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Jamal Walton - The Best is yet to Come by Noel "Bravo" Francis

Published by
DyeStatFL.com   Jul 29th 2015, 4:56pm
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JAMAL WALTON - THE BEST IS YET TO COME

By Noel ‘Bravo’ Francis for DyeStat Florida

It is not every day you come across an athlete with the unique distinction of holding his country’s national records at the youth, junior and senior levels, all at the same time. Jamal Walton is one of those rare athletes. The Cayman Islands representative who lives and trains in Miami, Florida is ranked the fourth fastest quarter miler (45.99) in the world in the under-18 age group. Walton, who turns 17 in November, has been a member of the Miami Gardens Xpress Track Club since he was 8 years old.

Jamal Walton’s amazing journey started initially when his parents migrated from the Cayman Islands to the United States when he was at a tender age. Looking at all of Walton’s achievements thus far, it seems as if it was his destiny to relocate and get opportunities that perhaps are not available in his homeland. Walton is now the best high school quarter miler in Florida.

At first, Walton took a while to settle down and fit into his new environment. According to the newly appointed American HS track coach Darius “Coach D” Lawshea, “When I first met Jamal he really didn’t say anything for two years, he was very quiet and didn’t speak to any kid, but he always listened when I coached him”. The coach further stated “I thought kids picked at him because he talked different from the other kids as he had just come from the Cayman Islands. He got in a lot of fights with other kids because he was trying to find a way to fit in and I used to tell him to let people like you for who you are kid”. The coach’s advice did the trick and Jamal is now one of the coolest kids you will ever meet.

Jamal Walton has been a little warrior throughout his track career racing on several occasions against older competitors and getting desirable results. At the 2015 Hurricane Invitational Meet in March held at the University of Miami, Walton captured the men’s 400m in 46.80 seconds, defeating a few seniors on that occasion. He was also in spanking form at the Orange Bowl FLYTAF Invitational winning his heat in 46.16 seconds, a new personal best at that time.  He looked commanding on his way to victory at the Golden South Classic in May winning the one-lap event in 46.22 seconds.

Most athletes who come up against Walton in a quarter mile event can attest to his tenacious spirit and know that they will have to be at their best to defeat him. At the Cayman Invitational Meet, Walton (46.30) and aspiring World Youth Champion, Christopher Taylor (46.08) of Jamaica, produced one of the most competitive and exciting races of the evening, both ran under the previous meet record of 47.74 seconds incidentally held by Walton.

In fact, coach Lawshea confirmed this race as one of his proudest moments when he was asked that question. He said, “When he ran against Christopher Taylor at the 2015 Cayman Invitational Meet, he went at Chris and had the race won until the last 10 meters. The race was a perfect race, we knew then what we were going to work on when we got back to the States.”

The 9th IAAF World Youth Championship in Cali, Colombia in July marked the third meeting between Taylor and Walton in 2015. In the final, Walton ran courageously from lane eight to claim fourth and registered another personal best and National record of 45.99 seconds. More importantly, all three medalists ahead of Walton had to bring their ‘A’ game to keep him off the podium. Taylor (45.27), Josephus Lyles (45.46) recorded personal bests and Keshun Reed ran his second fastest time ever (45.93) to edge Walton for the bronze medal.

It was the first time that four athletes ran below 46 seconds in the men’s 400m final at a World Youth Championship. This was a remarkable achievement for Walton considering that he spent 1½ months exploring his football ambitions and only came back to track training a week before the championship.

Two things that can make or break athletes nowadays are motivation and pressure. In Jamal Walton’s case motivation is very important and this is where his astute coach plays an influential role. The coach explained that he has to talk to Jamal with love and reasoning and show him why things are done in a particular way. It is something that the coach does for all his athletes at Miami Gardens Xpress Track Club. “I have found out in coaching kids that you can’t just tell kids what to do. You have to explain why and give a reason because if you don’t they will try their own way, which they do sometimes anyways.”

The coach knows that pressure on the track is inevitable and feels Walton handles himself well in those situations. “He handles pressure very well, but, at times he is still a kid and he gets scared. I tell him that his life has already been written for him and greatness is at the beginning, middle and end, son. He loves when I call him son.”

Lawshea shared his strategy for getting Walton pumped up and in the right frame of mind for any challenge. He said: “When you make him believe in himself that he can be great! With Jamal everything is a mind thing and he knows if he don’t practice and listen he will not accomplish all of his goals. Jamal is a very unique kid and he takes special handling.”

Walton will next be in action at the Pan-American Junior Athletics Championships in Edmonton, Canada from July 31-August 2, 2015 competing in the 200m and 400m. He knows his chances of medaling in the 400m are great based on his times this season and the fact that several top ranked juniors will be missing in Edmonton. From the Nike Elite Sprinter's camp which he is attending, Walton says, “All I have to do is keep focused and trust my training.”

At the start of the upcoming academic year, Walton will be attending American Senior High School. He will count on his earlier experiences in life and ensure that his transition this time around is as smooth as silk. It would not hurt his chances if he went to his new school as a Pan-Am Junior champion. Victory would also be a great testimony to the hard work being done by all the coaches at the Miami Gardens Xpress Track Club.

 

About the Author:

 


Noel ‘Bravo’ Francis is a very exciting and creative freelance sports writer from Jamaica specializing in the fields of athletics and cricket. His colourful down to earth yet professional personality makes him a favourite amongst athletes and fans. Readers are often exposed to his detailed knowledge and passion which usually increase their interest in the athletes, events and the sport overall. He has a first degree in Banking & Finance and works in the financial industry. Contact Noel at [email protected]

 

Follow Noel "Bravo" Francis on Twitter @nanthonyfrancis

Read More from Noel on DyeStat Florida HERE

 



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