Rohan Walker Shines at Sports Champs 2010

Rohan Walker Shines at Sports Champs 2010

Aspiring Olympian secures victory for Team Faith


By Roxanne Schurton and Michael Schurton
Sports Champs Senior Editors


July 23, 2010, Kingston, Jamaica

Rohan Walker of Jamaica College, Jamaica’s newest track sensation brilliant and scintillating performances was the driving force behind Team Faith’s historic win of the 2010 Word Time Ministries of Jamaica 10th Annual Sports Championships held at St. Andrew High School for Girls, St. Andrew, Jamaica, Saturday, June 26, 2010.

At the end of an exciting and action packed meet Rohan Walker was the man of the meet. He was crowned champion boy, champion athlete, and athlete of the champs and also the winner of the Grace Golden Medalist Award. He won the coveted Michael Schurton Scholarship Award for Most Outstanding Performance Male, and the Most Outstanding Performance of the Championships. Walker proved to be truly a champion both on and off the track. He won a record 13 gold medals, 6 on the tracks and 7 off the tracks for special awards. The gold medals came in the Class 3, 100m, Class 2 and 3, 200m, Class 3 400m, and the Class 2 and Class 3, 4x100 relays.

Rohan Walker reached deeper and achieved the unbelievable. He has sprinted in the records books becoming the first athlete to successfully defending titles in the 100m, 200m, and 400m at Sports Champs.

Rohan first faced Chief starter Andre Roberts in the Class 3 100m boys. Running in lane six, Walker bolted from the blocks and kept his form and composure knowing he was the man to beat. He clocked a record 11:54 sec, but turned off the engines at 80 meters and started to celebrate way too early. He strolled across the finish line and waited for the others to arrive. Had it not been for his early celebration, the record set could have been a much emphatic margin. The battle was now with all the athletes from Central Branch All Age. Team mate Cannigga Williams won silver clocking 11:86 and Reginal Russell (11:92) of Team Hope with bronze.

Walker won gold in the Class 2 200m posting a record 25.49seconds to win gold ahead of Akeno Bailey (26:45) of Team Hope and Cannigga Williams (27:62) of Team Faith. He appears like he was just warming up and made all the races seem easy. For the new track sensation it was a walk in the park. After winning the 200m, he came back in the Class 3 200m and again he powered away from pack. He took charge of the race in the first 50m and then accelerated to strike gold in a time of 27:05 seconds. Reginal Russell (27:96) won silver and Javone Gooden (28:02) took a bronze, pushing ahead of Cannigga Williams (28:07) who missed the podium.

He also turned in a spectacular performance to win the Class Three 400m in 58.77secs. Akeno Bailey (1:00:46) won silver and Shaquille Martin (1:01:88) bronze both of Team Hope. Walker retained the title of Champion Boy with 460 points, Cannigga Williams second with 430 points and Akeno Bailey third with 250 points.

Walker also anchored Team Faith to sweet victory in the Class 2 and Class 3, 4x100 relays. In the Class 3 boys Faith won gold in a record time of 50:63. Team Love sailed across the line for silver in a time of 52:56. Team Hope, who was left way back, collected bronze with 54:33seconds The sun shinned again and again for Team Faith. Walker and his faith eagles came once more and conquered in the Class 2 4x100m setting another record of 50:06 sec.

The aspiring Olympian was satisfied with his performance. “ I have been preparing for Sports Champs as I enjoyed running for Team Faith and with my past school mates from Central Branch All Age.” Walker stated. Rohan Walker had high praise for two of Jamaican leading athletes. He noted that while he admires Asafa Powell, former world record holder in the 100m, he wants to emulate and follow in the footsteps of triple Olympic goal medalist, Usain Bolt. "I would like to become a famous track and field athlete like Usain Bolt. I want to make Jamaica proud and to make everybody know me," said the 14-year-old Walker.

His team mates were both delighted and supportive of Walker at Sports Champs. Shennare Williams, the newly crowned champion girl said that Walker had no competition. “Rohan has no competition. He made all the races look so easy” she stated. Former school mate Keelia Parkinson of Central Branch was also happy for Rohan. “I am so happy for Rohan. No one can beat Rohan in Class 3 at Sports Champs” she said. Parkinson, who is moving on to track powerhouse Camperdown High School in September 2010, also stated that Rohan Walker was one of the best Class 3 athletes around and also sees a future Olympian in Walker.

Walker also expressed deep faith and high hopes about future prospect as an Olympian. “Yes, I believe that I will be a future Olympian for Jamaica. I hope to win gold in the 400m”. The 400m is Walker’s favourite event, but also this young athlete performs credible in the 100m and 200m sprints.

Rohan Walker is also a triple gold medalist at the national high school level. The champion boy of Team Faith made significant and recording breaking achievements at the 100th staging of the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys' Athletics Championships, at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, March 27, 2010. He won gold in the 200m, 400m and 4x100m, Class 3. He became only the third Class Three athlete in the history of the 100 year old Boys and Girls Champs after record holder Ali Watson (49.63secs) of Calabar and Darrion Bent (49.80secs) to post a sub-50 time to win the 400m. Running in lane six, Walker rushed into a commanding lead at the 300m mark and held on for victory, in a credible 49.97secs.

Lead by Walker, Jamaica College, like they did at the Gibson Relays was responsible for winning and simultaneously smashing the Class 3 4x100m record of 43.26s set last year by St. Georges College to lower the time to 43.04. Rohan Walker, anchor man on the winning relay team was also responsible for two other gold medals. He won the Class 3 200m in a time of 22.30s, defeating the favourite and record holder from St. Jago High, Kevon Rattray, and the 400m Class 3, in a time of 49.97s, just outside of the record of 49.63s.

Walker could have broken the record if only he had remained focused down the straight, instead of looking around and easing down as he did in the final 75m of the race. Walker’s sub 50 second in the 400m and then the big upset of Kevon Rattray in the 200M Class 3 was named by track and field experts as the Most Outstanding Performance - Male Athlete, at the Centenary Boys and Girls Championships. That should tell you what is expected about the future of this talented Jamaican athlete.

Rohan Walker has won several awards. He was named 2009 Athlete of the Year, Champion Boy, and Most Improved Athlete 2009 by Word Time Ministries of Jamaica. He was crowned the overall Champion Boy at the 2009 Sagicor/JTA National Primary All-Age and Junior High Schools Athletic Championships. Walker, who competed in the Under-15 category, was a triple gold medalist at the meet. He broke both the 100m and 400m records and also captured the 200m. He won the 100m in 11.16 seconds, the 400m in 53.26 and the 200m in 23.93.

Rohan was both happy and satisfied with his performances at Sports Champs 2010 which he started to complete at age twelve in 2008. "I am feeling very happy that I have won the overall champion boy title and the most outstanding performance award. I have worked hard in preparing for sports champs." said an elated Walker. Walker, who got involved in track and field at the age of seven while attending Windward Road Primary School, gets additional motivation from his mother, Veloria Campbell, and his father, Roy Walker, who ensure that he attends training every day. After completing Central Branch All Age Walker in 2009, he obtained a part scholarship to Jamaica College where he is now a valuable member of the school track team.

Rohan Walker, quite and unassuming is quietly pursing the Olympic dream and taking each race in strides and with a great step and leap of faith. It is time to believe Rohan Walker is another great Jamaican Olympian in the making.