Bittersweet symphony - Shiann Salmon has mixed feelings about Hydel departure

After competing at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships for seven years, Hydel High School track and field captain, Shiann Salmon, says that it was bittersweet knowing that this is her final year.

The 18-year-old sixth-form student captured four medals, including three gold and a silver. She won the Class 1 girls' 400m and 400m hurdles events and also played a role in her team's gold-medal performance in the 4x400m relay and silver in the 4x100m relay.

Now, Salmon is looking forward to taking up a track scholarship in the United States of America in the summer.

"I am looking to pick up a scholarship in the USA and also to represent Jamaica at the senior level in the future. I have received some offers for a scholarship, but I have not decided which one to take up as yet," Salmon told The Gleaner yesterday.

"I have represented Jamaica at the Carifta Games and also at a World Youth in 2015, where I did not advance to the final in the 400m hurdles as I was not at my best. I am also looking to represent the country at the next World Youth (in Finland) this summer," she said.

"I will miss competing at Champs after seven years. It is a bittersweet feeling knowing that I will leave Hydel. It is sweet that I won four gold medals and bitter because I will miss my teammates," she disclosed.

"The programme is very good at Hydel, and you can see by our performance at Champs. Once you represent Hydel, you have to improve, and I saw myself improving each year. It took me a while to improve, but I did so eventually," she pointed out.

"It is a great feeling to leave Girls' Champs on a high. I will now focus on college then going pro. You never know what will happen, so I want to finish college first. Although I don't see staying here as an option, anything can happen," she said.

Hydel High finished second in the overall girls' standings after winning their appeal and being reinstated as winners of the girls' 4x400m relay.

Updated Girls points standings

1. Edwin Allen 324

2. Hydel High 289

3. Holmwood Technical 285

4. St Jago High 178

5. Vere Technical High 105.50

6. Excelsior High 103.50

7. Manchester High 53

8. Petersfield High 51

9. Wolmer's 48.50

10. Rusea's High 46.50