From dance to athletics - Onanda Lowe thanks teacher for steering her to the track

Immaculate Conception High School's Onanda Lowe will be the first to tell you that she was not destined to follow in the footballing footsteps of her father Onandi and brother Damion.

In fact, it was dancing that occupied a large portion of her time in preparatory school before her dance teacher pushed her towards athletics, a decision she has not regretted.

Lowe will be making the leap to Class One in the long jump and in the sprint relays at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) as she continues to chart her own path as a member of the Lowe sporting family.

She says that she knew that she had no future in football but started running from her days at Wolmer's Preparatory School.

"My dance teacher, Ms Barbara McDaniel, big up to her," Lowe said. "She was the one who told me to focus on track and field and stop dancing. She was a part of track and field (at school). She wasn't a coach, but she was always there at track meets, ensuring that we have our [running] numbers and food.

"She encouraged me to stay on the straight and narrow with track and field because she knew that I had potential. She saw me jump, she saw me sprint, and she knew that I had it in me to go further."

Her encouragement not only changed her path in sport but her path in schools as she said it was a chance meeting and discussion with Immaculate head coach Franz Forde which convinced her to join his programme.

"Transitioning from prep to high school I was [thinking of] going to go to Wolmer's Girls, but somehow uncle Franz came into the mix and Immaculate was a part of my choices," she said. "Immaculate was good academically and they didn't really have a track team at the time. So me coming here was like an asset, building the team."

It is a decision that she says has been fulfilling, with the promise of greater things at Class One.

"I miss dancing, I am not going to lie, but I definitely did not make a wrong choice continuing with track and field because I have medalled twice at Champs, so I am really glad where I am and there is more to come."

Champs takes place at the National Stadium from April 5-9.