY 2012) |
| DON TAYLOR (1936 TO 2012) |
| THE MAN WHO CHANGED 10,000m RUNNING HISTORY (JULY 2012) |
| THE LAST TWO BRITISH OLYMPIC WALK MEDALLISTS (July 2012) |
| JIM RYUN with MARTY LIQUORI and JOHN WHETTON (JUNE 2012) |
| TWO OF THE GREATEST OLYMPIC THROWERS - JANIS LUSIS and AL OERTER (JUNE 2012) |
| BASIL HEATLEY THE GREAT ROAD/CC/TRACK RUNNER (MAY 2012) |
| RON RODDAN COACH TO A 1992 OLYMPIC CHAMPION (MAY 2012) |
| BRONISLAW MALINOWSKI STEEPLECHASER '1960's to 81' (MAY 2012) |
| GASTON ROELANTS 'THE STEEPLECHASER OF THE 1960'S' (APRIL 2012) |
| JOHN DISLEY THE UK'S OUSTANDING STEEPLECHASER OF THE 1950'S |
| MEN'S NATIONAL 12 STAGE ROAD RELAY (April 2012) |
| Women's National 6 Stage Road Relay (April 2012) |
| THE 46th VICTORIA PARK '5' (April 2012) |
| SIX OUTSTANDING OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS- 800m to 10000m (APRIL 2012) |
| EIGHT AFRICAN OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (March 2012) |
| McCain UK Inter Counties & UK Challenge 2012 - part 3 |
| McCain UK Inter Counties & UK Challenge 2012 - part 2 |
| McCain UK Inter Counties & UK Challenge 2012 - part 1 |
| THE ENGLISH NATIONAL 2012 - part 2 |
| THE ENGLISH NATIONAL 2012 - part 1 |
| THE LATE BMC COACH FRANK HORWILL (FEBRUARY 2012) |
| SEAA Cross Country Championships - Juniors (January 2012) |
| SEAA Women's Cross Country Championships (January 2012) |
| SEAA Senior Men's Cross Country Championships (January 2012) |
| Six Olympic 110 Hurdles Champions Talking (January 2012) |
| CHRIS FINILL'S RUN ACROSS AMERICA IN 2011 (January 2012) |
| 'HUSTLING HERB' ONE OF THE FIRST JAMAICAN OLYMPIANS (January 2012) |
| SEAA Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships 10/12/11 |
| Dick Taylor and Allan Rushmer (60's,70's & 80's) |
| Lynn Davies (Looking back in November 2011) |
| Scott Overall (October 2011) |
| Keith Gerrard (October 2011) |
| National Six Stage Relays (October 2011) |
| National Four Stage Women's Road Relay (October 2011) |
| David Hemery (1968 & 75, Updated October 2011) |
| Tony Simmons an Underrated 'Star' Performer (September 2011) |
| Kenya's First 'Great' Sprinter - Serapheno Antao |
| The Vets Athletic Club's Championship (August 2011) |
| Mel Batty (August 2011) |
| Tiffany Townsend (August 2011) |
| Coach John Smith (August 2011) |
| Jason Richardson (August 2011) |
| Lisa Dobriskey (August 2011) |
| Mark Lewis-Francis (August 2011) |
| David Rudisha - IAAF World Athlete of the Year 2010 |
| David Morwood (June 2011) |
| Rosemary Chrimes - A Star for 40 Years (June 2011) |
| Paul Dickenson Commentator and Athlete (June 2011) |
| Larry Achike (May 2011) |
| Three of Histories Greatest milers - Part 3 - SEB COE |
| Three of Histories Greatest milers - Part 2 - JOHN WALKER |
| Three of Histories Greatest milers - Part 1 - SYDNEY WOODERSON |
| Three very great curve runners of the past and their views |
| Derek Ibbotson (Interviewed Oct 1962 - updated 2011) |
| Walter Wilkinson (Interviewed Summer 2000) |
| Dave Chapman (Interview Autumn 1998) |
| 'Never Say Die' Les Roberts (April 2011) |
| David Cannon (Interview April 2011) |
| Bruce Tulloh (Interviewed April 2011 and September 1962) |
| Geoff Harrold remembered (Born 25/5/39 died 1/4/11) |
| Nick McCormick at the Victoria Park '5' (March 2011) |
| The Victoria Park '5' A World Renown Road Race (March 2011) |
| Bernard Plain MBE (March 2011) |
| South London's Historic Mob Match (March 2011) |
| World Trials and Inter-Counties - report 3 (2011) |
| World Trials and Inter-Counties - report 2 (2011) |
| World Trials, Inter-Counties and Mike McLeod (2011) |
| North of the Thames Championships - Kingsbury (Feb 2011) |
| Memories of Peter Hildreth (1928 - February 26th 2011) |
| Jonny Hay and Richard Goodman at the English National Junior 2011 |
| Louise Deman and Hatti Dean at the English National 2011 |
| Steve Vernon - English National Champion 2011 |
| Chris Smith and Serpentine - Outstanding in the Met League Final (2011) |
| Nielson Hall and others at the the SEAA Championships 2011) |
| Dave Clarke (The Great Runner from Hercules Wimbledon) |
| Chris Finill the Outstanding Ultra Distance Runner |
| Three New Stars at the 'PREMIER LEAGUE' Jo Smith Cup (Sept 2010) |
| Gladys Bird - Woodford Green & Essex Ladies |
| Bob Smith - Newham and Essex Beagles |
| Richard Thompson - August 2010 |
| Danielle Carruthers - August 2010 |
| Angelo Taylor - August 2010 |
| Michael Rimmer - August 2010 |
| British M45 javelin record holder Roald Bradstock |
| James Shane with his Coach Martin Brown JUNE 2010 |
| Tony Jarrett JUNE 2010 |
| Andy Turner Interview JUNE 2010 |
| Southern Counties Track & Field Championships at Crystal Palace JUNE 2010 |
| The Aldershot National Womens 4 Stage Champions 2010 |
| Grenville Tuck Interview (May 2010 and in 1975) |
| The stage winners at the National 12 Stage Relay - Sutton Park - April 2010 |
| Anthony Whiteman Interview - April 2010 |
| Bill Adcocks Interview - 13th March 2010 |
| Wendy Sly Interview - 13th March 2010 |
| Peter Clark A Forgotten Hero |
| Dic Evans A Runner for Wales for 45 years interviewed in 2009 |
| Douglas Alistair Gorden Pirie (Born Leeds 10th February 1931 Died 7th December 1991) |
| Peter Browne: British Milers Club and Racing Against Ovett and Coe |
| Peter Browne: Born 3rd of February 1949 |
| Six of Belgrave's Winning 12 Stage Team |
| Newham & Essex Beagles 6 Stage Winners and Course Record Breakers 2009 |
| John Salisbury |
| Dave Moorcroft Through the Years |
| Bob Smith the Successful Newham & Essex Beagles Manager August 2009 |
| Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie Interviewed in London Summer 2009 |
| Martyn Rooney at Croydon July 2009 |
| Felix Sanchez in London 2009 |
| Kerron Clement interviwed on 24th of July 2009 |
| Simeon Williamson in London (July 25th, 2009) |
| Dayron Robles interviewed in London 2009 |
| Irie Hill at the British Master Championships 2009 |
| Andy Baddeley |
| Roy Fowler - The Red Fox |
| John Snowden |
| John Hall - Race Walker |
| Mara Yamauchi - Outstanding British Performer in the London Marathon 2009 |
| Nick Goolab - The Revelation of the UK Cross Country Season 2008/2009 |
| Joyce Smith M.B.E |
| Mike Barratt The 'Evergreen' Running Legend |
| David Bedford |
| Clare Elms A Revelation of Age Athletics |
| Harry Tempan The Rennaisance Runner |
| Maureen Bonanno-Smith |
| Kermit Bentham - A man who has run over 500 one lap races in his life! |
| Andretti Bain 2008 Olympic 4x400 relay silver |
| Bernard Lagat in London July 2008 |
| Usain Bolt in London |
| Charlie Williams - Outstanding Master Sprinter |
| Where Are They Now - John Greatrex |
| The Truly Remarkable Tony Bowman |
| Stan Eldon |
| Ian Stewart |
| Pam Davies |
| Avard Moncur |
By Alastair Aitken
Avard Moncur was born on the 2nd of November 1978 Nassau 1.96 82kg was at University at Auburn.
When did you first start competing
‘Running at High School in Nassau in the Bahamas. I was just running for fun, then I saw the opportunities where I could improve my life by going to University and also going to another country, experiencing the culture in the United States. The first year I took it seriously I won the Carifta Championships. I was 16 and from there (I noticed) I had the potential to go far (47.40) so I decided to stick with it.
Did anybody inspire you to begin with at all?
‘I had always watched track and field on TV. I never really had one particular person I focused on. I always wanted to be a sprinter. Michael Johnson back in those days used to run the 200m. I had not got the speed for that. The 400 was the next best event for me. Once I saw Michael Johnson win the 400 I thought, maybe, I would regard that event and that maybe I could do that one of these days. Especially when I saw him do the Olympic record at Atlanta 43.49 in 1996 and also the World record of 43.18 in Seville Aug 1999? - I wanted to work hard and hopefully compete on his level.’
What was the motivation Avard to come into running at the start?
‘I just liked to run. I knew When I was younger we had a family car. If the car was not there
I would have to walk (In Nassau Bahamas) ‘ I used to try to pretend I was somebody else like Michael Johnson or somebody and I would just run. I would commentate to myself and run to school. Basically it was just a lot of fun for me. Once I did it at organised level it came natural.
At what point did you say to yourself. I really have got a good future in athletics?
‘Winning the CARIFTA Championships the first year when I was in it. Once I did that ‘I said woo! I guess I can take this really far’. I did it twice and the second year I got second (He ran 47.09 that year then 46.46 in ‘67)
And in my final year I won again. I felt I could go far with this and I ran the European circuit. (1998 46.45. 1999 45.09)
Did you meet a coach?
‘In high school I had one lady who helped me out a lot and her name was Diane Thompson, my elementary school teacher in Bahamas. We were having fun racing in the streets with my peers. Diane took me out of the streets. I stayed in contact with her all through high school.
Were your family well off and did they support you with your athletics?
‘I never struggled but my family were not rich. I had most of the things that I wanted for the most part, I would never say I was poverty stricken but I would not say I was comfortable either. There were some struggles’
What really helped you get to a good level?
'I went to Moorhouse College for one year and ran 47’s and high 46’s on a relay. I thought that was the World for me. The key event was just to get a college degree. I have a double degree in and then; another guy who was a mentor for me was Henry Rowe. He encouraged me to leave Moorhouse and peruse a career at
Auburn University Alabama. I did not want to go because I hated to change.
I was very comfortable in Atlanta and I did not want to leave. I was Number One and I felt if I left that, if I went to a bigger university A division One university as Moorhouse were division 2, I would fall off and basically not get where I wanted to get. But, he said that was an opportunity for me and I would have all the resources that were needed to take me to the next level and I decided to take it. Each year the improvements were just coming.
I think the climax for all that was when I realised that I could have made it to the Olympic finals
In 2000. I made it to the semi finals (1995 he ran-47.40; 1996 47.09; 1997 46.46; 1998 46.45; 1999 45.09; 2000 44.72)
Olympic semi final:=1 Alvin Harrison 44.53; 2 Michael Johnson 44.65; 3 Greg Haughton 44.93; 4 Sanderlei Parrela 45.17; 5 Avard Moncur 45.18. It was a pretty tough heat and I got fifth. Parrela dipped me on the line..
I thought I almost made the Olympic Final! My first Olympics would be tough. I felt then ‘wow’ if I take this really seriously I can do great things. From there my whole focus changed leading up to the next World Championships where I eventually won. 1 Avan Moncur 44.64’ 2 Ingo Schultz 44.87; 3 Greg Haughton 44.98.
‘I guess it has been a long road but a whole lot of surprises because I never once thought I would be at that level, it was just that I always work hard. I am a person who believes I should putting 100% in everything I do. The hard work started to pay off with good times. The times were actually a motivating factor for the World’s. Running that fast. I thought if you run this fast you should try and go faster. There is always a constant desire to run better than I have run before.’
Do you have strong memories of the World Championships in 2001?
‘I have very strong memories of the first round. We had to go to the training camp at Calgary. I was not with my coach Rolf Bride, the Head coach at Auburn University. I had to spend a week and a half away from him. Calgary was at altitude but I was not aware of that. My workouts had been horrible. I felt tired and I thought that ‘I won’t be able to do this’.
‘I thought in the first round someone will have to blow this up because I am not in shape. I was probably in one of the best heats that I had ever been in. In the first round I ran faster than even Michael Johnson did in a first round, winning in 44.88. A lot of people then said I guess you can go under 43..I thought then I could go under 43 and I still had a lot of rounds to go through. I had just finished two full indoor and collegiate seasons so there was a lot of strain on my body. To be able to come and still win I felt great (Semi won in 44.89). I did not realise what had happened and then when I got to the hotel People were coming up to me congratulating me.
‘When I went home there was a big parade, I thought I really had done something. For me it was just a race. For me to go there and try and beat the next man, that was all that it was to me but I talked to other people and it was a little more than that.
‘Last year 2002 was supposed to be the transition year from collegiate track and field to run at a professional level but with the stress fracture a lot of things changed. Once I was out for two months then had to prepare in five weeks for the European season and the Commonwealth Games (1 Michael Blackwood 45.07; 2 Shane Niemi 45.09; 3 Avard Moncur 4512; 4 Daniel Caines 45.13). In the Grand prix Final he was 4th in 44.97) - and all the other meets that I went on I did not have enough time.
His philosophy comes in here to sum it up
‘You can’t change the past. The only thing you can do is work hard and try and make tomorrow a better day’
Alastair Aitken
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| Ken Norris |
| Gerry North - The Most Consistent cross-country runner of the 60's |
| Peter Hildreth |
| Robert Slowe - Outstanding Clubman |
| Anthony Noel - World Masters Champion |
| Franics Obikwelu |
| Alan Webb |
| Andre Bucher - 2001 World 800m Champion |
| Wallace Spearmon (2006) |
| Derek Johnson (1985) |
| James Carter - USA 400m hurdles Champion 2002 and 2004 |
| Dorothy Manley - Silver medalist London Olympics 1948 |
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