Alves dedicates win to family in Grenada

Under normal circumstances, it is never easy for a young athlete to leave their home country to find opportunities for growth. St Jago High School's Class Two shot put champion Jamora Alves is one of those examples. She left her family behind in Grenada during a pandemic for victory and growth in Jamaica and at at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs).

Alves won in a personal best throw of 14.93m, an improvement on the 14.79m mark that she set at Central Champs two weeks ago. Edwin Allen High School's Rochele Solmon (14.49m) and Damali Williams (14.00m) finished second and third, respectively.

Better environment

With a desire for greater competition and a better environment, her Grenadian coach Trevor McIntosh scanned Jamaican schools for the best fit for Alves, eventually choosing St Jago and making the move in January. Having secured the gold medal, Alves said that her victory justified the sacrifice of leaving home for a greater opportunity.

"It was really a tough journey to come out here, but I must give God thanks because today I was able to be victorious," Alves told STAR Sports. "It is very challenging knowing that you have to leave your family. [But] at the end, it was good opportunity and a good decision to come here."

Alves said that she was attracted to St Jago because of what she said is its structured approached.

"The programme is very serious and the coaches are more advanced here," she said. "So they would be able to correct my techniques better.

Alves dedicates the win to her family who fully supported her move to Jamaica. It was a chance that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, she is grateful for.

"COVID gave me the opportunity to come to Jamaica to compete at Champs," she said. "I know my family and friends and my coaches back home would be really excited. It wasn't my all today, but at least I won and it was my personal best, so I thank God for that."