Kingston:
In Kingston, a dusty grass on the playground, Jamaica’s school children are passing a crop at a pace with the dreams of following in the footsteps of the US Bolt or Shelley Freezer Price.
The chalk lines mark the streets of the initial running path, where a few dozen young candidates have racked up at a Athletics meeting, famous in Jamaica, a spiritual home of spirits.
“Most of these children want to be professional,” the track coach Shanti Blake told AFP. They all dream of becoming the next US Bolt or the next Shelley Ann Fraser Price. “
“Here’s a lot of everyone who plays the game wants to try to be professional, because everyone wants to be the next Usain Bolt.”
Black is visible with approval because the young crop, which is only six years old, has been trying to imitate the Jamaican track icon -run style, which has been regular visitors to the Olympic and World Championship medal podium for the past two decades.
“I am dedicated to making some of these children’s professionals,” said Blake, 40, whose dreams of a spraying career were reduced due to injury. “Certainly, I’m going.”
For Joseph Haroon, whose daughters are participating in both blue (10) and Jaya (nine), the lure of professional career is only part of this appeal. Athletics also represents the route of academia through the possibility of scholarship.
“(Running) keeps them healthy and strong,” says Heron. “The track is a very powerful part of our history, not only for those who become professionals, but also fall on normal life. Many people are able to get scholarships and impress their career.”
Sheeniel Francis, meanwhile, is more under the road in his spraying journey. The Francis serves as a coach at the Tape Track Academy, where it aims to “mold youth into players you want to be.” Francis is an example of high quality coaching, which can be found in Jamaica, Francis, a second -year student at the University of West Indies, Francis.
