Shanoya Douglas looks ahead to East Coast International
Maryland, United States — Muschett High School sprinter Shanoya Douglas is eager to compete at the third staging of the East Coast International Showcase Track and Field Championships here at the Prince George Sports and Learning Complex on Saturday.
Douglas is down to participate in the girls’ 100m and 200m events. She expressed her enthusiasm in competing in both events, stating that she has been diligently preparing for the championships.
“I have been preparing well for the meet because I heard that the competition is going to be very tough, as everyone is coming out there hard to win, so I am ready for it on Saturday,” she said.
“I am going out there to do my best because I have been preparing mentally and physically for it, as I know that a lot of persons will be looking forward to me doing well out there. I have been running well all season, from Champs to Carifta Games, so I want to continue at this meet and to make my coach [Garth Smythe], school, and family proud.”
Douglas, 16, recently achieved a personal best time of 23.16 seconds, securing the gold medal in the girls’ Under-20 200m event at the Carifta Games last month. Additionally, she clinched a bronze medal in the girls’ Under-20 100m at the same meet. She won the Class Two double in the 200m and 400m at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association(ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, recording a personal best of 52.96s in the 400m semi-finals.
Douglas says that while she is not familiar with her competitors, her focus remains on delivering strong performances in both events.
“I am not focusing on anybody right now because I am just going there to run my races and to run some fast times in the 100 and 200 metres events,” she said. “I am going out there to enjoy the moment and live in the moment and do my best and hopefully the fast times will come on Saturday.
Some of the Jamaican schools listed to compete at the meet include Hydel, St Jago (both boys’ and girls’ teams), Excelsior boys, Jamaica College, Wolmer’s Girls’, Muschett, and St Elizabeth Technical.
