OREGON, USA — William Knibb Memorial High School’s Sanjay Seymore has turned down several offers from United States colleges, choosing to remain in Jamaica as he targets places on the country’s teams for the 2027 World Athletics Championships and 2028 Olympic Games.

The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships and Carifta Games 200m champion is coming off a season of highs and lows, including finishing third in his favourite event at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Junior Championships and missing out on an individual spot on Jamaica’s team to the 21st World Athletics Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Seymore, who recently signed a professional contract, declined to give details about his plans but confirmed to the Jamaica Observer on Sunday that he would remain in Jamaica for now.

“I can say definitely I’m staying in Jamaica for now. So yes, that’s the only thing I can say right now that I would be staying in Jamaica.”

He said he believes remaining at home gives him the best opportunity to make Jamaica’s teams for the World Championships and Olympics.

“It’s just I think it’s the best for me right now, I don’t really have anything against college,” he said. “I see that when you go college and then come back for the Jamaica trials, athletes are not at their best and then and you know we have World Championship and Olympics coming up.”

At 19, Seymore believes he has time to develop as he prepares to compete against some of the world’s leading sprinters, including Jamaica’s Oblique Seville.

“They already have their reputations, Oblique Seville is a world champion, so you can’t take that from him. So, as the rookie, I would say I’m just going into the big game with the seniors, and I’m just going to give it my best shot always, like I done in junior levels. But I know I have to put the best foot forward if I want to make it big as a Jamaican sprinter. So that’s definitely goal for me.”

Seymore had been expected to qualify for Jamaica’s team in the 200m but suffered an injury shortly before the JAAA Championships. He finished third in the final in 21.01 seconds behind Nathaniel Martin and Kyle Bodden.

He was subsequently added to the men’s 4x100m relay team and ran two strong anchor legs as Jamaica won bronze.

“After Carifta I had some injuries, went to trials and came third as I was coming back from the injury,” he said. “But I got my mind right and told myself I’m going to go on this relay and I’m going to give it my best shot and go into the best possible shape I can for the team.”

Seymore said he was pleased with his contribution to the bronze-medal effort.

“So I just went out there and give my best and we came short of the gold medal, but we still made the podium, so I’m pretty happy for that.”

Sanjay Seymore crosses the line to anchor Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m relay team to third place in the final of the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday. Jamaica clocked 39.01 seconds. (Photo: Paul A Reid)