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Ambitious Muschett High cop Jill Stewart Scholarship for sports
September 24, 2024
WESTERN BUREAU:
Buoyed by the success Muschett High School has been enjoying, including copping the 2024 Jill Stewart Sports Scholarship (valued at $300,000) for track and field prowess, the Trelawny school's track and field coach Garth Smythe is yearning for continued advancement of his student-athletes.
"The scholarship is welcome, and we will use it, hopefully, to enhance the training programme and to get these kids better equipment to get us going, because the kids are struggling equipment-wise," said Smythe.
"Any form of help as it relates to equipment, or nutrition-wise or supplement-wise, will help us."
In addition to the Jill Stewart Sports Scholarship money, which was part of the $8 million in scholarship funds handed out to students across western Jamaica from proceeds from the annual Jill Stewart MoBay City Run, the school was also provided with a freezer and a workout sled for the athletics team.
"Preparation is not the issue, it is just that with equipment and nutrition, we need help. We need help with hydration, because sometimes the water alone cannot do it," explained Smythe.
During this year, students from the 55-year-old Muschett High participated in the 2024 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girl's Athletics Championships (Champs) in March, the Grenada-hosted Carifta Games, and the World Under-20 Games in South Africa between June and July.
At Champs, Shanoya Douglas claimed gold in the Class Two girls' 200 metres and 400 metres, while Johan-Ramaldo Smythe - the coach's son - won gold in the 200m for Class Two boys, while Osmond Holt got the bronze in the decathlon.
The school's athletes, as members of Jamaica's team, claimed four gold and two silver medals at the Carifta Games, and one gold and one bronze medal at the World Under-20 Games.
Double gold medallist Douglas described her participation in track events for Muschett High as being second nature.
"Sports has always been a passion of mine, it was just like second nature to me, so anywhere I was, I would always put myself in some sports. When I went to Muschett and heard they had a track team, I was like, 'okay, I am going to do track and field', and then I fell in love with the team," said Douglas.
Her teammate Smythe expressed pride at representing Muschett High to the extent that the school could have won the Jill Stewart Sports Scholarship.
"I feel honoured and elated about us getting this scholarship, and it was a great feeling for me to know that Muschett was getting the spotlight and recognition it deserves. Sports comes natural to me, because my parents competed in the past, so it is a generational thing," said young Smythe.
In March, Douglas, Smythe, and Holt, all first-time medallists, were honoured by Muschett High during a parade in Wakefield Square in Trelawny.
P.J. Stewart, mother-in-law of the late Jill Stewart after whom the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run and the sports scholarship are named, hailed the Muschett High student-athletes for their sporting performance.
"We are celebrating your achievements and acknowledging your bright future and journey on to the world stage. You are true champions, and the spirit of a champion is measured not just by medals, but by resilience and determination," said Stewart.
"Always remember that you are not only representing your school, but you are also representing our beautiful Jamaica."
