Long before Merlene Ottey and Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB) emerged as Jamaica’s sprint queens, there was Vilma Belle Charlton (VBC), who blazed the track for that Caribbean island at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics Games, and at other regional and international competitions. She competed in the sprint double and the 4x100m relay, and there’s no question, she has seen it all.
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DPalmer photo
Honoree Vilma Charlton talks with Doreen Small Mercer, whom she mentored. Sitting with her at the head table is nephew Andrew Charlton.
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Now a lecturer in the Institute of Education at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, in Jamaica, Charlton continues to be deeply involved in sports. She researches and writes about track and field, healthy living and physical education; and works tirelessly as the third vice-president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA). She is responsible for finding and educating officials for all JAAA track meets; and continues to mentor scores of talented athletes.
Yesterday, Charlton was given the red carpet treatment at the posh Jericho Terrace in Long Island, New York, not for her accomplishments on the track or her work in sports administration, but because she has touched the lives of so many who just wanted to say thanks.
DPalmer Photo
Current student-athletes and student from Jamaican track and field powerhouse high schools, Edwin Allen and Vere, and Vilma Charlton's alma mater, St. A
ndrew, say thanks to her with flowers.
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Spearheaded by Serene Mitchell whom Charlton mentored, a banquet was laid out yesterday to honor her for all she has done, and bring to close a day of celebration and pampering for her birthday. Mitchell, whom Charlton said dressed her from head to toe for the occasion, invited her to New York to show appreciation for what she had done for her as a young athlete. “She is the reason I can smile today,” Mitchell said in a speech full of deep emotion and conviction.
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DPalmer photo
Vilma Charlton tells family, friends and
well-wishers: "I feel blessed, honored."
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Mitchell was joined by several other former athletes in putting on the event, and they all echoed her sentiments that the guest of honor had helped shaped them into who they are, because she had pulled out all stops to secure scholarships for them to universities in the US, which gave them life-changing opportunities. Charlton is a graduate of Pepperdine University in California, where she gained a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a Master of Arts in Education.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Charlton said she felt blessed and honored. She recalled challenges she faced in trying to help young athletes in need, the memorable times she spent chaperoning or managing them while they represented their country abroad, as well as their diverse personalities, and urged today’s athletes to foster camaraderie with one another and keep it alive, the way things are with those who were honoring her.
“I enjoyed being a part of your lives,” Charlton said. “The most heartening part for me, though, is to hear how you all have managed to stay together or be in touch with one another.” She was equally impressed by how, as adults, they have not forgotten their alma mater and have seen it as their duty to take care of their parents or family members, some of whom struggled to find the airfares to send them abroad.
In continuing her theme of the importance of friendship after the banquet, Charlton said she believed current-day athletes are losing it [closeness]. “A number of athletes who will finish in the next five years might be so lonely,” noting that the past athletes in attendance kept together as a result of the buddy system that was in place whenever they traveled. “I think the money has caused them [current athletes] to be aloof and selfish, but I can only hope that the youngsters will understand [that friends are better than a pocket full of money]. Pictorial
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