St Catherine’s Headley strives on the track and in academics

St Catherine High's Kitania Headley is striving academically and in track and field, as she has a good resume at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) while excelling with schoolwork.

Headley, the head girl of St Catherine, is determined to maintain a high standard in both, being among the academic elites of her year-group cohorts annually for her six-year completed tenure, while also finding time to train and help with St Catherine's points tally, which has helped to lift them from track and field obscurity to being among the elites.

She is intent on being a rounded individual as, apart from being the co-captain of the track and field team, she is also an executive member of the Catholic Club, Peer Tutor, a programme started by head students.

She has 10 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects, with six ones and four twos, and has environment science, communication studies, biology and chemistry at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination level.

"Balancing extra-curricular activities, school and my chores are challenging but very important. Time management, reduced sleep and planning my schedule make life a little easier. Effective communication with my teachers and coach is also necessary - I am a student-athlete.

"My love for the things I am serious about while having specific athletic and academic goals and aspirations really drives me. Additionally, having a strong support system encourages and reminds me to remain focused. These are what propel my ambitions," Headley said.

PASSION

The passion for track and field started because of the desire to replicate Jamaica's athletes at international events worldwide after watching the island perform at top meets on television.

"My passion for track and field is profound and stems from when I was younger. I recall watching Jamaica's athletes on the TV representing Jamaica. That's when I realised I wanted to be just like them.

"I am very focused and disciplined in how I approach track and field, because that's how success comes. I know that, as long as I keep working hard, I will advance to the highest level," she said.

Steadfast in her focus on her track and field pursuits, Headley stepped away from a Canadian residency last year to return to Jamaica because she believed that the training offered on the island is above that of what would have become her adoptive country.

Headley helped St Catherine achieve their first top-five finish at Champs last year, and is confident they can remain among the elites at this year's event, which is scheduled for the National Stadium from March 19 to 23.

"Training has gone well so far, as I am feeling much stronger and I am working much harder, and I am very confident that it will pay off in the end. I am satisfied with my preparation, as it is to continue putting in the hard work and never give up," Headley said.

"I believe St Catherine can maintain our top-five finish as long as the girls remain focused and keep it in their mind that we are a top-five team.

"The diversity of the team is good, as we are solid. As usual, I will always do my best to ensure that the team does well once again," she continued.

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION

Headley contributed significantly to their tally last year as, competing in the Class Two girls' 800 metres, she finished third in 2:11.73 minutes, behind Monique Stewart of Edwin Allen High and Cindy Rose of Holmwood Technical. The previous year, she was second behind Edwin Allen's Rickeisha Simms, and last year she finished third in the 400 metres.

Competing in her first year in Class One, Headley, in her first race of the season at the Camperdown Classic last weekend, won her heat in an impressive 2:12.26 minutes, the best overall in the event, and leads the class this season.

Headley will meet Stewart, Simms and Rose again at Champs this year and is confident of doing well again after her impressive opener.

"I am very proud of my time in my first race of the season, and my main focus is to execute, and, once I do this, faster times will come," she said after her event.

"Last year, I had some good times, but I would not say the season was my best as I thought I could have done much better, but my preparation was not the best because I missed out on some training due to personal issues," she shared.

Headley is already looking to further her studies overseas, having already dialogued with two universities in the United States of America, seeking to go into medicine.