The Bahamas makes history at OPTINAMs
Home|Sports|Jackson to go to University of MiamiSports
Sheldon LongleySend an emailNovember 21, 2022 620 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
Blue Chip Athletics is continuing to produce top throwers in the country, and the athletes are reaping the rewards.
Calea Jackson, a 17-year-old senior at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Rabun County, Georgia, USA, became the latest athlete from the locally based Blue Chip Athletics, to sign a letter of intent with a major National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I school.
Jackson has chosen the University of Miami (UM) in Coral Gables, Florida, starting her collegiate education just a short plane ride from her home here in The Bahamas.
Jackson is one of the top young discus throwers in the country, and abroad she is a two-time state champion in that event for the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Eagles. She was also fourth in the under-20 girls discus at the CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, this year, turning in a personal best throw of 44.90 meters (m) – 147’ 3”.
“I’m just happy to know that I have so much love and support. It was overwhelming,” said Jackson about the huge turnout for her official signing session on Saturday. She signed her letter of intent at Empire Fitness Bahamas in Seagrapes Plaza in Nassau East.
“I wanted to choose a school that fit me athletically as well as academically, and Miami is that school,” said Jackson on Saturday. “I had a great time with the coach there and it’s a wonderful place for me to continue my education and my career. I felt that if I want to be successful in the direction that I want to go in, Miami would be the best place for that.”
At UM, Cory Young is the Associate Head Coach with responsibility for the throws.
“I like his coaching style. He likes to keep the team relatively small so there could be individual training. There is quality over quantity there and that is one of the things I like. Also, it’s not too far from home,” said Jackson. “I just want to be able to do well and prove myself. I feel like I’m up for the challenge.”
Jackson left Queen’s College after grade nine and spent the last three years at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee. She she is on the doorstep of beginning her tertiary education.
“The only time I get proud is when they sign scholarships – that’s when things hit home with me,” said Corrington Maycock, head coach of Blue Chip Athletics. He has been a coach and mentor to Jackson ever since grade seven. “I am very proud of her and what she had done. She worked hard for this. Like I tell the athletes, whatever scholarship we get, we will accept. We’re happy that the last nine kids out of the program went to major division one schools. That says a lot about the program, and we want to continue that trend going forward. This is what athletics is all about – making sure everyone has an opportunity to experience free education and success in life. The goal of the club is to make sure all of the athletes have the same opportunity to go off to school. They just have to put in the hard work and they will reap the rewards.”
Jackson is set to start her tenure at UM in the Fall of 2023 and she is studying to become a medical doctor.
“Track and field is not just a sport – it is a community-driven program that expresses the real spirit of this country. Many of the great leaders of this country once came out of sports,” said Drumeco Archer, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA). “I want to congratulate Corrington Maycock for reviving the sport of field, and not just track. It is noteworthy and remarkable. I also want to congratulate people like Laquel Harris who has been the backbone behind this program. Some of their standards might sometimes seem unreachable but it is in striving for those standards that one is able to achieve greatness.
“Today we are celebrating one individual who has continued to extend the reshaping of this track and field dynasty. Calea has blossomed into not just an amazing athlete, but an amazing individual. She is a world-class athlete and she is also a world-class student – a student who has maintained a 4.0 GPA (grade point average), and a student who has been sought after by so many universities. Since I am a Miami Dolphins fan, I am particularly pleased that she is going to Miami, and Miami has inherited a good woman.
“Calea, your scholastic achievements are beyond measure and we want to congratulate you for gracing the halls of Miami as your choice of universities. Track and field is producing top citizens in this country and that is what makes me most proud as president of the BAAA.”
On Saturday, young Jackson was supported by her parents, BAAA President Archer, Coach Maycock and Coach Harris, family and friends and a number of her club teammates at Blue Chip Athletics. Jackson’s signing comes about a year after javelin phenom Keyshawn Strachan, of Blue Chip Athletics, signed with Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Strachan, an alumnus of St. John’s College, is listed as the number two junior thrower in the world on the World Athletics Top Performance list for 2022.
As for Jackson, mother Carla Jackson and stepfather Dwayne Mackey were front and center at the signing on Saturday.
“As parents, you have raised an amazing person – not just an athlete but a well-rounded amazing individual who has carried the banner of your family proudly. For that, we say thank you to the parents,” said Archer to Jackson’s parents on Saturday.
Mother Carla said she is proud of the young woman that her daughter has become.
“We’ve done a lot of work and we’ve come a long way. I’ve been really hard on her – to the point where this last year, I started to feel guilty,” said Carla Jackson. “Calea knew what she needed to do to get where she needed to be and she did it. I am so proud of her. She has surpassed what I expected. There is nothing else that we could do. She knows what she needs to do going forward. She is now an adult and we are ready for the next chapter in our lives.”
As mentioned, Jackson will begin her tenure at the University of Miami in the Fall of 2023. An emotional Jackson said she is excited and is looking forward to the opportunity.
Home|Sports|Jackson to go to University of MiamiSports
Jackson to go to University of Miami
Sheldon LongleySend an emailNovember 21, 2022 620 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
Blue Chip Athletics is continuing to produce top throwers in the country, and the athletes are reaping the rewards.
Calea Jackson, a 17-year-old senior at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Rabun County, Georgia, USA, became the latest athlete from the locally based Blue Chip Athletics, to sign a letter of intent with a major National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I school.
Jackson has chosen the University of Miami (UM) in Coral Gables, Florida, starting her collegiate education just a short plane ride from her home here in The Bahamas.
Jackson is one of the top young discus throwers in the country, and abroad she is a two-time state champion in that event for the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Eagles. She was also fourth in the under-20 girls discus at the CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, this year, turning in a personal best throw of 44.90 meters (m) – 147’ 3”.
“I’m just happy to know that I have so much love and support. It was overwhelming,” said Jackson about the huge turnout for her official signing session on Saturday. She signed her letter of intent at Empire Fitness Bahamas in Seagrapes Plaza in Nassau East.
“I wanted to choose a school that fit me athletically as well as academically, and Miami is that school,” said Jackson on Saturday. “I had a great time with the coach there and it’s a wonderful place for me to continue my education and my career. I felt that if I want to be successful in the direction that I want to go in, Miami would be the best place for that.”
At UM, Cory Young is the Associate Head Coach with responsibility for the throws.
“I like his coaching style. He likes to keep the team relatively small so there could be individual training. There is quality over quantity there and that is one of the things I like. Also, it’s not too far from home,” said Jackson. “I just want to be able to do well and prove myself. I feel like I’m up for the challenge.”
Jackson left Queen’s College after grade nine and spent the last three years at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee. She she is on the doorstep of beginning her tertiary education.
“The only time I get proud is when they sign scholarships – that’s when things hit home with me,” said Corrington Maycock, head coach of Blue Chip Athletics. He has been a coach and mentor to Jackson ever since grade seven. “I am very proud of her and what she had done. She worked hard for this. Like I tell the athletes, whatever scholarship we get, we will accept. We’re happy that the last nine kids out of the program went to major division one schools. That says a lot about the program, and we want to continue that trend going forward. This is what athletics is all about – making sure everyone has an opportunity to experience free education and success in life. The goal of the club is to make sure all of the athletes have the same opportunity to go off to school. They just have to put in the hard work and they will reap the rewards.”
Jackson is set to start her tenure at UM in the Fall of 2023 and she is studying to become a medical doctor.
“Track and field is not just a sport – it is a community-driven program that expresses the real spirit of this country. Many of the great leaders of this country once came out of sports,” said Drumeco Archer, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA). “I want to congratulate Corrington Maycock for reviving the sport of field, and not just track. It is noteworthy and remarkable. I also want to congratulate people like Laquel Harris who has been the backbone behind this program. Some of their standards might sometimes seem unreachable but it is in striving for those standards that one is able to achieve greatness.
“Today we are celebrating one individual who has continued to extend the reshaping of this track and field dynasty. Calea has blossomed into not just an amazing athlete, but an amazing individual. She is a world-class athlete and she is also a world-class student – a student who has maintained a 4.0 GPA (grade point average), and a student who has been sought after by so many universities. Since I am a Miami Dolphins fan, I am particularly pleased that she is going to Miami, and Miami has inherited a good woman.
“Calea, your scholastic achievements are beyond measure and we want to congratulate you for gracing the halls of Miami as your choice of universities. Track and field is producing top citizens in this country and that is what makes me most proud as president of the BAAA.”
On Saturday, young Jackson was supported by her parents, BAAA President Archer, Coach Maycock and Coach Harris, family and friends and a number of her club teammates at Blue Chip Athletics. Jackson’s signing comes about a year after javelin phenom Keyshawn Strachan, of Blue Chip Athletics, signed with Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Strachan, an alumnus of St. John’s College, is listed as the number two junior thrower in the world on the World Athletics Top Performance list for 2022.
As for Jackson, mother Carla Jackson and stepfather Dwayne Mackey were front and center at the signing on Saturday.
“As parents, you have raised an amazing person – not just an athlete but a well-rounded amazing individual who has carried the banner of your family proudly. For that, we say thank you to the parents,” said Archer to Jackson’s parents on Saturday.
Mother Carla said she is proud of the young woman that her daughter has become.
“We’ve done a lot of work and we’ve come a long way. I’ve been really hard on her – to the point where this last year, I started to feel guilty,” said Carla Jackson. “Calea knew what she needed to do to get where she needed to be and she did it. I am so proud of her. She has surpassed what I expected. There is nothing else that we could do. She knows what she needs to do going forward. She is now an adult and we are ready for the next chapter in our lives.”
As mentioned, Jackson will begin her tenure at the University of Miami in the Fall of 2023. An emotional Jackson said she is excited and is looking forward to the opportunity.