Wife of late Neville Myton reveals motivation to continue his legacy

Under the tutelage of his mentor the late Carl March, Myton quickly establish himself as the top-ranked middle distance runner in the country, despite being a teenager, setting respective national and world junior records in the 880 yards and 800 metres.

He was seen as the heir to the throne following the Herb McKinley era. Myton carried the hopes of a nation at the 1964 and ’68 Olympics in the 800 metres but failed to advance beyond the first round at both Games.

• Organisers honour Neville Myton’s wish with donations to schools in Old Harbour Bay
• Neville Myton remembered as a selfless, dedicated humanitarian

He would step away from competitive running afterwards but remain heavily involved as a coach and administrator, while mentoring many famous Jamaican athletes, chief among them Veronica Campbell-Brown, who is among the most decorated women sprinters of all time.

In 1995 Myton, and other renowned track and field aficionados, founded the Old Harbour Bay 5K Road Race, which today holds the distinction of being the longest running road race in Jamaica and is staged annually during the last week of the year.

The proceeds raised from the event are shared among select institutions of learning in the Old Harbour Bay community, with Myton’s alma mater Old Harbour Bay Primary among the yearly beneficiaries.

Regrettably, Myton was not around to handover the donations himself as he usually would, after losing his long battle to cancer in May last year. And even though the event was canceled in the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was his belief that they must give back to the community whether or not the race went ahead.

Paulette Myton, widow of the great Jamaican athlete, said “I have no option” but the honour the wishes of her late husband.

“Neville’s interest in the community of Old Harbour Bay was unwavering. The road race project consumed him and the beneficiaries of the proceeds from the race were near and dear to him,” she told Old Harbour News.

“At his death, friends [and] family have expressed a strong desire to see his effort continue.

“Against this background and my own personal involvement over the years, I believe I have no option but to continue. This I believe will provide some hope to the youth population, especially the marginalized, so they can realize their full potential and a shot at success.”

Mrs Myton and the team are deeply motivated to see this legacy continue. A legacy that will certainly outlived them all but keep Neville smiling from above the clouds.

It is understood that discussions are ongoing among members of the organizing committee to have the perennial road race renamed in honour of Myton but a final decision is yet to be made.

Neville Myton won’t mind for sure such honour being bestowed upon posthumously, but more importantly is that the event continues and the practice of giving back to the community is maintained.