Deon Lendore inspired.
Such was the sentiment expressed by numerous national athletes who shared the track and training pitch with the former Trinidad and Tobago 400 metre specialist.
Lendore, a three-time TT Olympian, died on Monday night after he was involved in a vehicular accident in Texas, just outside Bryan-College Station on Highway 6, in the Brazos Valley region.
Details of the crash are still sketchy but Texas A&M University head coach Pat Henry confirmed the news. In online reports, Henry said Lendore was on his way home from practice at the time.
The national quarter-miler, a 12-time All-American as an athlete at Texas A&M, was serving at the university as a volunteer assistant coach with 400m and 800m running athletes. He was expected to return home next week.
His passing resulted in a firestorm of tributes on social media reflecting on Lendore’s life and athletic achievements.
The quarter-miler was part of the national 4x400m relay men who captured bronze at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Lendore, 29, was also a three-time World Indoor Championships medallist.
[caption id="attachment_934182" align="alignnone" width="1024"] In this March 14, 2015 file photo, Texas A&M's Deon Lendore celebrates after running the anchor leg of the 1,600 relay during the NCAA indoor track and field championship, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo) -[/caption]
Abilene Wildcats club-mate Jereem “The Dream” Richards, who was part of the TT men’s 4x400m team (alongside Lendore, Machel Cedenio and Asa Guevara) which won gold at the 2019 World Athletics Relays in Japan, posted an emotional tribute to Instagram.
The pair was also part of Team TTO’s 4x400m eighth place finish, with Cedenio and Dwight St Hillaire, at the Tokyo Games last year. Richards, 27, like many other track athletes, looked to Lendore for added motivation, both on and off the track.
“You inspired an entire generation of athletes from your collegiate career teaching us to be confident that anything is possible once you work hard enough. You taught us to be strong and fearless in the midst of competition but to always have fun.
“I can always rely on you on and off the track. Whether it was giving me the baton in a good position, giving me advice in a time of need or getting us a clutch win in Fortnite, I could’ve always counted on you,” he posted.
Richards continued, “Making a national team would never be the same without you. You brought us so much life and energy each time we represented TT, 4x400s will never be the same.
“I truly appreciate everything you have done for me and every experience we had. I just wish I could have told you this in person.”
Another Abilene Wildcats member Guevara, 26, learnt of Lendore’s passing soon after the accident happened. He called Lendore on Monday night but his phone was answered by someone else, who relayed the tragic news.
“I have so much to say but I just can’t bring myself to believe what I heard when I called your phone tonight bro. I’d just like to say you made a huge impact on
