ZINEDINE RUSSELL YEARNING FOR GOLD AT HER FINAL CHAMPS

Photo: Zinedine Russell of Alpha Academy is hunting the Heptathlon Gold in her final year of Champs.

Even in her last race to complete the Heptathlon event last year, Zinedine Russell was determined to close the gap on eventual Champion Ayesha Champagnie, of St Andrews Technical High School (STATHS). Despite making her school (Alpha Academy) proud in picking up the silver medal at the Inter Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA)/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, Russell is still yearning to go one better in 2016.

“I have been preparing- training hard, and you know with hard training comes pain and injuries. We are working through it and I know I should be coming to Champs 100% ready and hopefully win the Gold medal,” Russell told Yardie Sports.

Russell knows how to carry a heavy load, as last year she participated in the Class Two Girls High Jump, in addition to the Heptathlon that consists of the high and long jumps, 100m sprint hurdles, 200m sprint, shot put, javelin, and 800m.

“One of my goals is to help my team accumulate more points to move us from the eighth place position last year. Last year I did the High Jump outside of the Hep. I don’t know which event coach thinks is best this year, but I am planning on doing more than one event,” she revealed.

Speaking about the rest of her Alpha team and their chances at this year’s championship, Russell is optimistic that the ladies can pull it together when the time is right.

“Everybody is working hard. So I think when we go out there we will give our best. Together we should take Alpha above and beyond the eighth place finish from 2015.”

The second year Class Two athlete, who has been competing at these Championships for seven years, has no intention to stay beyond this year. She is eyeing her next move in life and is yet to decide whether it will involve track and field or to rely solely on of her academic achievements.

Russell’s record in her CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) examinations and Pure Mathematics in Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) earned her the title as the ‘Ideal Champs Athlete’.

“I have been going to Champs for so long. So I am not going to stay for my next two years of eligibility. I think from first form, where I did three years in Class Four- now it’s seven years later. I think it’s time for a change for me now,” she revealed.

A brilliant student, she received a Grade One in Maths at the age of 13, when she was just in third form. In fourth form, she achieved a Grade One in English A (Language), Principles of Accounts and Additional Mathematics. She later earned seven more distinctions in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Information Technology, French, English B (Literature), and Geography when she was in fifth form.

Russell decided to take a crack at CAPE, Pure Mathematics Unit One and Two while preparing for her CSEC examinations, and also received a Grade One pass in both units.

Passing with distinction was only the tip of the iceberg for Russell, who was first in the country and third in the region for her third form achievement in Mathematics. For Additional Mathematics and Pure Mathematics, she also placed first in the country and was in the top 10 in the region. Russell was eighth in the country for Principles of Accounts and second for French.

Whether or not she stays with the sport of Track and Field, this young lady with the heart of a lion, will be giving it all she has, one last time, in the blue and yellow of her beloved Alpha at Champs 2016.