News > Student Athlete Sets New National Record
COB Student Athlete Tamara Sets New National Record in U-20 Triple Jump
COLLEGE of The Bahamas (COB) student athlete Tamara Myers continues to achieve new standards of excellence in her sporting discipline. This past weekend, she set a new national record in the women's under 20 triple jump at the BAAA track and field meet in Grand Bahama. Tamara's remarkable leap of 12.90 metres surpassed a two-year record of 12.73 established by Keythra Richards. Proud of her accomplishment, Tamara said she has her sights set squarely on the Olympic Games. "I continue to go to practice Monday through Saturday and I get assistance from Peter Pratt who won the first medal at CARIFTA. He is one of the best there is and just to be near him inspires me," she said. "I preferred the long jump and triple jump really wasn't my favourite but as I got into it, I learnt my technique and improved on it. And because I love it so much, I am able to do better each time I perform. I hope to make it to the Olympics next year, I just need [to jump] 13 metres. I jumped 12.90, so couple more inches and I'll be there." Kimberley Rolle, director of athletics at COB, believes that with Tamara's skill, agility and commitment, she will achieve that goal. Rolle continues to be impressed with the 17-year-old's athletic prowess. "This is indeed an outstanding feat for Tamara and a very significant milestone for the Athletics Department," she said. "For Tamara to be competing at a senior level competition at the age of 17 speaks directly to her talents and what her potential is as she continues to develop. We are, indeed, very proud of her." Born in New Providence but raised in Conch Sound, North Andros, a young and ambitious Tamara always enjoyed challenging her friends to a race. Her love of track and field grew over the years and after watching Tonique Williams-Darling capture the coveted Olympic gold medal in the 400 metres in 2004, her passion for the sport ignited. In 2009, Tamara won the CARIFTA silver medal in the triple jump, a crowning achievement that her ailing mother celebrated just before she passed away. Now a student athlete at COB, Tamara has already distinguished herself as a rising star, embracing the best of both worlds - she is receiving a world class education and top-notch athletic training while continuing to represent COB and her country. "I want to continue to represent the Bahamas, and now the College of the Bahamas, in the future at a high level. When COB's Athletics Department looks back on its history, I want them to remember our graduating class for the impact we made on our teams and the athletics programme in general," Tamara said. And her current track and field coach, Bradley Cooper, assistant director of the Wellness Centre and former Olympian and national record holder, is a big motivating force. "Tamara demonstrates outstanding maturity for her age. Her focus complements her athletic ability. One of the reasons why Tamara has improved so tremendously is because of the weight training component that was added to her training regimen this year," Cooper said. "However, we are looking for great things from her as she continues to develop," he says. Balancing athletics and academics can be a daunting task, but Tamara, an accounting major whose 3.50 GPA placed her on the President's List, is determined to succeed in both.
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