Young track star eyes top-three finish at Champs

One of the top performers among the boys at Tuesday’s Eastern Athletics Championships was 14 year-old Class Three athlete Rasheed Grant of St Mary High School.

Grant wrote his name in the record books twice after producing new marks in the 400 and 800 metres.

Young Grant broke records which have stood since 2007 and were set by former Seaforth High athlete Javere Bell. Bell went on to represent Jamaica at both the junior and senior levels.

In the 400m, Grant’s winning time was 51.04 seconds and he clocked two minutes 2.56 seconds in the 800m. The previous record for the 400m was 51.06, while the 800m mark was 2:04.74.

Grant was extremely happy at the end of the championships on Tuesday.

“Going into the championships, I was very confident that I would have won both events in record times. I knew I had it in me because I prepared well and I was not surprised by the achievements,” said Grant who added that with better competition he could have gone much faster in both events.

Breaking Bell’s records was very special for the young athlete.

“Breaking Javere’s records was extra special for me as he was an outstanding athlete. Leading up to the championships, I watched videos of him running and I was really motivated by this,” Grant said.

After his disappointment at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships last year, where he only competed in the 800m and failed to advance from the semi-final round, Grant is determined to collect a medal in both events this time around. “With harder training and with the help of God, I am confident of gaining a medal in both events,” he said.

Grant likes to compete in both events but he has a slight preference for the 800m.

“Probably there is a leaning towards the 800m as I train harder for it,” he said.

His coach, Dwayne Williams, has been at the school for 13 years and has won eight overall titles, including seven in a row at the Eastern Championships. He spoke highly of his young charge.

“Rasheed is very talented. Last year, I expected him to make the final in the 800m (at Champs) but, when he saw the crowd, he became nervous and he panicked because he has never yet competed before a big crowd like that before,” Williams said.

The coach said, this time, things will be different. “That experience was good for him. He is mentally stronger and I expect him to medal in any event he competes in.”