Chalk up another gold medal for Tianna Springer this time in the field of education.
Following her historic gold medal exploits at the Carifta Games, South American U20, and Commonwealth Youth Games this year, `Golden Girl’ Springer has secured an academic scholarship with local institution Chases Academy.
Henry Chase, principal of the highly-rated institution, confirmed Springer’s acquisition of the scholarship which he said was awarded on merit.
“When I look at her performances for the country, I thought about assisting in a small way, and obviously, education is one way that I can assist,” he said in an invited comment.
“I know we have the master teachers at the school, and once she is committed, she will acquire CXC subjects and make herself very marketable for colleges and universities in the United States,” Chase added.
The unsung hero behind the acquisition of the scholarship is none other than Director of Sports (DoS) Steve Ninvalle.
According to Chase, Ninvalle played a major role in facilitating the process.
“I didn’t know the athlete personally, and Mr. Ninvalle made the connection and facilitated her getting the scholarship at the school,” Chase said.
Ninvalle also presented Springer with a laptop computer.
Springer, 15, secured regional fame and glory following her successful accumulation of gold medals at the aforementioned prestigious championships. Her international haul started off with a gold-medal acquisition in the women’s U17 400m at the Carifta Games in April, in The Bahamas with a time of 54.32 seconds.
This was followed by a South American U20 Championship gold in Colombia in May, in the women’s 400m with a record time of 53.28s, besting the previous mark of 53.44s set by Brazilian Barbara De Oliveira in 2009.
Her 53.28 seconds was her personal best and season best to date and landed her a world ranking of 385 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).
She also won bronze in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.72 seconds another personal and season’s best and earned her another IAAF world ranking of 573 in the women’s 200m.
Springer then stormed to gold once more in the women’s 400m at the Commonwealth Youth Games last month in Trinidad and Tobago in a time of 53.55 seconds. She also anchored the team to victory in the mixed 4x400m relay event in a record time of 3:22.07 seconds, smashing the previous mark of 3:25.08 seconds set by Australia in 2017.
“It’s nice receiving a scholarship and it will help me to do my best so I can work hard towards getting a scholarship overseas,” Said Springer.
“The Director of Sport played a big part, and he did a lot of running around so that I could get this scholarship. I am very grateful for his assistance,” she added.
Springer’s mother was overjoyed with the recent developments.
“I am very excited, I am glad, and I feel happy. Tiana has always been a straight ‘A’ student right up to sixth grade but has not been getting the type of attention at her current school,” an audibly excited Mechel Rose-Springer, mother of the champion sprinter said.
“At this school, she will get the required attention. This scholarship is very important, and from here she can get into any university she wants because she will be working for a scholarship overseas,” she added.
Rose-Springer was effusive in her praise of Ninvalle’s contribution.
“Mr. Ninvalle really helped us a lot in this process; he set up the process, and if it wasn’t for him, Tiana wouldn’t have gotten this scholarship. We are thankful to him and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport,” she declared.
