The body of the 38-year-old jumps coach, and that of an unidentified woman, was found in an empty lot at West Trade Way in Portmore, St Catherine shortly before 7 am, police said.
The news has plunged the entire Calabar High School community into a state of despair.
"The entire Calabar and Legacy family is deeply saddened by the untimely and tragic passing of our beloved coach, brother and friend," said Calabar team manager Andrea Hardware, who is also President and CEO of Legacy Track Club.
"The passion he had for coaching and the belief in the abilities of his charges knew no bounds. We are grieving! It is raw and only time will heal our hearts. May his soul rest in peace."
According to the Legacy Track Club’s website, Neufville, also known as 'Soapman' is a Calabar High school alumnus who represented the school at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships. He was also a national representative both at junior and senior levels.
A World Athletics certified Level II coach in the sprints and jumps, he also served as a member of the coaching staff at Calabar High where he is currently coaching junior athletes such as long jumper Jordan Turner and triple jumper Luke Brown both of whom have been national junior representatives, the website said.
Over the course of his coaching career, Neufville helped condition some of Jamaica’s top junior sprinters including Christopher Taylor, Oblique Seville, Dejour Russell and Michael O’Hara.
He has also been a member of the national coaching staff for the following games for the 2011 CARIFTA games in the Cayman Islands, the 2018 CAC Senior games in Columbia and 2019 under 20 Pan American Games in Costa Rica.
Neufville was found dead on Monday morning, in an open lot in Portmore, St Catherine, alongside a female passenger. The athletics coach was 38 years old.
Up to the time of his death, Neufville had worked as part of the successful Calabar high school program and the newly formed Legacy Track Club. Neufville was, however, also involved with the national team and was part of the Jamaican delegation that participated at the Pan American Under 20 Athletics Championships in Puerto Rico in 2019.
“He became a part of that cadre of coaches that would have travelled with the junior teams over the years and there were great expectations for him moving forward,” Wilson told TVJ Sports.
“He was one of the best coaches in both the long and triple jump. He coached at the high school level, but his skills and skillsets could have taken him anywhere,” he added.
Before going on to be part of the multi-title winning Calabar high school team, Neufville had previously represented the corporate area high school.
The bodies of the 38-year-old jumps coach and a 19-year-old woman identified as Rahima Edwards were found in an open lot in Portmore, St Catherine shortly before 7 am.
News of Coach Neufville’s death evoked strong reaction from the track and field fraternity including the sport’s governing body, who issued a statement earlier today.
“The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) extends heartfelt condolences to the family, his alma mater Calabar and friends of Coach Nicholas Neufville,” the JAAA said.
“Coach Neufville was a promising young coach who specialized in the horizontal jumps and a member of the Legacy Athletics Ltd. May his soul rest in peace.”
Expectedly, the startling news hit athletes at Legacy Track Club hard and sources said the coaches spent the better part of the morning trying to console them.
World Championship medalist Jura Levy has been with the club since last year and had enjoyed working with Coach Neufville.
“You were a motivator, a friend, a coach, a father, a brother and a son. There wasn’t a day at training that you didn’t motivate me and help me to finish my workout even when I thought I couldn’t,” she said on Instagram.
“@akasoapman, you were supposed to be there this morning and I missed you. This just don’t feel real.”
Olympian Jason Morgan, a past student at Calabar in reaction to the news posted: “My brother and my best friends since 9 years old. Nooooo way!!”
Lorraine Watson, the mother of former Calabar High track stars Ramone and Romario McKenzie, was in a state of disbelief when she posted in Instagram.
“Soapman, this is really hard to wake up to RIP. RIP my friend; you will be missed by all…”
According to the Legacy Track Club’s website, Neufville is a Calabar High school alumnus who represented the school at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships. He was also a national representative both at junior and senior levels.
A World Athletics certified Level II coach in the sprints and jumps, he also served as a member of the coaching staff at Calabar High where he is currently coaching junior athletes such as long jumper Jordan Turner and triple jumper Luke Brown both of whom have been national junior representatives, the website said.
Over the course of his coaching career, Neufville helped condition some of Jamaica’s top junior sprinters including Christopher Taylor, Oblique Seville, Dejour Russell and Michael O’Hara.
He has also been a member of the national coaching staff for the following games for the 2011 CARIFTA games in the Cayman Islands, the 2018 CAC Senior games in Columbia and 2019 under 20 Pan American Games in Costa Rica.
