Andre Ewers had one dream and that is to represent his country.

That dream is now a reality as he qualified for the IAAF World Championships in the 200m and will don the black, gold and green of Jamaica at the Pan Am Games set for July 24 to August 11 in Lima, Peru.

The 24-year-old Ewers, of Florida State University (FSU), attended Shiloah Primary School in St Elizabeth before he migrated in 2007 as a 12-year-old, is grateful for the opportunities that have opened up for him.

“I’m feeling very blessed and highly favoured because it was my first time trying out for the team, and it’s something I worked really hard for and dreamed of to represent my country,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Ewer, who had a breakout collegiate year in 2018, shut down his season after the NCAA Championship and missed the Jamaican Championship with the view of being ready for the 2019 World Championships in Doha, and that decision has certainly paid off.

Ewers has personal bests of 9.98 for the 100m and 20.14 for the 200m and also ran a wind-aided 19.98 (2.3 mps). He finished third in the 200m at the Jamaican Championship in 20.48 behind winner Rasheed Dwyer in 20.23 and Yohan Blake with 20.27m. Earlier he failed to make the final of the 100m, finishing seventh in the semi-final, clocking with a disappointing 10.35.

He was second in a tough first round heats in a relaxed looking 10.25 and had behind him the likes of Nesta Carter, Oshane Bailey, Jevaughn Minzie and Nigel Ellis. Rasheed Dwyer won in 10.17.

Little is known of Ewers, especially since he didn’t come through Champs and he is based overseas. What can fans expect from this little known sprinter?

“They can expect great things as long as I’m healthy and running they can expect great things to come. I believe God has not expose me to what I’m truly capable of as of yet,” said Ewers.

“I didn’t make the 100m, but I have Olympic Trials next year and as of now I collect the experience and run with it. I’m focused on what God have blessed me with, the 200m as of now. I just have a passion for the sport and I love to compete with everything I got with a purpose regardless if it’s the 100 or 200 metres,” he pointed out.

Ewers is the top-ranked Jamaican over 200m with his 20.14 achieved on May 25 in Jacksonville, Florida, which puts him 20th in the world behind world number one Michael Norman of the USA with 19.70. In the 100m he is ranked 33rd with his 10.06 clocking.

“The plan going forward is to get ready for the World Championships and whatever my coach, and my agent have plan for me,” said Ewers.

“With injuries that I have overcome early this year and my long season as of right now, I would be satisfied with making finals and being on the podium in any championship meet that I complete in and a personal best,” he said.

Ewers is a man of God who wants to inspire other people with his testimony throughout his journey. He started track and field when he was in the ninth grade, running 11.77 in the 100m and 57 seconds in the 400m. He noted that “people laugh at me and told me to give up, but I kept going because I see the vision of me doing great things”.