‘I don’t care about records’
Muschett High’s Shanoya Douglas focuses on race execution
Published:Sunday | January 5, 2025 | 12:11 AMGregory Bryce - Staff Reporter
Despite her personal best of 22.59 seconds already eclipsing Kevona Davis’ Girls Class Two 200m record of 22.72, Muschett High School’s Shanoya Douglas is not focused on chasing any records at the 2025 ISSA GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships.
Douglas stands as the person to beat after stamping her pedigree last year at Champs when she won the 200m and 400m double in her first year in Class Two.
She had won the 200m title in a time of 23.93, and clocked 53.03 on her way to gold in the 400m.
The highlight of her season, however, came when she ran 22.59 at the National Junior Championships and became the third fastest Jamaican junior ever in the distance, behind Briana Williams, 22.50, and Brianna Lyston, 22.53.
Yet, despite her achievements, Douglas has firmly shied away from the trappings of being labelled one of the best junior athletes Jamaica has produced.
“I know what I’ve done on the track and yes, I did all that but I don’t really like to think of myself as one of the best and I really don’t want to put that on my head,” she explained.
“I don’t care about records. I’m not focusing on that because if you focus on that instead of focusing on executing the race, then you’re not going to execute as well as you can.”
Just a bonus
She believes once she is able to run at her best, then writing her name in the Champs record books will just be a bonus.
“As long as I keep focused on getting out the blocks, my hand speed, my speed coming off the curve, running down the straight and keeping my knees high, then I would have made my coach proud,” she stated.
“If they come, then the records will come but at the moment, my only focus is executing what my coach has taught me. I do have my targets but I’m not going to say it out loud because that’s for me, my coach and God.”
The defending Champs double sprint champion opened her 2025 account with a dominant performance at the On Di Run/Jamaica College Sprint Fest 200 on Friday.
She blew away a talented field in the Girls’ Class Two 200m, which included Class Three 200m champion Natrece East. Douglas stopped the clock at 23.62 ahead of East, who took second in 25.10.
Douglas was happy with the performance.
“To be honest, I was very excited the whole day. I was feeling jittery from early in the morning and was just watching the time for two o’ clock to reach. I’m happy and I was very pleased with the performance. I will keep working on some things and I think what I’ve been working on is coming through for me.”
While in the early days of her season, Douglas insisted she is under no pressure from the weight of expectations she is carrying for her school.
“It’s business as normal for me. I feel no pressure because I trust my coach, I trust what he is doing for me, I trust in God and I have faith so I am under no pressure.”