Davis signs for the Longhorns

National junior sprinting star Kevona Davis of Edwin Allen High will be a student at top Division One school, the University of Texas, when the 2020-21 school year begins.

Davis will pursue a degree in psychology at the Austin-based institution.

The Edwin Allen athlete, who has season's best times of 11 .34 seconds over 100m and 22.86 seconds for 200m, is ranked number two and one, respectively, in the sprint events. Her teammate Tia Clayton, with 11.29 seconds, is ahead of her in the 100m. Davis said attending University of Texas, also known as the Longhorns, is a dream come true for her.

"Despite what people were thinking, I really had my mind set on continuing my academics and was not thinking about going professional because I always wanted to get a degree," the 18 year-old said.

OTHER JAMAICANS

Davis, who won a bronze medal in the 100m at the World Under-19 championships in 2017, will join two other Jamaicans at the university, former Vere Technical quarter-miler Sanique Walker and Stacy Ann Williams, a former St Elizabeth Technical 400m runner. She will also team up with former St Catherine High sprinter Julien Alfred of St Lucia, the top collegiate female sprinter this season, both indoors and outdoors.

Head coach at the University of Texas, Edrick Floreal, is elated to have signed Jamaica's best young female sprinter."We are very excited about the signing of world-class talent Kevona Davis. We are looking forward to her arrival and believe she will fit in well with our current student athletes," Floreal said. Michael Dyke, head coach of Edwin Allen, says he believes Davis has made the right move. "I believe it is the right place for her after her decision to study abroad. She has been with us since she was 11 years old and will be missed. I am confident that with her level of discipline and commitment she will do well," said Dyke.