Kingston College (KC) quarter-miler Shaemar Uter will be heading to Texas Tech University where he will be majoring in mechanical engineering.

The promising Uter, who has a personal best of 46.37 over 400m, is excited about his scholarship to one of the top universities in the United States of America.

“Texas Tech provides a very unique blend of academics and sports. Their facilities, which is one of the best in the states, coupled with their training regime, I believe best suits to aid in my progression as an athlete,” said Uter.

The smooth-running 19-year-old, who had the fastest relay split of 46.00 flat at the recent Penn Relay that propelled KC to victory in the Championships of Americas high school boys’ 4x400m, only returned to full training a few weeks before Boys’ Champs in March.

“This season has definitely been my hardest one to date after a delayed start due to minor injuries, I had to deal with the struggles of recovering from an operation which I had done in early January,” Uter told the Jamaica Observer.

“I must confess I’m still in shock of my performances and progression thus far as I was only cleared to compete and train two weeks before the Carifta Trials,” he explained.

Uter, in his first race of the season on March 11, clocked 46.99 and entered the Carifta Games Trial 400m final with the fastest time. But the lack of background training showed up in the final and he finished third in 47.47.

A week later he ran 47.26 at the G C Foster Classic in his third race of the season before clocking 47.10 in winning his semi-final at Champs on April 6.

But his lack of preparation showed up in the final as he finished eighth in 48.31 after entering the straight on the shoulders of the winner, Gregory Prince of St Jago, who stopped the clock at 45.99.

Then Uter would return on May 21 at the JAAA Development meet and achieved his personal best of 46.37 and continued his improved form by clocking 46.81 in preparation for the National Junior Championship to make Jamaica’s team to the World Under-20 Championship in Colombia starting August 2.

“As for my ambition towards the rest of the season, it’s simply to just remain in good health, have faith in God’s timing and follow the instructions of my coach,” said Uter.

“Conditioning has been going rather well, my Coach Richard Smith has really been doing overtime in getting me prepared for the championship working on both strength and mentality issues,” he added.