By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Lennox Graham - FILE

Top Jamaican track and field coach Lennox Graham was seen for the first time, in over a decade, watching the annual Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships from the stands, an experience he described as relaxing.

"It has been 15 years since I sat in the stands and just watch the athletes performing," said Graham, who for that period coached his alma mater, Kingston College (KC), to six straight boys' titles before losing to nemesis Calabar last year.

"It is entertaining and a lot more relaxing than being at the back in the trenches and coaching KC," added Graham, who left the island last year to coach Johnson C. Smith University, a Division Two school in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Graham, however, is not just here to have fun in the sun.

"My main reason for being here is just to recruit some talent to bring to Johnson C. Smith University and to help them to get a degree, and to be the best they can be in their chosen event," stated Graham.

Known for his impressive work with sprinters and hurdles, Graham was quick to point out that this would be his area of interest, at least for now.

"I am mainly looking at people who are right in front of the stands," he added while explaining, "you have to excel in front of the stands for people to contribute, to give you money, so it's basically the jumpers and the sprinters (100m, 200m, 400m and hurdles) I am looking at right now."

As to how many athletes he is targeting, Graham, a graduate of Alabama State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, said it all depends on how much his spending money can offer.

Giving an example, Graham explained: "Say you have $10,000 as your school fee per year. If they (school) gives you $50,000 it sounds like five scholarships, but because the kids from the US get different grants that could easily be 10 people."

Graham, who has recruited Jamaicans Leford Green and Shermaine Williams at John C. Smith, said if he is going for international athletes, they would have to be of good calibre as their scholarships would cost more.

Nevertheless, the coach said he will be trying to get the maximum number of Jamaican athletes.

"Hopefully I can get about five or four on the girls side, and at least four on the boys side and then that probably would be my quota for this year if it's all international athletes," said Graham, who added that his stint so far at Johnson C. Smith has been "going great, I have been well received".

Perhaps 'relaxing' in the stands will become an annual event for Graham this time of the year.