The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Versatile TahjNeé Thurston is all set to head off to California to attend Fresno State University on a full athletic scholarship.

Witnessed by her mother Tricene Thurston, Dr Daniel Johnson and Director of Sports Timothy Munnings, her pastor Rev James Newry of Calvary Deliverance and coaches Wayde Watson, Ronald Cartwright, Corrington Maycock and Rupert Gardiner, Thurston signed her name on the letter of intent for the four-year scholarship at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture on Monday.

“I feel blessed to know that I have people in life who are helping me to get where I need to be,” said Thurston, an 18-year-old graduate of Anatol Rodgers. “I thank coach Maycock and Cartwright and all my other coaches for instilling in me the things that I need to know about this sport.

“But I thank God for opening this door for me to be able to go to school.”

The scholarship, according to Maycock, was obtained through a Blue Chip Athletics Winter Throws Cap that was facilitated by coach April Smith of Fresno State in California.

Thurston is scheduled to leave town on August 15 to begin classes on August 22 . She will be pursuing accounting as her major and physical therapy and sports medicine as a minor.

“When she came over, she saw TahjNeé and she realised that she had a lot to offer in the shot put, discus and javelin and she could score high in the conference,” said Maycock, who heads Blue Chip Athletics. “I expect her to do very well because she’s still learning. When you have an athlete who is still learning, only good things will come.

“When she gets there, she’s expected to learn to throw the hammer, so I expect her to be very good. She also has a background in sprinting, so she has some speed which she needs for all of the throwing events. So I expect her to do very well.”

Thurston is coached by Ronald Cartwright of RC Athletics. He was just as thrilled that she’s heading off to school.

“The expectations are unlimited. The girl is very talented. She can play just about any sport,” Cartwright said.

“She is very aggressive. The scholarship is something that she worked hard to get. When coach Smith saw her, she liked her right away and she offered her the scholarship. She’s an excellent athlete, very good, very disciplined. She will do very well.”

Thurston was also a talented basketball player who participated with the Super Value Cybot Queens’ team in the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association. Watson, her coach, said he’s extremely proud of her accomplishment and he wished her every success.

“I expect her to be a very good student athlete. She’s been playing with me for the last three years as a high school player,” Watson said.

“She’s a very disciplined player, so I hope she can stay focused when she goes to school and she can come back with her degree. I know she wants to do accounts, so I hope she can get it done.

“But she’s been a very hard worker for us, so I know that she will put in the work necessary for her to succeed both on the field and in the classroom. She’s a very disciplined and focused young lady who has a bright future ahead of her.”

Pastor Newry said as a member of his church, Thurston is actively involved in their youth and dance ministry and is a prayer warrior, so he’s confident that she will take full advantage of this opportunity and use it to be the best of the honour and glory of God.

Like everybody else, he wished her well in all of her endeavours.