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Having been named patron for the 2025 staging of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Sagicor National Athletics Championship, sprint icon Veronica Campbell-Brown is ready to use her role to inspire Jamaica’s next generation of athletes.
“I have enjoyed giving back,” Campbell-Brown said.
“Over the years, I have received support, encouragement and inspiration from others and I feel now I am in a position to use my experiences and my voice to uplift, motivated and inspire the next generation of athletes and women and take that role seriously.”
For Campbell-Brown, her role as the championship patron is special, as she started her track and field career at the same meet decades ago.
She remembers the championships as a major development platform in her storied career, and is hopeful the next generation of Jamaican athletes can experience the same.
“It is very important. The JTA Sagicor National Athletics Championship is very valuable in developing and shaping the next generation, and I am very happy to be a part of it,” she said.
“It is truly an honour to be the patron for this year’s championship. It is a championship that played a very important role in my development,so I am happy to be back, supporting the young kids and being here as a patron.”
She continued, “It all started with the JTA Sagicor National Athletics Championships and it laid the foundation for me to go on and achieve all that I have in track and field.
“So it was a launchpad for me that helped me to gain the focus, the discipline and the experience that I carried throughout my career.”
The sprint icon, however, said the championship is more than just about winning medals, but, rather, enjoying a new experience and building the students’ characters.
She explained that not all the students at the championship will pursue the sport as a professional career, but said it should not prevent them from enjoying their time on the track.
“Have fun,” she said. “That is the most important thing.
EXPERIENCE
“Get out there and stay focused. Soak in the experience, work hard and just get out there and put their best effort. At the end of the day, when they have finished competing and look back and realised that they give it their best, they will be proud.
“It’s not always about winning or losing, but about the experience you gain and how you’re going to use that experience to shape your future. That’s why I say have fun, enjoy the moment and enjoy being in a competitive environment and support each other.”
Campbell-Brown also praised the meet’s title sponsor, Sagicor, who she applauded for its efforts in providing the perfect platform for the young athletes.
“I am very pleased to see that, after 40 years, Sagicor is still here supporting and developing the Jamaican youth,” she said.
“It is absolutely important because organisations like Sagicor play a very important role in developing our youth, because we need that support at the grassroots to help aid their development so they can get all the resources and support they need to continue improving and move on to the next stage in life.”
The two-day championship will begin today and see the best young athletes across all the parishes compete for the national title.
English (US) ·