Pacers Pay Tribute To Clevonte Lodge-Bean
The Bermuda Pacers have paid tribute to Clevonte Lodge-Bean, who passed away following a collision in Sandys on November 8.
A spokesperson said, “It is with a heavy heart that the club writes this tribute for Clevonte Lodge-Bean.
“As a club, we can recall when this young athlete began his athletic dreams with the Bermuda Pacers Track Club.
“It was his Physical Education teacher, Mariam Smith of Prospect Primary School, that contacted our head coach, Cal Simons, and shared with him the athletic abilities of this young runner.
“Coach Simons, who was always looking for talent, reached out to his mother, Delphina Lodge, a former student of his at West End, and asked about her son joining the Bermuda Pacers Track Club.
“In 2009, Lodge-Bean experienced his first trip to the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational Track Meet in the United States. This truly was an eye-opening experience for Lodge-Bean.
“By the age of 11, Lodge-Bean knew that he wanted to compete internationally for his club and his country. As he moved up the coaching ranks within the club, from coach Simons to coach Janine Scott, we knew that the best coach for him would be coach Norbert Simons.
“When Lodge-Bean was a middle school student at Whitney Institute, coach Norbert Simons began to see what a gifted young athlete he was.
“As a 200 and 400 meter runner himself, Norbert Simons knew exactly what Lodge-Bean would need to fulfill his full potential. By the time Lodge-Bean was 13-years-old and under the guidance of Simons, the track and field fraternity saw this outstanding sprinter in action.
“The two developed an unbreakable bond. It was like a father and son relationship. They would sit for hours and discuss training techniques and running strategies for different races.
“During our trips to the REB/ECI track meets in the United States, Lodge-Bean’s name become synonymous with speed. The other teams and runners knew that this young athlete was in a class by himself.
“During the 2018 REB/ECI Championships in the United States, Lodge-Bean recorded one of the top ten fastest times in the history of the event at 48.85. His athletic abilities were often witnessed at the Bermuda School Sports Championships, the Pacers’ Schools Relay Classic, and the National Track and Field Championships.
“When he qualified for his first Carifta Games in 2017, he was so proud of his achievements. Coach Norbert Simons and the club were extremely proud of his achievements because he had worked so hard to reach the standards.
“From age 14 to 18, Lodge-Bean had represented his club and his country in many international events, such as the REB/ECI Championships, the BAYTAF Classic, the Louis Lynch Championship Barbados Relays, the Carifta Games, the Junior Olympic and the USTFA National Championships.
“For 10 years, BPTC has had the honor of seeing Lodge-Bean‘s talent take him to great heights in the sport of track and field, while serving as an inspiration to his peers and younger athletes. In 2018, he was awarded the Bermuda Pacers Track Club’s Male Athlete of the Year.
“He was also the recipient of a junior achievement award and acknowledged by the Government for his outstanding performances.
“This young man established himself as one of the top junior sprinters in Bermuda and the United States. He was described by a representative of the Durham Striders Track Club as someone special to watch and he will be deeply missed. The club coaches nicknamed him ‘The Great Lodge.’
“It’s so sad to think that we will not see this talented young athlete compete in 2021. We will not see him compete for his college or country ever again.
“The Bermuda Pacers Track Club family will greatly miss his sportsmanship, his high spirit, enthusiasm, and his great leadership qualities. His influence will never be forgotten, and his name will be legendary in the club and Bermuda’s track and field community.
“We would like to extend our deepest condolence to his mother and father and his entire family.”
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