John: I have always dreamt of being a sportsman

He has trekked thousands of miles both locally and across the Caribbean and with over 20 years of long distance running experience; you would think that Winston John would have hung up his running gears by now.

But no way – the Dasent Cottage athlete still considers himself to be in the prime of his athletic career.{{more}}

John said he is currently preparing for the Trinidad and Tobago Clico International Half-marathon slated for February of this year.

The athlete, who has been a member of the Sion Hill Athletic Club for the past 15 years, has participated in a number of regional and local competitions. Within recent years he participated in the TnT Marathon, the Run Barbados Run road race and the OECS Half-marathon in 2003 in neighbouring St. Lucia where he crossed the finish line in 12th position.

John, 38, who started running at age 12, remembers his first day at the Victoria Park in the inter-schools’ competition, where he participated for the Kingstown Government School.

He recalls competing against a group of athletes from the 80s, such as Curt Mclean, Tyrone Creese and Ashford Morris, among others.

In what can be considered as the “hey-day” of road running, John gained his experience participating for the Sion Hill Athletics Club.

“I wanted to be at the top of athletics here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and I think to some extent I have done that after being in the arena for such a long time,” John said.

“In those days we were motivated by just competing against each other, but now athletes are getting scholarships, and endorsements… Right now sports is big money,” he stated.

The athlete is now comfortable knowing he has paved the way for some young athletes to follow. He said: “I have always dreamt of being a sportsman.”

John can be singled out for his participation in the 1985 Kettle Appeal Fun Walk from Kingstown to Owia where they raised funding for the construction of the School for Children with Special Needs.