Lewis eager to represent SVG

Jared Lewis wants to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines at some upcoming internationals meets, and is endeavouring to make this a reality.

But the 24-year-old Lewis is renewing his acquaintances with the land of his birth, after migrating to Canada 18 years ago.{{more}}

With his legal documents sorted, Lewis is currently working on attaining the qualifying times.

“My goals for this year are to get ready for the World Indoors and make the standard for the Olympic Games”, Lewis told SEARCHLIGHT last week Friday, while going through his paces at the Grammar School Playing Field.

The 12th edition of these championships is set for March 7 to 9, in Valencia, Spain, with Lewis having until February 25 to reach the required standards. The Olympics are set for Beijing, China, in August.

Originally from Sion Hill, and with other family ties in Mesopotamia, Lewis attended the Central State High School in Canada, and the St. Louis Community College in the USA.

His best time in his pet event the 100m is 10.38 seconds, which was clocked last year at the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) championships, but he has to shave off some by July 6, if he wants to make the final cut for China.

Lewis has two times to aim at: 10.21 seconds, which is the A standard and 10.28 seconds, which is the B standard.



A confident Lewis believes that this attainable. This was endorsed by technical director of the Team Athletics SVG, Gideon Labban (photo right), who said he was impressed by his work ethic and drive for the sport.

A proud looking Lewis holds his 6.72 seconds in the 60m as one achievement that is dear to him.

With his eyes fixed on national representation, Lewis said, “I am going to go back up (Canada) and train with the pros and run in some meets”.

“There is nothing better than to represent your national team, as it gives you honour and upliftment”, he chimed.

Coached by former Kittian-born Canadian Olympian, Desai Williams, who won a bronze medal as part of his adopted country’s 4 X 100m Relay team at the 1984 Olympic Games, said that his inspiration to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines came from the achievements of Kineke Alexander at the US NCAAA championships.

“I see what she has done for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and to do so without much facilities, and I am very privileged to be exposed to some good facilities. That inspired me”, Lewis admitted.

It is his wish that once he gets the opportunity to represent this country that more Vincentians living in Canada and elsewhere will come forward and make themselves available to the local athletics body.

He said that now he has established some contacts here and is aware of the situation, he would be seeking out other athletes with Vincentian roots to come to the fore.

Lewis is following quickly on the heels of another Canadian based athlete, Delhonni Nicols-Samuel, whose father Dane, is also from the sporting community of Sion Hill. The younger Samuel gained a bronze medal in the 3000M at last year’s Junior Carifta Games in the Turks and Caicos Islands.(RT)