Harrison mourns former KC quarter-miler’s death

Former Kingston College (KC)track and field coach Neil Harrison said the untimely passing of Twayne Crooks, a former Kingston College standout athlete, has devastated the track and field community.

Crooks, who passed away yesterday, after being diagnosed with stage four cancer, was attending the South University of New Orleans and Harrison, who said Crooks was like a son, said the entire KC fraternity has been hit hard by the news of the 23-year-old's death.

"How I found out this morning that he died is that my daughter saw it on (Akeem) Bloomfield's Instagram page. He and Bloomfield ran 400m that year and Bloomfield is devastated, he can't believe his brother died. When I looked at it the reality of it was really devastating," he said.

"Crooks was a fine young man with great qualities, very unassuming but with tremendous potential. He was a peaceful person, one who was never in any form of altercation. He was always helpful and never for himself. So I know the entire Kingston College family is devastated, as a lot of people have been calling me because they know the sort of closeness we had, so it's tough. Mr Dave Myrie (principal) will not take it easy either because he was like a father to him. He looked up to Mr Myrie, so Mr Myrie will not take this easy," he assessed.

Crooks won the 400m indoor title in 46.57 at the 2019 Indoor National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Championships and the bronze at the Outdoor Championships in May. He also attended Vere Technical High School and Denbigh High School and the University of Technology.

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At the 2015 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships, he was placed fourth in the 400m final, which was won by Bloomfield in a record time of 44.93.

Harrison, who coached Crooks at KC, said the quarter-miler had the potential to develop into a great athlete. "He was a quality quarter-miler and an athlete with range. He could run from one 100 to 800 metres. I remember he ran 1 minute 50 seconds to anchor Kingston College to victory in a 4x800 metres at GC Foster one year. That will always stand out. He also ran tremendous 4x8 legs at Gibson (Relays) and Penn Relays, as a quarter-miler.

"He would run on the 4x100m (team), he ran 200m, he ran 400m, 4x800m and he is always willing to step up to the plate. He's always willing to give of his service and talent and never backed down. He was at university and was doing well and I think Jamaica has lost a very good talent. It's a son lost and words cannot express," he said.