Javon Rawlins making the best of US training

FORMER ST VINCENT Grammar School athlete Javon Rawlins has spent the last six months training with the Elite Track Club, in Houston Texas, under the guidance of coach Eric Francis.

Rawlins, who returned home for the Christmas vacation, has described his stint thus far, as “rewarding but challenging”.

Recounting his sojourn thus far, Rawlins related: “At first it was very difficult, because I was not used to the climate, but when I got adjusted, it became easier”.

One who while at his alma mater was multi disciplined, Rawlins disclosed that he has since been concentrating on the sprints.

Rawlins noted that making the transition to a new environment and a new coach, with a different regimen, has done him the world of good.

“I train twice per day; Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and once on the other days… Francis’ coaching is different as he is more serious; what you do on the track and what you do off the track… Also, the training is a lot more science than what we have here in St Vincent and the Grenadines and I am exposed to more training facilities,” Rawlins pointed out.

Rawlins, has placed high on his stand out opportunities in the US, having competed indoors on December 8, noted “ it was a whole new experience for me”.

In the immediate future, Rawlins wants to first get a shot at making the St Vincent and the Grenadines team to this year’s junior Carifta Games in the Cayman Islands.

“I want to be able to make the finals of the Carifta Games in the 100 and 200 metres … Also I want to attain a 10.3 in the 100m and at least 20.5 seconds in the 200m”, Rawlins projected.

Rawlins is the beneficiary of an Olympic Solidarity scholarship for promising athletes which was facilitated by Team Athletics SVG, the local governing for track and field, here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Before Rawlins, Kineke Alexander and Courtney Bascombe were other Vincentians who were coached by Francis, over an extended period.