Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Calabar team captain Demar Robinson may have been disqualified from competing at this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, but that has not stopped him from cheering on his teammates.

'Squiddy', as he is called by his teammates and friends, was barred from competing at the meet due to matriculation issues, but he was one of the loudest on the sidelines, cheering on Class One discus gold and bronze medallists Fedrick Dacres and Basil Bingham.

His battle cry: "Rabalac, Bar Life, utmost for the highest."

Having to sit out his last Champs has not been an easy experience for Robinson, who was brought to tears after leading, but he is at least looking at it from a positive perspective.

Leave with a bang

"I'm disappointed because knowing that I have been training so long, I wanted to leave with a bang in the triple jump," said Robinson. "But I am here, I don't have to hide because I am not a criminal."

"As the captain of the team, I had to be here. I have to be there with the guys through it all; motivating them, I can't leave them," said Robinson, in full green and black Calabar armour. "It's my last year, I still believe that my team can win. I am just one man and one man alone can't win Champs, so I'm just helping them to stay confident that they will win this year."

"Anything can happen in the day. I believe in my teammates, but we just have to believe in God and execute what our coaches have told us to do and we will do it," said Robinson, continuing his assessment.

"The guys support me a lot as well. They talk to me a lot, and still motivate me, and remind me that my future does not end here. I still have Carifta to look forward to, the senior trials to prepare for, and Pan Am Games as well this summer that I am hoping to attend," said Robinson.

The youngster said he will continue training with his current coach upon leaving Calabar at the end of the current term.

"I've been competing at Champs for the last six years, and I have achieved a lot. It has been a good experience. I plan to continue training and wherever my coach goes, I will follow," said Robinson.