Penn Relays ‘special’ for former Alpha athlete

FORMER CONVENT of Mercy (Alpha) athlete Chene Townsend is blazing a trail as a track and field coach in the United States.

Townsend competed in the heptathlon at Alpha before concentrating on the sprint hurdles and earning a scholarship to West Virginia University. She is now the associate head coach at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution, where she concentrates on hurdles and sprints.

“During my high school days at Alpha I did the multi-events but in the latter stages, I concentrated on the sprint hurdles. This got me a track and field scholarship to West Virginia University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise physiology and a Master’s in education,” the former Alpha student said.

“My work as a coach started at the University of West Virginia, then I went to coach for a little while at St Francis in Pennsylvania for four years where I specialised in the sprints, sprint hurdles and jumps,” said Townsend who has been at the University of Pennsylvania since January 2021.

She moved to the University of Pennyslvania following a recommendation by a former colleague.

“One of the coaches who I used to work with at West Virginia told me that there was an opening at the University of Pennsylvania and I should apply for it as it was a good fit for me. I did that and I landed the job,” explained Townsend.

According to Townsend, coaching at the University of Pennsylvania meant she had come full circle.

“Being at the University of Pennsylvania is like a full circle for me as it all started here. While competing at the Penn Relays, I was recruited at West Virginia and getting a job on the coaching staff here is very special,” said Townsend.

Like a reunion

Seeing her Jamaican friends and their families on a yearly basis at the Penn Relays is also special for her.

“Being here and seeing all my Jamaican friends every year is even more special. It’s like a reunion for me,” she added.

She wants to help to get many Jamaican athletes in the university’s programme.

“My goal is to get many Jamaican student athletes here as it is a great institution and we do have a great programme which will definitely help to change their lifestyle,” said Townsend while revealing that former Munro College sprinter Devante Heywood, a sophmore, is on the men’s roster at the university.

“I want to see the growth of my athletes here not only physically, but maturing to be better students from year one to year four and to prepare them for the real world,” Townsend said.

She advised student athletes to make good use of the opportunities they get.

“You never know when this opportunity will come around and honestly there are a lot of opportunities out there, whether at home or in the United States. Take advantage of this because the reality is you can be a very good student and a good athlete as long as you find the right fit for you,” she said.