After missing Champs, controversial student adjusts to life at new school

SHAYNE FAIRMAN, STAR Writer

CARIFTA youth discus record holder Vashon McCarthy is relishing life at Jamaica College, despite not being able to represent them at this year's Inter-Secondary Sports Association/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, and promises big performances in the Dark Blues uniform next year.

"It was a big opportunity for me and I decided to come to JC because they decided to help me with academics and sports," he said.

McCarthy, who transferred from Greater Portmore-based Ascot High, was at the centre of controversy last year, when he was barred from representing the school at Champs because he was training with a coach not based at the school. Although the restriction was eased, he was later disallowed to compete based on his academic record.

Despite that no show, everything else was a dream come true for the bulky teen, who broke the CARIFTA discus junior record with a throw of 54.41. He bettered the previous mark of 52.20m.

McCarthy followed that with an equally impressive throw of 17.2 m to win the discus title.

In 2013, the 17-year-old crowned himself in glory, winning Ascot's school's first ever gold at Champs, throwing 16.25 m to take the clas two boys shot put.

Subsequent to that, he won silver at CARIFTA, with a shot put throw of 16.47, and won the boys Under-17 discuss with a massive of 48.37m heave.

McCarthy said that despite being unable to represent JC this year because of the transfer, he is looking forward to 2016.

"I will be back bigger and better next year. I will have no fear and will put out all my work in training," he said. "I know my best results will come," McCarthy told STAR Sports.

He added that he is happy at JC, and already "looked up to as a leader in sports, academics and lifestyle."

McCarthy notes that he wants to be a pro athlete, so he is currently doing Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) subjects in order to move on to grades 12 and 13, then hopefully college.

The young athlete said he is eyeing the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before going all out professionally.