Freeman’s future plans
MOST INDIVIDUAL ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships winners dream of seeing their names up in lights. Not Dazsay Freeman, the twotime Champs hurdles gold medallist. Though she loves track and field, her mind is on a career in tourism.
Freeman, who transferred from Manchester High to The Queen’s School for sixth form, crowned an undefeated season in the Class One 100-metre hurdles with a golden run at Champs at the end of March but, said recently, “I really haven’t
thought about track in the long run.”
Though the sport is important to her, the Mandeville native explained, “I don’t know if I’m built for it, you know, like, professionally, I just don’t think it’s what I want to do.”
OTHER GOALS
Extending the thought, the holder of nine CXC and four CAPE subjects outlined, “I know there’s talent and a lot of opportunities, but I have a goal in other places.” Asked to pinpoint her intended direction, the undefeated Queen’s hurdler itemised, “business and the tourism sector, that’s what I’m interested in.”
She plans to take up a US college scholarship when her time at Queen’s ends.
Her win at Champs closed a solid high-school career, bedecked with a Class Two 100-metre hurdles title for Manchester High and in 2016 Carifta Under-18 title in 2016, and bronze medal at the 2017 World Under-18 Championships.
“I think it wasn’t a bad Champs, but I’m grateful for my gold medal,” she reflected. She clocked 13.63 seconds to win, but feels she could have gone faster. “I know I’m capable of it, but I don’t know, it just never happened,” said the owner of a 13.37 second personal best.
She left her final Champs with two medals after she placed third in the Class One 200m, an event she says she really enjoys competing in.
“Oooooh so much! I love 200 because I’m not really a fast person, but I’m more, I would say, a strong person, so it gives me better momentum and I like the stretch right here,” said Freeman.
Much of Freeman’s 2019 success has come from a changed attitude towards nagging knee and hamstring injuries. She described her previous approach to injury as ‘nonchalant’.