Karese Lloyd is over the moon after landing a full athletic scholarship to St. John’s University.
The 18-year-old Running Brave Athletic Club standout, who competes in the 100m and 200m events told this publication yesterday that the feeling is “surreal” and is a dream come true.
“It’s surreal and hasn’t sunk in yet,” the diminutive sprinter said of the “opportunity of a lifetime’ which was officially posted by the private Roman Catholic University in Queens, New York.
“It is overwhelming and I still have to take some time to let this moment sink in. This is an opportunity of a lifetime,” Lloyd added.
The robust academic and athletic exploits of Lloyd, who stands at just 4’11” in the classroom and on the track, earned her the coveted scholarship of which she plans to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Lloyd passed 12 subjects (four grade ones, seven grade twos and one grade three) after sitting the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council (CSEC) examinations at the Morgan’s Learning Academy.
After graduating, she proceeded to sit Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) at the Bishops’ High School, earning two grade threes and two grade fours.
Lloyd, who has the represented Running Brave Club with distinction for the past five years, and donned the national colours at last year’s Inter Guiana Games and the CARIFTA Games, clocked 11.84s and 25:00s in the sprint events to cement her place at the University. She thanked the driving forces behind her success, Coach Julian Edmonds along with her father and mother, Clive and Rhonda Lloyd and the Almighty God.
The talented athlete also thanked four-time Olympian and Coach at the learning institution, Aliann Pompey.
Lloyd is scheduled to depart in August to commence her collegiate career at the university which notable alumni include standout athletes like Mark Jackson, Chris Mullin, Ron Artest and Grammy award winning rapper, J. Cole attended.
