Shanoya religiously breathes track

"It's like a religion. Without track and field I would go crazy," uttered the passionate 16-year-old rising sensation, Muschette High's Shanoya Douglas, whose current top priority is to someday become a professional athlete.

"I can't imagine myself not doing track and field. I never stop. I do it every day. It is like nature to me, and it is like breathing, too," she continued.

Douglas, who is preparing for the 118th staging of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America (USA), starting on Thursday, told STAR Sports she is not focused on rivals when competing.

"I am not worried about anybody. I am working to run a good race and a good time. I don't care about those things; I just love to run. As long as I have a chance to run, I am on cloud nine just running. Just being in a lane and hearing my name called, that is the only thing I care about," the confident Douglas said.

DOUBLE MEDALLIST

Douglas is the first girl at Muschett to be crowned a double gold medallist after she won the 200 metres and 400 metres at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships (Champs) last month at the National Stadium.

A week after, at the regional Carifta Games, she won a medal in the 200 metres and anchored Jamaica's 4x100 and 4x400 metres to victory.

According to Douglas, she had no expectations going into Champs and the Carifta Games, but just went with the flow and was happy to execute.

Her love for track and field all started during her days at basic school, with the motivation to be an athlete coming from family members, who were once athletes.

"I knew I wanted track and field as a career, so I pushed myself from basic school to primary school and continued into high school. I knew I wanted to be an athlete because I grew up watching my mother doing the 100 and 200 metres and my aunt and sister, who used to run. It was like running is in my blood," she said.

"My uncle Howard Reid also played for Jamaica's (under-20) Reggae Boyz, so that also motivated me as well," she added.

BALANCE

Douglas acknowledged that balancing schoolwork, home duties and track and field is challenging.

"It hard balancing all three. Some days I fall short, and I ask for an extension. However, if I can't manage something, I am not afraid to ask for help.

"When I can't do things when I get home because I am tired, I have a very understanding family, so they will pick up where I fall short," she told STAR Sports.

"I am doing well in school and was recommended to do two subjects now, while in grade 10. They are physical education and social studies," she added.

Meanwhile, the 16-year-old stated that training is going well so far for the Penn Relays and other upcoming meets, and she hopes to stay healthy and injury-free.

She is targeting a specific time in the 200 metres, which she hopes to get this year.

"I want to run back my 23.03 seconds, but I want it to be legal this time. When I was in Grenada (at the Carifta Games) and I ran it, in my 200 metres in the final, it was illegal (wind assisted). I was disappointed in that, so I want to run it back," she explained.