Alumni News
In the Spotlight!! - Martin Dawes
The Days of the Dawes Express
It’s the final day of Boy’s Champs 1983 at Sabina Park. KC is locked in a battle to wrestle the title it forfeited by not participating in the 1982 Champs. The KC faithfuls are not certain where the points will come from to outduel their worthy opponents. But they are all certain of one thing – FORTIS! And Martin Dawes, a 1st year class 3 unknown athlete sits in his blocks awaiting the starter’s gun. The miniature athlete surveys the rest of the more fancied athletes in the 100M field. Bang! Martin roars out of the blocks to capture silver and 5 unexpected points. And KC goes on to win the Championship by less than 5 points.
The legend was here.
Martin entered KC September 1980 at the tender age of 10, coming from Mona Primary, where he was already creating waves as a little speedster. He was coveted early by the coaching staff at KC who was told of his “coming”.
Fast forward to 1984. Not satisfied with his 1983 performance, Martin decimated the class 3 100M field. For good measure, he won bronze in the 200M and gold in the 400M relay. Nothing less was expected from this rising star – he had already won gold at the Gibson Relays and his explosive starts left everyone in awe. Martin could do no wrong, as he went on to win gold at an international meet in Miami to close the chapter on 1984.
If 1984 was the year Martin could do no wrong, then 1985 was the year Martin became a saint. He was untouchable, invincible and most devastating of all, “uncatchable”. The Dawes Diesel hit top gear and remained there for the entire 1985 track season like a well oiled German engineered machine
- He created history by winning the class 2 100 M gold in his first year in that class.
- That performance earned him a spot on the Jamaican national team – he competed at the prestigious Carifta Games.
- The KC team selected for the international Penn Relays was reshuffled to accommodate the 15 year old “starter” – previously, only the more mature class 1 athletes were selected for the Penn Relays.
In 1986 Martin lost his title in a 100M classic. His valiant attempts to regain “his” title in the subsequent years were derailed by perennial injuries. Despite these injuries, his explosive starts always guaranteed KC relay teams a victory or at least “being in the mix” at the end of each race.
Martin remained grounded during these heady years of being the ultimate super star, by advancing to Sixth Form. This is a major accomplishment for even the average athlete.
Martin the Beacon, the Flagship, the Franchise (for us converted North AmericansJ), the Inspiration, through the decade of the 80’s accepted the coveted role of Captain of the 1988 Track Team in his final year with KC. Martin’s eight year journey through KC was just great for those of us lucky enough to have experienced it.
Martin later migrated to Mississauga Canada, where he now resides. He can now be called the “Godfather” – godfathering the kids of many of his old KC friends. Or he is probably off preparing for another “Best Man” or “Bridal Party” duty for one of his old KC buddy. People just want to be with him and share his legacy, just as it was back in the days.
As he was in the 80’s, Martin is surprisingly very unassuming – do you know a 100M sprinter (worst, one that actually wins at the highest level) that’s not cockyJ. His persona, does not give a hint of his illustrious past. For those not fortunate enough to experience the roar in the stands when Martin exploded from the blocks, leaned into the tail wind, separate himself from the hapless 7, and then punch the air with one finger, all in just over 10 seconds; they are left in shock, when Martin’s devout fans start reminiscing about:
- not the Days of Thunder; but
- The Days of the Dawes Express