Levell navigating injury-plagued season
Published:Friday | March 24, 2023 | 12:42 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
To access this article in full please login or register today
Edwin Allen High’s Bryan Levell could not have asked for a better 2022 campaign, becoming the school’s first double sprint champion at last year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs). While 2023 has not been kind to...
Edwin Allen High’s Bryan Levell could not have asked for a better 2022 campaign, becoming the school’s first double sprint champion at last year’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).
While 2023 has not been kind to the reigning Class One boys’ 100 metres and 200 metres champion, he is still determined to leave his mark on the championships this year. Champs 2023 is set for March 28 to April 1 at the National Stadium.
It has been a struggle for Levell in 2023 as he has to battle an injury-plagued season which has not only limited him in training but has led to him only being able to defend his 200m title this year.
“Overcoming these challenges and keeping a positive mindset has been a hard one, knowing that you are looking forward to a great season and knowing that you have been set back,” Levell told The Gleaner. “It’s really painful to bear.”
Levell has the second fastest time in the 200m this year, clocking 20.76 seconds in January, but the struggles with injuries have restricted him this season in the constant battle to stay healthy. In those difficult moments, he has drawn from the strength of his teammates who he has credited with not only keeping his spirits up but also giving him the drive to get back on the track.
“They keep me motivated to help me stay positive and guide me throughout the steps in rehab and give me that push to go forward and know that I can still do this again,” Levell said.
Being able to compete this year is a blessing that Levell says that he is not taking likely, as he is more driven to compete not only for himself but to lead the team to have a good finish this year.
MOTIVATION
“That has been motivation knowing that I have the chance to compete at an event. That is enough motivation for me,” Levell said. “I just want the team to go out there and all of them to do their best. If we do that, we will all be happy at the end of the championships.”
Edwin Allen boys’ head coach Leon Powell has not set any goals for Levell knowing the difficulties that he has had to overcome this year. He only wants to see him perform to the best of his ability to finish a difficult season on a high note, a season that started being promising.
“The expectations are to see what he can deliver. come the championships. There is no push from us as a team. I just want him to be as healthy as he can be and perform the best that he can,” Powell said.