Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Haughton
FORMER NATIONAL 400 metres standard-bearer Gregory Haughton has hung up his competitive spikes.
The 31-year-old formalised his retirement recently by faxing a letter to the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) president Howard Aris.
In the correspondence Haughton thanked "each and everyone connected to track and field in Jamaica who have played a role in assisting me to accomplish what I have in the sport".
He also indicated a willingness to aiding the continued development of track and field in the country. "If at anytime I can be of any assistance to some other person in being able to enjoy a similar experience to mine then feel free to contact me," he said.
Haughton, the holder of a Masters degree in Business Administration, said his retirement came at the perfect time as he had told himself when he started out that he would retire by the age of 32.
Haughton's retirement brings to a close a 12-year international career which started for him in 1993 when he made the final of the 400m in Stuttgart, Germany. Two years later he announced himself as a truly world class athlete when he won the bronze medal at the World Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. A year later he was tipped as a medal favourite for Jamaica in the Atlanta Olympics. As luck would have it, Haughton failed to qualify at the national trials for an automatic place in the 400m but was part of the 4x400m team which earned a bronze medal.
He followed that up with relay gold medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 1999 Pan-American Games.
Haughton, a big admirer of fellow Olympians Herb McKenley, Bert Cameron and Merlene Ottey, had his greatest moment in 2000 when he was a double medallist at the Sydney Olympics. He won an individual bronze in the 400m and was a part of the 4x400m team which won a bronze in the relays.
While Sydney was one of the highest points of Haughton's career, it was also one of his lowest as it saw him playing a prominent role in a demonstration against plans by the JAAA to replace national 100m champion Peta-Gaye Dowdie with one of his idols Merlene Ottey. That demonstration caused a split in the Jamaican camp and embarrassment to the Jamaica Olympic Association, JAAA and the country.
Career highlights
Born: November 10, 1973
Education: Excelsior High, Arizona Central Junior College, Arizona College, George Mason University.
Personal best: 400m - 44.56 (1995)
2001: World Championships bronze
400m
2001: World Championships bronze
4x400m
2000: Olympic bronze 400m
2000: Olympic bronze 4x400m
2000: National champion 400m
1999: National champion 400m
1999: World Championship finalist
400m
1999: World Championship bronze
4x400m
1999: Pan Am Games champion
400m
1999: Pan Am Games champion
4x400m
1998: Commonwealth Games gold
4x400m
1997: World Championship bronze
4x400m
1996: Olympic bronze 4x400m
1995: World Championship bronze
400m
1995: World Championship silver
4x400m
1993: World Championship finalist
400m and 4x400m
1993: CAC Champion 400m
1992: World Junior silver 4x400m
