The US Elite International Track and Field INC. staged their biggest Scholarship Convention and College Fair in Jamaica on November 2 at the Jamaica Confrence Centre, Down Town Kingston.
The 5th staging of the event (4th in Jamaica) was spearheaded by former St Andrew High School Twin sisters Keishia and Dr Treisha Thorpe Ceo and President of US Elite International Track and Field INC.
The Convention and College Fair held under the Theme ” Imagine your Future ” was well attended by scores of athletes from Jamaica College, Kingston College, Calabar, Wolmers, St Jago, Vere Technical, Immaculate and several other institutions.
The organizers of the event went all out for this year’s renewal, in ensuring that every area and every questions by prospective students were answered and covered.
A wide cross section of coaches, sports officials, parent and athletes attended the riveting and interesting 8 hour event, that featured presentations from several based US College stalwarts such as Damion Drummond -from the The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Michelle Redd Latimer-Head Track & Field Coach at Bowie State University who is also an Author, Rudolph Thompson the newly appointed head of track and field at -ASA College in Brooklyn, in addition to Roland Whiting Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Operations at Lincoln University .
The presenters addressed several sections of the rudiments and requirement in preparing for college in the United States.
Head coach at Fayettteville State University Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Inez Turner was the guest speaker, and she brought the house down in a 20 minute soul stirring and inspiring speech.
A video presentation of her 1994 Commonwealth 800 metres victory set the the tone for her speech as Inez recaptured her journey from the days of Litchfield, Trelawny as a little girl where she and her sisters, Yvette and Janice ran several miles per day to feed the farm animals, pull water from the river, then back home to get ready for school. Then run to school and back for lunch, before running back to school.
This she stated. “It (the running as children mandated by our father) made us future stars at Vere Technical and set to the tone for me to become who I am today, and using this example I am a calling on all of you here as students to push through your challenges to realize your dreams, never give up , never stop working hard” .
Almost moved to tears, this is what Inez said after she gave her speech.
In the meantime Thompson of Asa College spoke with Irie Fm sports.
Also in attendance was Track and Field expert, Hubert Lawrence, Basketballer Kimani Friend who is the Liaison Officer for Us International Track and field INC, and Olympian Vilma Charlton.
Michelle Redd Latimer-Head Track & Field Coach at Bowie State University who is also an Author, took the time out to speak with Irie Fm Sports.
Back ground of the organization
U.S. Elite International Track and Field Club was established in October 2005, and has since changed its name to U.S. Elite International Track and Field, Inc. (U.S. Elite) after incorporating under the state of Maryland and achieving its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status as a non-profit/charitable organization. The organization is a member of the United States Association of Track and Field (USATF) and the Potomac Valley Association in Maryland.
U.S. Elite is comprised of athletes who have a passion for the sport of track and field and wish to continue to excel in this sport during or after their collegiate years, as well as at-risk student-athletes at the high school level, seeking scholarship opportunities to continue their track and field and academic pursuits.
Our organization provides room for growth and promotes the physical well being and welfare of individual athletes. The programs foster scholarship, leadership, sportsmanship and ambassadors of physical fitness.
Meanwhile, Trecia Thorpe in speaking with Irie Fm Sports said….
The event which was staged in the Bahamas last year, continues to grow in leaps and bounds, and assistant Track and Field coach at Camperdown High School Everton Birthwright who was in attendance agreed when he explained, ” This is an awesome venture by the Thorpe sisters , who themselves came from humble beginnings, and I am asking the entire Jamaica, the Jamaican Government, the Sports Ministry and the private sector to give them all the support they need.”
As a means of unwinding from a hard day , the team of the Thorpe sisters, Inez and the other officials had ice cream at the famous Devon House Ice Cream on Saturday night, before departing on Sunday Morning to the United States.