Writer: Cherolyn Moss

If you were not at the Bahama Hot Rod Race Track on Saturday past, you missed a showdown amongst

the “Who’s Who” in the athletics road race arena of the age group under 8-year-olds.

The 3 rd Annual Thelma Murray Memorial 1 Mile Race held December 2nd, 2017, from all accounts, met its
objectives. Race organizer Steven Murray said the race was a success and they were very pleased with
the attendance and the athlete’s performances.

Murray would have had a special interest in these races as the late Mrs. Thelma Murray is his dear mom.
Mrs. Murray who was no stranger to track and field grew up with the Bain Town Flyers Track and Field
Club under popular coach Neville Wisdom. Murray said his mom supported him and his other siblings in
everything they did; she not only supported her children, he advised but she also supported the other
kids as well and was known as the “Parent of the Bain Town Flyers Track and Field Club.”

This wonderful lady gave unselfishly and assisted around the track in any way she could. “She was
involved by making uniforms, cooking and feeding anyone who needed to be fed not only the Bain Town
Flyers Club but anyone who needed to be fed including members of other clubs.”

The Thelma Murray Memorial 1 Mile Road Race is unique as it caters to children up to under 20; it
is however not held on the streets as other road races but held on the secluded premises of Bahamas
Hot Rod track located near the Queen Elizabeth Sports Complex. Why that location one may ask? “The
safety of the kids. We don’t want to be on the road and that location is very safe with no vehicles on the
road or traffic,” says the protective Coach.

“Our main focus is to get the kids to run a road race but without the traffic,” Murray adds.
The meet which was canceled last year due to the hurricane, deemed great results this year and
allowed the coaches to get an idea where their athletes are in terms of performances. “Being the off season,
as continuous training can get very boring, coaches are looking for ways other than training
every day for the kids.”

Proud Coach Murray loves working with the kids and his advice to them at such a tender age is to do the
best that they can and “to run your heart out and leave everything on the track.”

Great advice. Bahamas Athletics wishes the organizers of The Thelma Murray Memorial 1 Mile Road
Race continued success.