The Anguilla Amateur Athletic Association would like to congratulate Miss Rechelle Meade on her hard work and dedication to track and field over the years which has resulted in her being granted a Full Athletic Scholarship to the University of Idaho an NCAA Division 1 School in MOSCOW, Idaho.
The following is a release from the University of Idaho
“The University of Idaho Track & Field program is thrilled to announce the signing of Rechelle Meade from the Caribbean nation of Anguilla.Meade is an incredi¬ble jumper, achieving a mark of 19’7” in the long jump. That mark would be ranked first in the Big Sky Conference thus far in the 2016 outdoor season and would have been the best mark during the 2016 indoor season. She has also jumped 5’5” in the high jump, a mark that would be tied for fourth in the conference at this time.
Meade will bring with her a vast amount of international competition experience. She competed at the 2015 PanAmerican Junior Championships and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she was the flag bearer for her country. She will make a big impact in the Big Sky Conference for the Vandals. Meade plans to study biology at Idaho.
“Rechelle is a very talented jumper who brings a lot of in¬ternational experience to the team. After my conversations with her it is evident that she has a big heart and will be a great fit for the team. We are really exciting to have her a part of the Vandal family.” -Tim Cawley, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country.
Rechelle is a National Track and Field Athlete who has represented Anguilla with great esteem regionally and internationally. Her most recent regional accolades in the 2016 season was a bronze medal at the OECS Track and Field Senior Championships in High Jump and a Bronze medal at the Carifta Games held in Grenada again in High jump in the U20 age group. Last year she was the recipient of the Department of Youth and Culture National Youth Award for Sport.
Rechelle’s previous accomplishments include a Gold medal in Long Jump at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico in July, 2014 and a Bronze medal at the Carifta Games 2015 in St Kitts and Nevis. She is also the Current National Champion of the Long Jump and High Jump, and was Vitrix Lodurum for 2015 at at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
Additionally, Ms Meade has represented Anguilla in Long Jump at the 2015 North American and Caribbean Championships in Costa Rica and the Junior Pan American Championships in Edmonton Canada. In 2014 she represented Anguilla at the Senior Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Carifta Games, and in 2013 the World Youth Championships in Ukraine and the Carifta Games. In her youth years of competition Rechelle has represented Anguilla at the Caribbean Union of Teachers Games winning Silver in the High Jump and the Leeward Islands Youth Championships winning medals over the years in High Jump and the 4×100 relays. She has also represented Anguilla in the Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships.
Rechelle is a member of the Elite Athletics Club coached by Ms. Heather Richardson an IAAF Certified Level 4 Jumps coach and Level 3 Sprint, Hurdles, Relay coach and Mr. Derick Griffith IAAF level 1. Ms. Richardson has often time referred to Miss Meade as being very diligent in her training, always endeavoring to improve on her performances as well as being a source of encouragement for the younger athletes. Coach Heather has coached Rechelle since 2010 as a Youth Athlete on Anguilla’s National teams and as one of her Club Coaches at Elite Athletic Club, thereafter.
Rechelle through the years has managed her time to train as well as study for her various school exams and will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, while she trains and competes at the University of Idaho. Rechelle has been very diligent in her training over the years, improving on her performances and her commitment to her sport.
Rechelle attended the Stoney Ground now Orealia Kelly Primary School and the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School where she was a member of Pink House. She acknowledges the contribution of all her past teachers and coaches who helped her on the journey and is thankful to all who contributed over the years.
Rechelle extends gratitude to the Anguilla Amateur Athletic Federation for all the opportunities offered to her over the years to train and compete. Also with affording opportunities for her to be coached by IAAF certified coaches who were able to nurture her and help with her improvement over the years. Many thanks are also extended to her family who has supported her throughout her many years in track and field. Rechelle would like to encourage the younger athletes to persevere and with hard work and dedication they too can also reach their goals.
The Anguilla Amateur Athletic Association would like to encourage the young athletes in Anguilla to continue to work and train hard, as well as study hard, to be able to take advantage of the many opportunities for competition and further studies afforded to them through track and field. To the Government of Anguilla, the business community and the general public we thank you for all the support over the years and ask for continued supports for improved facilities and opportunities for the young athletes to follow.
– Contributed
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
