After missing last year ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships due to a serious groin injury, Jamaica College’s newly crowned Class One 200m champion Malique Smithband never thought he would have competed at this year’s event were it not for his mother Kadian Smith.

Smithband told the Jamaica Observer that the injury took a devastating toll on him mentally and physically and there were thoughts of him quitting sport, but his mother has been his rock and supported him every step of the way, offering words of inspiration at every turn.

“I am very elated to win a gold and silver because when I was out last season, there was a lot of depression and stress,” said Smithband.

“However, my mother is always behind me and motivating me no matter what the circumstances because she is always telling me that my time will come and now I am here as a gold and silver medal winner at Champs,” he added.

After winning the silver medal in the 400m on Thursday, the 19-year-old Smithband returned on Saturday to capture the gold medal in the 200m in a new personal best time of 20.90 seconds.

St Elizabeth Technical’s Javorne Dunkley was second in 21.40, while third went to Smithband’s teammate Jaiden Reid in 21.52.

Smithband, who was competing in his final year at the event, had an excellent championships, which saw him also recording personal best time of 45.74 in the 400m event.

He shared that based on his progression this year, he is hoping to run a lot faster in both events before the season ends.

“I knew the shape that I was in coming into the championships with and I actually think that I could have gone a lot faster, but the season is long because it is just April and there are a lot of surprises to come,” Smithband said.

“My confidence is always up and I trust God and I just went out there and produced and so I am very happy with the end result. I just came out here today [Saturday] and just produced, not only for myself, but for my family and also for my team,” he said.

Smithband added that he currently has eight Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)) subjects and he is now pursuing a number of Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects because he plans to attend university overseas.

“I am just waiting now to see what the transition would be like when I move on to college next year,” Smithband noted.