Coaching Success at the 2015 World Championships
KCOB Lennox Graham was part of Jamaica's seven coach technical staff at the Beijing 2015 World Track & Field Championships which included Paul Francis, Jermaine Shand, Julian Robinson, Jerry Holness, Michael Clarke and Maurice Wilson.
Lennox's job in Beijing was to facilitate the hurdlers who competed at the world championships. He was the personal coach for sisters, Danielle and Shermaine Williams who were both finalists in the Women's 100 Meter Hurdles in which Danielle emerged as champion. Danielle won in 12.57 and Shermaine was 7th in 12.95.
He coached Danielle Williams when she was a student at Johnson C. Smith University (4 years) plus one year as a professional athlete from 2013-2014 for a total of five years.
He has also coached Shermaine Williams since she was a student at Convent of Mercy (Alpha) High School (5 yrs), Johnson C. Smith University (4 years) and 4 years as a professional athlete - total 13 years.
Both sisters achieved personal best performances in Beiing. Shermaine equaled her PB in the100m hurdles preliminary heat while Danielle twice set new PB times in the100m hurdles semi -final and final.
According to Lennox, “It was a pleasure to work with all the hurdlers. I was not coaching at Kingston College when Hansel Parchment and Omar McLeod attended the institution so it was a great feeling to be facilitating them during the camp in Tottori, Japan and during the competition in Beijing, China.”
He felt the hurdlers represented Jamaica well. He explained, “Having two female 400m hurdle finalists, two male 400m hurdles semi-finalists, two male 110m hurdle finalists and two female 100m hurdles finalists, one silver and one gold medallist was a pretty special achievement”
Lennox was also the personal coach for Leford Green whom he coached for three years at Kingston College, four years at Johnson C. Smith University and four years as a professional athlete - TOTAL 11 years. Leford qualified for the semi finals in the 400m hurdles.
Leford Green and both Williams sisters are sponsored by the Adidas shoe company.
There is no doubt Lennox had an amazing time in Beijing: “Personally coaching the first female sibling finalist in the history of the World Championship was also a very special feeling.” he explained. “Coaching my first World Champion was a very rewarding - A special culmination to a blessed season. I thank God for a great breakthrough Championship and pray we can stay focused and healthy throughout our preparation for Rio 2016.”