SHEREEFA LLOYD HANGS UP SPIKES

SHEREEFA LLOYD HANGS UP SPIKES
Written by Oshae Hudson September 3,2014

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Out of the plains of Clarendon, rose one of Jamaica’s finest track and field talents in quarter miler Shereefa Lloyd. She began her quest for greatness in track and field from a very tender age, trying out events ranging from the 100m to the sprint hurdles, before eventually settling down to the one lap event for which she has a personal best of 50.62s done at the national senior trials in 2008.

One day post her 32nd birthday, Lloyd revealed to the RJR sport network on Wednesday that she will be walking away from Track and field. She has cited a combination of injuries and a loss of desire for the sport contributing to her decision to hang up her spikes.

She is among the list of star athletes to emerge from the Vere Technical High School camp. An institution she represented at the annual Boy and Girls championship with great pride and honour.

She made the transition to Southwestern Christian College then going on to Texas Tech University.

She is a two-time Athlete of the Year at Southwestern Christian College and Five-time Junior College All-American awardee and the 2005 outdoor Big 12 champion at the NCAA division one Championship.

Her junior career saw her donning the black green and gold at events such as the World junior Championships in Chile and CAC games in San Juan in 2000.

Lloyd has represented Jamaica with distinction as a member of several relay teams including the Senior World Championships in Osaka Japan in 2007 and Berlin Germany in 2009. On both occasion she helped the team to silver a medal.

She was also part of the Jamaican teams that won the bronze medal at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Gold in 4×100 m relay at CAC San Juan , 2000.

Her individual performances for the nation, she finished 4th in the 400m at the 2007 Pan American Games Rio, Brazil, semi-finalist in the 400m at the Osaka World Championships and copping gold at the senior CAC games in 2011.

Lloyd returned to Jamaica in 2010 after spending close to nine years in America training with Anthony Carpenter. She attached herself to the the Glen Mills led Racers Track Club and also spent some time at the Bert Cameron club, Cameron Blazers. She has been off the radar for some time now due to injuries.