The Virgin Islander, who recently graduated from Carey High School in North Carolina, competed in the Pan Am Junior Games and holds several track and field records.
My biggest accomplishment would be going to China to compete in the Youth Olympic Games. It was so fascinating and great to experience something like that in my track and field career. Just being an international athlete has been a big accomplishment for me.
What events do you like the most?
About four months ago I started the 400-metre hurdles. I actually like it more than the 800, but I haven’t completely stopped running the 800. I have always wanted to do the hurdles, but everyone just saw me as an 800-metre runner, so I just pursued that.
Who inspires you the most as a track and field athlete?
I have always looked up to Allyson Felix, even though she doesn’t do the same events as me. I like to see how she runs the 400 and 200. She goes into a meet with a strategy and not just to run. She is just an awesome runner and she likes her fans. She is a humble person, and that is why I look up to her.
How did you get started in track and field?
Mostly my parents. But I really started running because of my older sister Tarikah Warner. I used to follow her on the track all the time. I started taking it seriously when I was about 12. That is when my parents told me it could be something bright in my future.
Has it always been track and field?
I played softball, but nothing serious.
What position?
[Laughs] I don’t even know.
Talk about finishing high school in the United States.
I went to Elmore Stoutt High School up until fourth form. It was a big change: bigger school and more kids. And I had a new coach and track team. Training was just as hard: The only difference was that they didn’t lift weights. When I am down here I lifted a lot of weights.
Who did you stay with up there?
My aunt and grandma. I had a family, but it was hard.
Did you stay in touch with many of your friends in the Virgin Islands?
Some, but not as much as I thought I would have. I thought I would have been calling and Skyping more, but I got so caught up with transitioning that I lost a lot of contact.
Why did you make the move in the first place?
It is a lot easier to transition from high school to college in the US than it is from high school here to college in the US.
Did you get more exposure on the track?
I have received a lot of letters from different schools that I didn’t think would notice me. At meets we would see two or three scouts just walking around.
What schools are you looking at?
I haven’t signed with anybody yet. I know that Clemson University is interested. I am just waiting to see.
Is track and field going to be a career for you?
I would love to be a professional athlete in track and field, but if my dreams don’t come true I will fall back on school and become a forensic scientist back home.
When you are not running track, what do you like to do?
I like to be at the pool or at the beach.
What advice would you give a young track and field athlete?
I would tell them never to think that they can’t. If you think you can, you probably can.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Todd VanSickle.
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