The Gleaner's RISING SPORT STARS 2008
published:
Saturday | August 9, 2008
AFTER SIFTING through many entries, the Gleaner Sport Desk has chosen these four talented youngsters as its athletes to watch in the future.
The selection criteria was simple - even if the actual decision making was not.
We were looking for young athletes who were excelling in their chosen sports and also showed potential for further improvement. We also aimed for diversity of sports.
With so much young talent nominated, the process of picking just four was by no means easy, but we are happy to introduce the first class of Gleaner Rising Sport Stars.
BREANNA ROMAN
Age: 12 • Sport: Swimming
Breanna Roman .. sights set on the Olympics - photo by LeVaughn Flynn
CHANCES ARE you will be reading about her representing Jamaica in a major way in the future. Because Breanna Roman's got talent, competitive edge and mom Joan providing the springboard for a promising swimming career.
Already, her achievements have earned Roman trophies and medals in excess of a hundred, with records to boot. And she's only 12.
"It's kind of like my life," admits Breanna, who does morning and evening shifts in the pool for half of the six days she practises.
"Music is my second life," she notes of her other super talent, for which she has earned a distinction in piano lessons to emerge a top performer in the Royal School of Music exams. She also plays the violin. And she's a high-school student.
Almost three weeks ago while representing Jamaica, she erased the national junior 100-metre freestyle record set by one of the island's three Olympic-bound swimmers - Alia Atkinson - at the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships (CISC), with an eye-opening 1:01.52 seconds gold medal finish that's got the local fraternity bubbling.
no bounds
Not that they weren't aware of her talent, their expectations, now, like Roman's potential, seem to know no bounds.
Roman, who started swimming at age four and entered her first competition when six years old, representing her club to this day, Blue Seal, also represents Immaculate Conception.
Since turning 11 last year, she has been the youngest member on the national senior squad.
Breanna first represented Jamaica at the 2007 Carifta Games, winning gold with the 4x100 and 4x50m 11-12 age group relay teams.
This year, when the championship was held in Aruba, she simply took it to another level, winning eight medals: In the individuals two gold - the 100m and her favoured 200m freestyle event, where she broke the national age group record; two silver - the 200m breaststroke and individual medley; and two bronze - 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle. Plus relay silver in the 4x100m and bronze in the 4x100 medley.
Such outstanding achievements won Roman the 11-12 age group FINA High Point Trophy, with 50.5 points. And there was great promise for more at the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships (CISC), held here in her own National Stadium Pool.
Instantaneously, she delivered with that 1:01.52-second gold medal swim in the 100m freestyle event that erased Atkinson's national record.
"There's no limit to where she can reach," pointed out her coach, Charles Lowe. "She has the talent, she only needs to back it up with hard training.
"She's 12 and the time that she did the other day (CISC) is right up there with the bigger ones. This is not even far from the seniors' time. There's no doubt about where she can reach," added Lowe.
That's Roman, she saves her best for the meets.
"During training, she doesn't give the coach what he wants but in competition she steps up to it," notes her mom, Joan Roman, who gave up a profession in banking to guide her child's career path.
training days
Mom wakes Breanna and takes her to morning training, which runs from 5-6:45 a.m. every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
At one point, missing that favourite morning sleep had Breanna thinking quits.
"I remember there was a time when I actually wanted to quit swimming because I have to wake up so early. But now I'm used to it."
After school, Mrs Roman carries her daughter to evening training from 4-6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Speaking of her competitive habits, Breanna said: "Very few people are like that. Some times, I go off my moods. Some people don't understand when I'm in training and I go slow, yet I go so fast in competition."
Guess it all has a little to do with that big thing - confidence.
"I've always been confident," stated the youngster quite boldly. "I'm not saying I'm not shy, it's good to be nervous ... some times the nerves, it helps you to go faster."
Mrs Roman was also quick to point out that the nurturing process at home instills self-belief.
"From she was little, we always made her feel that she can do anything. She loves music. I got her enrolled in piano classes and she sings in front of people. She sings at church, does songs in front the congregation and piano recitals. She's part of the Immaculate orchestra and she also plays the violin. All these things boost her confidence," explained mom.
She added: "Recently, she was a top performer at the Royal School of Music Awards and was invited to participate at the Institute of Jamaica luncheon concert, and also the High Achievers Concert at St Andrew High (piano)."
Music also demands a big share of Breanna's time - Tuesday and Saturday afternoons, as well as Sunday at church.
Then there is school, for which she makes study time and does homework after evening practice, whether it's swimming or music.
finding perfect balance
For Mrs Roman, it all fits into finding that perfect balance for her child.
"I don't just want a daughter who's all academic, I want a rounded daughter," she notes. "And I'm going to help her to achieve her goal in whatever area."
Though 12, she has also learnt to deal with disappointment as after winning the 100m freestyle gold at CISC, she got injured and couldn't participate for the remainder of the meet.
"At first, I was really depressed because I wasn't able to swim in my favourite event, the 200m free," Breanna recalls. "But after a while, I realised it never made sense, I cheered up and went there and cheered on my teammates."
Coincidentally, this is Olympic time and that's where Breanna's focus is transfixed.
"To the Olympics ... always," Breanna remarked when asked where she sees herself going in this sport.
"I always want to go there and make my country proud and do my best."
- Audley Boyd
Jonathan Newnham
Jonathan Newnham swinging for the stars - file
Age: 13 Sport: Golf
IT'S ALMOST too ridiculous to be true; a 13-year-old taking on the region's best golfers at the sport's premier amateur tournament.
But, as you read this, Jonathan Newnham is doing just that, going stroke for stroke with players, some three times his age, at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (CAGC) in the Cayman Islands.
In fact, halfway through the tournament, the island's youngest ever Hoerman Cup representative was ahead of most of the field, lying in equal 11th position after two rounds of three-over 74.
That 'Johnny Bravo' is excelling at golf is hardly surprising as both his grandfather, Mike, and father, Mark, have represented Jamaica at the CAGC.
What is stunning is his rapid ascension to the senior ranks.
junior 'veteran'
Under the tutelage of coach Jason Lopez, Newnham is a 'veteran' of the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships (CAJGC), having represented Jamaica at the annual tournament on five occasions already.
At this year's instalment in Trinidad and Tobago, he won the boys' 13 and Under section by a whopping 12 strokes and his gross score of two under at the par-72 layout was the best of all the age groups.
Newnham, from Hope Pastures in St Andrew, also excelled at the national trials in May where he booked an automatic berth on a young Jamaican Hoerman Cup squad.
Harking back to his triumph at the CAJGC, his father told The Gleaner recently that self-belief played a large part in the victory.
"He is a pretty confident player," Mark said. "I think he had hopes of winning and he has such a talent that, under the pressure of competition, he was able to go on and win," he said.
"He works extremely hard at his game … he was ecstatic (when he won)."
Last month, Newnham got a full taste of golf on an international scale at the British Junior Open at Hesketh Golf Club.
creditable finish
The tournament, for players under 17, saw 105 youngsters from 68 countries take part and Newnham finished a creditable 60th after battling the deep roughs and strong winds to scores of 83 and 89.
"The rough of a lake-style course is much more brutal than the courses in the Caribbean and the wind is very hard to cope with," Newnham told The Gleaner of his experience in England.
Still, it's all part of a sharply rising learning curve for Newnham the younger, who will eventually have to heed the call of the professional ranks.
Still, Jonathan has his head screwed on straight and his priorities are set.
While admitting he'd like to eventually take a shot at the pro level, Newnham still places high value on education.
"I think academia is very important," he said. "I think in another 10 years I will maybe turn pro. In the meantime, I need to work on my weaknesses … my short game really."
- Tym Glaser
JAVAURI MITCHELL
Javauri Mitchell ... I like the glory and winning makes me glad.- Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
Age: 11 Sport: Track and Field
HE MAY not be the most outstanding athlete, but 11-year-old Javauri Mitchell is surely one to watch for the future. The former Prospect Primary and soon-to-be Munro College student is a bright and talented young man, who either wants to be a professional athlete or a mechanical engineer.
Buoyed by the support of his mother, coach, teachers, family, relatives, friends and well-wishers, Mitchell has been performing well both in athletics and in the classroom, and is seen by many as one who will make everyone who knows him proud.
In athletics, his favourite sport, Mitchell is a talented 200m runner, having represented his former primary school and parish, Manchester, with distinction.
A champion boy at his primary school (various classes) for the last four years, Mitchell was instrumental in leading Prospect to the top spot of the Alpart Essex Valley Primary Schools Athletic Championships for the last three years.
champion boy
This year, after being given the honour of leading his team for the first time, Mitchell won the 100m and 200m and was a member of the successful relay team and was rewarded with the accolade of champion boy.
"He is a sportsman all-round as he plays football, cricket and track and field, but he tends to love track and field more," explained Patrick Brown, who has been his coach for the last six years.
"He is easy to get along with, follows instructions and is always encouraging his peers to do well. He is always there telling them that they can do it ... do it for the team, etc, and this I think is one of his outstanding attributes which, along with his athletic potential, should serve him well in the future," he said.Armed with his medals from the Alpart Essex Valley meet, Mitchell then turned his attention to the Blue Cross/JTA National Primary and Junior High Championships where, competing in his favourite event - the 200m, he finished third and, as a reserve member of the 4x100m team, took home a gold medal.
"I love track and field because I love the medals," said a bright and sharp Mitchell when asked why did he choose track and field over other sports, such as cricket and football of which he also represented his alma mater. "I like the glory and winning makes me glad. Sometimes, I feel shame when I lose and I feel like I don't want to talk anybody, so I always aim to win," he said.
seeking balance
Wendy Williams, his mother, also shares similar sentiments, and says she hopes that he will be able to balance his athletics and his books at Munro.
"He has been well performing ever since he started athletics and I want him to continue," she said. "I want him to have a career in track and field along with his academics.
"I was thinking of getting him into a top track-and-field high school but, after careful consideration, I chose Munro as not only will he be able to focus on track, but I also want him to have a sound education," she said.
Mitchell, who it is reported was being scouted by other top track-and-field high schools in the area, when asked as to what he needs to do to take his game to the next level, said "train hard".
"I want to train a lot more. Because I need to get more muscles and I need to be stronger. I want to get stronger so that I can get the medals and, if possible, be like a Usain Bolt or an Asafa Powell and go on to represent Jamaica."
Brown, who says he plans to monitor his young charge's progress at Munro, said Jamaica should watch out as in a few years the island could be talking about Mitchell.
"With proper dedication and focus, as he has demonstrated over the past six years, if he continues, he has a bright future. I expect him to do quite well once he continues to develop through high school and maybe one day he will go on the international circuit and represent the country at the Olympics," he said.
- Jermaine Lannaman
JOHN CAMPBELL
John Campbell ... aiming to play for Jamaica and the West Indies - Photo by Levaugh Flynn
Age: 14 • Sport: Cricket
HE SCORED his first century at 12 years old while attending Port Maria Primary - a blistering unbeaten 139 against Richmond Primary in 2006.
From then, bludgeoning that burgundy ball to all four major cardinal points has been second nature for 14-year-old John Campbell.
"I knew he was going to come out right," said Clive Campbell, the proud grandfather of John, at their home in Jackson, St Mary, on Monday.
"We have always been a cricketing family. I played, his father played ... and he always had his own gear - bat, ball, helmet," he said.
With that support behind him, John has gone on to score several more centuries, the most significant coming for the West Indies Under-15 team on April 26 in Trinidad and Tobago when he smashed 112 against Bangladesh at the inaugural CLICO International Youth Championships. That innings earned him Man-of-the-Match honours and went down as his best performance to date in his young career.
"I had to bat through the innings because Kraigg Brathwaite (opening partner) got out early and I stayed there until the 48th over," said Campbell, who faced 120 balls and hit nine fours and a six.
important century
John's century was particularly important, as the second-highest scorer, Akeem Saunders, managed only 23 runs.
The self-described aggressive left-handed opening batsman may be considered a genuine all-rounder as well. In the same CLICO Youth Tournament, which the West Indies won, John earned Man-of-the-Match honours for his bowling against the Americas team when he took 6-43 with his off spin and he was also active in the field taking numerous catches.
The West Indies selectors first got wind of Campbell, who begins third form next month at Tacky High, when he played for Jamaica's Under-15 team as a 13-year-old last year and ended the tournament as the team's top scorer. He top-scored for Jamaica again this year when they won the Under-15 title before joining the Under-19 team in Barbados last month as the youngest member.
The Gleaner met John, who's more commonly known by his middle name, Dillon, for the first time on Monday at his home in St Mary. A 20-minute drive from the capital town Port Maria, a winding, narrow and treacherous road takes you through the small districts of Sandside, Langley, Boyne Park, Preston Hill and finally Jackson. John's grandfather, Clive, a diminutive but spirited elderly man, pointed to a string hanging from the roof on their verandah. With a cricket ball cloaked in a sock attached to the end, Campbell said this is where John began working on his batting at eight years of age.
"He would stand here," Campbell said demonstrating, "and hit the ball with the bat and it would come back to him and he would keep on doing that.
"If you look on his form now, he has a very orthodox form; he's an orthodox batsman," his father, John Sr, added.
What started off as a fleeting interest in the sport, soon became John's passion.
"At 12, he came to me and said his ambition was to make the national Under-15 team at age 14, the Under-19 team at 16 and to make the senior team at 19 or 20," Campbell recalled. "So, he's well ahead."
At the time John was planning his future, he was still attending Port Maria Primary but was way head of his years as he played Senior Cup cricket for St Mary.
word out
After leaving primary school in 2006, the word was out on the talented batsman from Port Maria.
"All the top schools were after him. Any school you can think of made an offer of free everything," said Campbell. The family subsequently accepted an offer from Holmwood Technical, but John spent only one year there. He did, however, leave his mark with a knock of 140 against Seaforth High in the Headley Cup. With a desire to be close to his family, John transferred to Tacky High in 2007 but had to sit out a year based on the rules of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association. Now that he's eligible to play, Tacky High's coach Jefferton Meek is expecting John to lead his team's bid for the title.
"With his experience and potential, I expect him to help our Headley Cup chances," said Meek.
Another memorable century by John was his 101 in an Under-15 Twenty/20 trial match at his "favourite pitch", Elletson Road. John said he isn't too fond of cricket's new craze but pointed out the money is attractive.
"The money is there in Twenty/20 and most players are gravitating towards it," he said.
With experience and exposure beyond his years, John should be right at home when he gets a senior call-up for Jamaica or the West Indies.
"I think I'll get there one day, I just have to keep on making runs," he said.
