One of Armidale’s most successful athletes and coaches, Jay Stone, was left off the list of baton bearers when the Queen’s Baton Relay makes its way through town in February next year.
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Last week Fairfax Media published a poll to find out what our readers thought of Stone’s snubbing and from 133 votes, 81.2 per cent believed Stone should have been selected to represent the community.
In a flow-on effect, Stone said a number of people have approached the five-time Australian representative expressing their support.
“That's pretty pleasing to have that level of community support,” he said.
“I have had a lot of people come up to me in the last week and commented about the story personally as well.
“You can't change anything about it but it was certainly nice to know that people think that I should have been on the list. A few of them said that they read the story and didn't realise until they read the story and were like “‘wow I can't believe you weren't on there.’”
While Stone may not have the honour of carrying the baton on a leg of the relay, he will be involved with the celebrations in coaching junior athletes.
“Armidale City Public School, because they are the only school the baton is coming up to on the day, they have invited me up on the day to run activities for the students,” he said.
“I can't change the decision but I am happy that I will be involved in some way and Armidale City is giving me that opportunity and I will be there on the day doing what I am always doing which is trying to build faster runners.”