MONTEGO BAY, St James — Herbert Morrison Technical sprinter Deandre Daley credits the outpouring of love and support he has been receiving from his family and school for his diligence on the track.

Daley — as he relishes what has started out as an impressive and injury-free track season, having clocked a personal best time of 10.14 in the 100m at the recent Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships — told the Jamaica Observer he believes this is all possible due to the encouragement from his support team.

His parents, Daley noted, have poured selflessly into his dream of becoming one of the best junior athletes in this country.

“They are the ones who motivate me to do this. They always want to see me shine and they make sure I attend all training sessions. In my opinion, my parents brought me up really well. They make sure that I’m always heading in the right direction. They always tell me to be polite and respectful to others,” said Daley.

Reminiscing on his first introduction to track and field as a young boy, 18-year-old Daley stated that his family saw his talent and would go on to nurture his love for athletics after a sports day at Hanover-based primary school. Though soft-spoken and humble, the junior athlete could not resist pointing out that he has had multiple impressive performances during his days of competing in the annual Western Milo Relays.

“I started running at age six at a sports day at the Bethel Town Primary and Junior High School, but it was at Milo Relays in about grade five where I went out and dominated that meet. Everyone saw me; and at that age they thought that I was going to high school the following year but I was just in grade five,” he explained.

Daley further noted that after successfully completing the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) he was placed at Cornwall College, but instead sought a transfer to attend Herbert Morrison due to the school’s track and field programme and his desire to be close to his brother.

“I passed for Cornwall College but I had an aim — I wanted to go to Herbert Morrison because my brother went there. Also, transferring to Herbert Morrison, I expected to join the track team because that was one of the reasons I came here,” Daley told the Observer.

This choice was also met with immense support from the school community, he said.

“After joining the track team I instantly got adopted by even the older team members. I was a young person but I trained with the older guys on the track team and they guided me in the right steps, and I’m now here to make them proud,” he said.

Explaining that he has experienced major hamstring injuries over the last two years which have caused some setbacks, Daley is positive that with consistent training he will achieve his goal of running sub-10 this season.

“I really started enjoying Champs last year because I have been going through a lot of injuries. Last year was my breakthrough season. I entered the Champs and I left with a medal — a bronze medal. This year I left with a silver, and I know that I will improve next year,” said Daley.

“Now I am looking forward to the Carifta Games in Nassau, Bahamas. April 7-10. Firstly, I really want an injury-free track meet. Secondly, I would want to get a PB [personal best] and I’m leaning towards running the sub-10, but let’s see what happens and what God brings,” he added.

He also expects major success at this year’s Penn Relays.

“I am looking forward to gold medals in all the events I compete in; I may be doing both the 4×100 and 4×400. I am not a long distance runner but if the team needs another runner for the 4×400, I’ll be there,” he said.

In the meantime the junior athlete also told the Observer that a major goal he has is working on his start for the 100m.

“I work on my start every day that I have a block session in training. I have been getting it each time at training but when I go out, it’s a different story. I don’t know what the problem is but I will always go back to the drawing board and continue to work on it,” said Daley.