Reprinted from Jamaica Observer
Kingston College (KC) quarter-miler Shaemar Uter will be heading to Texas
Tech University where he will be majoring in mechanical engineering.
The promising Uter, who has a personal best of 46.37 over 400m, is excited
about his scholarship to one of the top universities in the United States
of America.
“Texas Tech provides a very unique blend of academics and sports. Their
facilities, which is one of the best in the states, coupled with their
training regime, I believe best suits to aid in my progression as an
athlete,” said Uter.
The smooth-running 19-year-old, who had the fastest relay split of 46.00
flat at the recent Penn Relay that propelled KC to victory in the
Championships of Americas high school boys’ 4x400m, only returned to full
training a few weeks before Boys’ Champs in March.
“This season has definitely been my hardest one to date after a delayed
start due to minor injuries, I had to deal with the struggles of recovering
from an operation which I had done in early January,” Uter told the Jamaica Observer.
“I must confess I’m still in shock of my performances and progression thus
far as I was only cleared to compete and train two weeks before the Carifta
Trials,” he explained.
Uter, in his first race of the season on March 11, clocked 46.99 and
entered the Carifta Games Trial 400m final with the fastest time. But the
lack of background training showed up in the final and he finished third in
47.47.
A week later he ran 47.26 at the G C Foster Classic in his third race of
the season before clocking 47.10 in winning his semi-final at Champs on
April 6.
But his lack of preparation showed up in the final as he finished eighth in
48.31 after entering the straight on the shoulders of the winner, Gregory
Prince of St Jago, who stopped the clock at 45.99.
Then Uter would return on May 21 at the JAAA Development meet and achieved
his personal best of 46.37 and continued his improved form by clocking
46.81 in preparation for the National Junior Championship to make Jamaica’s
team to the World Under-20 Championship in Colombia starting August 2.
“As for my ambition towards the rest of the season, it’s simply to just
remain in good health, have faith in God’s timing and follow the
instructions of my coach,” said Uter.
“Conditioning has been going rather well, my Coach Richard Smith has really
been doing overtime in getting me prepared for the championship working on
both strength and mentality issues,” he added.