Prospect Primary School recently welcomed home Davontè Howell, a former student turned Olympian, World Athletics Championships competitor and CARIFTA Games double gold medallist.
During a meaningful return to his former school on 19 Sept., Howell spoke to students in Years 4 through 6, sharing his personal journey from the same hallways to becoming a high-level track-and-field athlete.
Howell’s message was one of perseverance, dedication and the power of chasing a dream – ultimately one he hopes will instil in students the same motivation that drove him to where he is today.
“I’m glad that I’m in this position to do something like this because I’ve had a few athletes in the past, like Kemar Hyman and Usain Bolt, come and talk to me while at Prospect and at other schools, and I know it was very inspirational for me. So I’m hoping that I was just as inspirational for the children,” Howell said.
To bring his achievements to life, he proudly displayed his CARIFTA and Junior Pan American Game gold medals, giving the students a tangible sample of his success.
The visit was particularly inspiring for Jevon Tulloch, a Prospect Primary student who competes in the 100 metre, 200m and long jump.
“It was very inspirational. I got motivated from it and he is my idol. He’s very good at track,” Tulloch said.
The student runs for the same club Howell did as a youth – the Mustang Track Club. He said what inspired him most was Howell’s resilience in his most recent competition.
Howell, who ran the 100m sprint at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo on 13 Sept., shared his experience dealing with an aggravated hamstring during his heats.
“Davontè said that he tried his best to run, even though his hamstring was pulled, and that inspired me very much to keep on pushing,” Tulloch said.
Marcia Oxilly, who taught Year 2 when Howell was a student, recalled the early signs of his immense talent.
“From the moment Davontè entered the school, we saw the potential in him to run,” she said.
“He was a great runner, a fast runner, a bright child, academically strong and a person who never gives up.”
Oxilly said the entire school community rallied behind him during inter-primary competitions, recognising that his talent was destined for something greater.
“We saw that further on, he would be representing the Cayman Islands,” she added.
One highlight of the visit for Howell was seeing “genuine excitement in a few of the students’ eyes”.
“Because that’s exactly how I was,” he said, adding, “To know that I’m in a position that children are actually excited to see me, to hear what I have to say, to know that I also went to the same school as them, and to give them some sort of inspiration is really touching.”
