Beating the odds nothing new for history-making St James Para-athlete

WESTERN BUREAU:

Losing her twin brother while in the womb and inheriting a disability has not stopped 100m Para-athlete Asoynia Campbell from outrunning those she competes with in track and field.

The 24-year-old made history last weekend when she departed the island as the first Para-athlete from the parish of St James to represent Jamaica.

Campbell, who clocked 11.43 seconds, joined six other Jamaicans, including four athletes, invited to the United Kingdom for pre-training for the Commonwealth Games, which are set for late July and early August 2022 in Birmingham.

“I have been competing since primary school, and I am proud to be part of history, representing St James and my country,” the athlete, who lost some mobility during complications in childbirth, told The Gleaner.

“Doctors found out that he took away the strength on one side because he was bigger than her in size,” Campbell’s aunt, Collette Barnes, explained, noting that her niece had to do therapy just so she could walk.

“She’s a fighter because even while going through therapy, she was determined. She was a normal child in everything because this girl is very determined,” revealed Barnes, who added that they realised from infanthood that Campbell was gifted in track and field.

Campbell, she said, medalled in various events, a trajectory that continued into primary school, where she became champion girl in track. Her prowess was refined in high school, where she also honed the skill of sports commentary, a la Bruce James.

“We call her the female Bruce because while watching Champs, she could tell the athletes’ names, the times they have run, and that really stood out for us as a family,” stated Barnes, explaining how supportive they were because they were won over by her love for racing.

As her family helped in honing her skills, so, too, did renowned athletic trainer Jerry Reid, who took Campbell under his wing when he saw her immense potential while she was in primary school.

But in the absence of a St James Paralympic Association at the time, there wasn’t much he could do for her.

He has vivid memories of Campbell’s performances on sports days in her early years.

“Every race she participated in she would win, the 100, 200, and she would help her relay team to make it to first place,” Reid said.

Shortly after the St James branch was launched, Reid said he started working with Campbell and three others who dropped out because of how difficult it was to train consistently.

“She (Campbell) was dedicated enough and decided she wanted it, but we had the issue of finding a proper running track with the closure of Catherine Hall,” he said, referencing the St James sports complex.

Campbell progressed to trials in Kingston and was selected based on her time. The rest is history.

Excited about the prospects for the parish, president of the St James Paralympics Association, Clive Waldron, has called for more sponsorship for the organisation. Waldron fears that persons with disabilities will be left behind if corporate backers don’t step up to the plate.

Acting mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, has tagged the moment a breakthrough for the parish.

“What I see here is a team committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities are still able to compete at the highest level and not feeling as if they are not part of the system,” said Vernon.

According to Vernon, even one participant being given an opportunity to participate in the Commonwealth Games is a big deal.

“This now is going to push us to even work harder in getting the Catherine Hall Complex up and running again,” the mayor said.

He said a meeting was set to be convened with the Sports Development Foundation in short order to start looking at repairs to the track, which has been out of commission for the last four years.

“We are now at a good place, and I said some time ago that the Western Relays will be back in St James, and now we have the Paralympics hopefuls who could also train there,” said Vernon.

Reid has already started scouting the schools in Montego Bay with special-needs children with the aim of turning them into athletes. The goal, he said, is to give youth hope.

This is Campbell’s first time on an aircraft and she was so excited, she could hardly wait for the interview to end to board her flight. She will spend seven days in the UK.