T&T athletes off to US on track scholarships. 

Secondary Schools' Track & Field 

Xavier Mulugata
Fatima College's Xavier Mulugata will be off to Louisiana State University (LSU) on an athletic Scholarship from January 2017. 

(Photo courtesy-Memphis  Pioneers Athletic Club)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Xavier Mulugata (Fatima College) joins a list of T&T athletes who received athletic scholarships to US universities. Mulugata will begin his studies at Louisiana State University (LSU) in January 2017. He won gold at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Track and Field Championships in Mexico in the boys under 18 4x100m and also bronze in the boys under 20 4x100m at the 2015 Carifta Games in St. Kitts Nevis. Several other T&T athletes left for US in August including Dawnell Collymore (West Mucurapo Secondary), Ian Thomas (St. Anthony's College) and Kai Ottley (Bishops Anstey). Collymore, the 2011 Carifta girls under 20 800m bronze medallist, is at ASA College while Thomas is a student at Coahoma Community College. Ottley began studies at St. John's University.

Meanwhile, former CAC Junior champions Hezekiel Romeo (Diego Martin Sec & St. Anthony's College) and Reubin Walters (East Mucurapo Sec) completed their Junior College scholarships at Central Arizona and will move on to the University of Missouri and University of Alabama respectively. Romeo, who won the 2010 CAC Juniors boys under 17 and 2013 Carifta boys under 20 shot put titles, will start at Missouri in January joining Jonathan Holder (QRC). Walters, the 2012 CAC Junior boys under 18 100m hurdles winner opted for Alabama also from January. Walters will team up with Jereem Richards (ASJA Boys College) and Domonique Williams (San Juan Sec). Carifta boys under 17 long jump bronze medallist in 2013 Che Richards (St. Mary's College) left for University of Edingburgh, in the UK in September on a four year Academic scholarship. He was named the top National Open Language performer in 2015. Richards is the third athlete in recent years to win an Open Academic scholarship following Astrid Cassimire (Bishops Anstey) Mathematics-2012 and Zara Suite-Stewart (St. Joseph Convent-POS), Sciences-2013.

Former Carifta gold medallist (2013-gold-girls under 17 300m hurdles), Jeminise Parris (St. Francois Girls College) will be off to Central Arizona in January. Parris will join 2014 CAC Junior/2015 Carifta girls under 20 champion Portious Warren (St. Augustine Sec) at Central Arizona. CAC Juniors Boys Under 18 4x100m gold medallists from 2014 Corey Stewart (El Dorado East Sec) will be off to Sequoia College joining compatriots Holland Caberra (Holy Cross), Theon Lewis (St. Madeleine Sec), Odell James (Sangre Grande Sec), Shaquille Shinguineau (QRC) and Ashron Sobers (Signal Hill Sec).

Meanwhile, 2010 World Junior 4x100m bronze medallist Jamol James (Chaguanas North Sec/St. Anthony's College/QRC) graduated from Arizona State University earlier this year with his bachelor's degree. Double Carifta long jump medallist Atiba Wright (Harmons SDA, Tobago) also graduated from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) with his first degree along with another Carifta competitor Nicholon Caesar (Scarborough Sec). Deandra Daniel (Williamsville Sec), two-time Carifta girls under 17 high jump bronze medallist, graduated from Coppin State University. These student/athletes all competed for their schools at the National Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships. Former Holy Cross student/athlete Keston Adolphe graduated as medical doctor from the University of West Indies-Mona in October.

The Trinidad and Tobago Secondary Schools Track and Field Association extends congratulations on their accomplishments and wish them more success. Congratulations also to the respective staff and schools for their integral roles in producing these all-round student athletes.

Several other products of the Secondary Schools Championships are currently on scholarships in schools in the US including multiple Carifta champions Mark London (Bishops High/Coppin State) and Kayelle Clarke (La Romaine Secondary/New Mexico). The list includes former CAC Junior gold medallists Aaliyah Telesford (Pt. Fortin Secondary/South Plains), Zakiya Denoon (Speyside High/Munroe College) and Maurisa Prieto (Palo Seco Secondary/South Plains) as well as Trishelle Leacock (Bishops High/Miami), Jesse Berkely (Penal Sec/Wiley), Jamoul Pierre (QRC/Southwest Christian), Khemani Roberts (Signal Hill Sec/Coppin State), Sterlin Paul (Chaguanas North Sec/Abilene Christian), Breon Mullings (Fatima College/Miami), Moriba Morain (Wiley), Haysean Cowie-Clarke (Scarborough Sec & Bishops High/Coppin State), Jessica King (Holy Name Convent/Abilene Christian) and Micah Ballantyne (North Gate College/Adam State).

The vision of the TTSSTFA is to be the leader of track and field development in Trinidad and Tobago through: (a) formulation of strategic relationships globally and in Trinidad and Tobago ; (b) effective promotion of track and field initiatives; (c ) professionally executed track and field events.  In addition to categories for secondary schools students the organisers introduced an more division for tertiary students, teachers and members of the public. A Fun Aerobics and Zumba session is planned for after the race to aid the competitors in cooling down.

For more information on the 2016 T&T Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships
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website: http://www.ttsstfa.com
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