Competing in itself is hard: finding and maintaining the right mindset, executing the instructions drilled at you by coaches, and being fearless and doubtless as you step into the ring. But the glee of triumph arises when a standard is met, when rankings are climbed, and when obstacles are not just hurdled but kicked down.

Adjusting to a new environment, the training regimen and competition were initially difficult for me. The training was particularly arduous because although I got through the workouts my body would cry out in pain. Despite my efforts to improve my training habits by adequately hydrating, warming up and warming down, I still experienced some inconveniences. I’ve had a strained quad, tight hamstrings, latissimus dorsi, deltoids, ‘pecs’ and the list goes on. I was so frustrated. I questioned myself. What could I possibly be doing wrong? I was doing everything according to the book yet my muscles were still tight. My flexibility had spectacularly improved. I was eating better. It just wasn’t adding up. Nevertheless, I persevered. I continued to do everything by the book and hope for the best.

Despite my condition, I still performed well. I bettered my personal best three times this year, thus improving my country’s record three times, finished third at conference, second on my school’s all-time performance list, and made it to the national championships as a freshman while maintaining rankings within the world junior top 5 for discus. Competing at such a high level made me so excited to represent my country this year because I know after enduring through this year prepared me to contribute to The Bahamas’ medal count.

Qualifying for the Junior PanAmerican U20 Athletics Championships gives me a chance to prove that I can contribute to the medal count as well as redeem myself from my performance at D1 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Wearing the aquamarine, gold and black evokes this sense of indescribable pride and confidence and invincibility. I am beyond ecstatic to be a part of such an elite competition. I am ever so confident in my teammates, although small in quantity our quality is world class. I want my teammates to excel at this meet because I know that they have the capability to do so. All of us are hardworking, and hard work pays off; Jr. PanAm is just the opportunity to reap our awards.