In the same year that Shelly-Ann Fraser surprised the world and won the women’s 100m gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Jura Levy won the Class Two girls 100m in record time for Vere Technical High School at the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships.

Levy, who also goes by the nickname “Pocket Rocket”, then went overseas where she attended Oklahoma Baptist University and and also qualified to represent Jamaica at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. She was 20 years old.That achievement she ranks over the gold medal she won just a few weeks ago while representing Jamaica in the women’s 4x200m at her first World Relays in the Bahamas.“I know most people would say the World Relays (would be their favourite moment) and even though it was one of the greatest moments wearing my Jamaican colours, and seeing the flag raised and hearing the National Anthem played, as great a moment as that was, it was a relay and a team effort that I could not have done on my own.“But speaking based on individual performances, I would have to say my first World Championships in 2011, when I ran the 100m and made it to the semi-final is the best moment for me so far. Even though I did not make it to the final, I was the happiest 20-year-old,” she said.After six years overseas where she struggled to maintain her fitness, Levy has returned to Jamaica and with a bang. This she credits to the way she now prepares for the track and field season.“Well, for one, background is no joke, as well as gym. I’m actually working. Whereas in college I used to play around and hide when it was gym time,” she admitted.Like many other athletes around the world,and especially here in Jamaica, Levy is inspired by Usain Bolt, but maybe for a slightly different reason than most. She also says she will be sad to see him leave the sport.“We are both from small towns in Trelawny and to see how he has worked hard and made it is truly inspirational. It gives me hope that I, too, can make it, but at the same time I’m sad to see him go.“I am very grateful to be a part of the upcoming Racers Grand Prix (as) it was one of the best meets in Jamaica last year and I enjoyed the experience of running against some of the best athletes in the world,” Levy noted.The sprinter, who has personal bests of 11.10 seconds in the 100m and 22.76 in the 200m, says that despite representing Jamaica all over the world, the National Stadium in Kingston is still her favourite place to run, and she is looking forward to putting on a good show for the thousands of fans expected to flock the venue on June 10.There has been a lot said about what might happen in Jamaican male sprinting after the legend hangs up his spikes, but Levy believes that everything will be okay.“I believe we will be okay. There are a lot of young and upcoming athletes with a bright future and I believe staying focused and working hard will get them to where they need to be. Listening to their coaches and staying injury-free are two key components to that happening,” she said.Now 26 years old, Levy is coming of age at the right time, in terms of experience and the transition that is set to take place at the elite level in Jamaica’s track and field. She will also be looking to make a statement at the World Championships in London later this year.