Hydel track star donates prize money to her school

Hydel High’s Oneika Wilson, the outstanding athlete of the 2020 McKinley & Wint Track meet, held at the Calabar High School, has decided to donate her $25,000 cash prize from Community & Workers of Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union (C&) to her school.

The cheque was presented to Oneika on Friday, February 21, in the auditorium of Calabar High School by Yvonne Ennis, administrative assistant to the CEO of C&, Carlton Barclay.

In an interview after the presentation, the Hydel student said she would be handing over the cheque to her school as her way of showing appreciation for the guidance, coaching and support she has received at the school during the past nine years she has participating in track and field. At the McKenley-Wint meet, Wilson clocked a record 13.49 seconds in winning the Class Two girls 100m hurdles and also won the Class Two 100m in 11.99 seconds.

Professional hurdler

Now 16, she is determined to work hard to be a professional hurdler like Megan Tapper, who has been her motivator and to go to college.

“At one time, I wanted to give up, because at 5 feet 5 inches, I thought I was too short to be a hurdler. Then I found out that Megan, who I admire so much, is even shorter at 5ft 1in, so I thought if she could do it, so could I,” Wilson said.

She practises five days a week and participates in track meets on Saturdays.

To the onlooker, Wilson might seem laid back, but she is driven by an inner strength and determination to work for what she wants.

When one of her coaches John Mair, who accompanied her to the presentation ceremony, told her the day before, while she was walking through the auditorium at Hydel, that she was selected the outstanding athlete, she said she just smiled.

“But it was a surprise and a great feeling. I just want my family and school to be happy,” she said.

Oneika will be participating for her school at today’s Gibson McCook Relays at the National Stadium.