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Eyes Set on Rio: Barnett set to compete in Jamaica Trials
6/28/2016 11:15:00 AM | Track and Field
PHOENIX – She has made her mark as a member of the Grand Canyon track & field team, she has proved to be one of the best athletes not only in the Western Athletic Conference but also in all of Division I. Now, Tarasue Barnett has the chance to prove herself on the world stage. GCU's Barnett is set to compete in the Jamaica Trials with the chance of heading to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"Having the chance to represent my country is a huge honor," said Barnett. "When you wear your countries uniform people look up to you and athletes want to be like you so it means a lot to represent my country."
Barnett opened a lot of eyes this season across the country, proving to be one of the best discus throwers in the nation. An Olympic A standard in the discus is 61.00m and this season Barnett threw 61.28m at the Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine, Calif. breaking her own school record of 58.99m.
Currently, Barnett ranks 26th in the world heading into the Jamaica Athletics Administration Association (JAAA) National Senior Trials. Barnett already has goals and a plan in place to move up the ranking as 62.00m will put her in the top-12 in the world and in the finals in the Olympics. The predicted mark to be top-8 would be 63.00m.
"My objective when I came to GCU was to become good enough for the Olympics," Barnett added. "Coach Flood always motivates me to push myself and coach (Joe) Riccio has helped me improve so much on the field and in the gym."
The accolades poured in for the junior from Kingston, Jamaica this season as Barnett was named the 2016 NCAA Division I West Region Field Athlete of the Year after being named the top Female Field Athlete at the 2016 WAC Championships in Lawrence, Kan. after claiming first-place in the shot put and discus. Barnett was also a four-time WAC Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season.
GCU track & field head coach Tom Flood has been able to recruit some of the best talent throughout the world and Barnett is a clear example. In just a six short years of GCU's track & field program existence, they have the opportunity to claim its first athlete in the Olympics.
"The Olympics is the grandest stage any track & field athlete can compete on and it will be a well-deserved honor for Tarasue to represent Jamaica and GCU," said Flood. "For a track & field program in just its sixth year of existence, we are totally thrilled to watch Tarasue compete for a spot in Rio. We hope it's just the beginning of a long international career for her and a tradition for other GCU track & field student-athletes."
Barnett will leave the United State for Jamaica on June 28th as the trials begin on June 30th and will go through July 3rd.
"I am not nervous for the trails because I have thrown against some tough competition here at GCU," said Barnett. "I have seen some great pro-athletes here in America and back home I was not pushed as much because there wasn't much competition."
Heading into the trials, Barnett has the best mark in the discus in Jamaica and now she is one step closer to having the opportunity to represent her country in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
"Having the chance to represent my country is a huge honor," said Barnett. "When you wear your countries uniform people look up to you and athletes want to be like you so it means a lot to represent my country."
Barnett opened a lot of eyes this season across the country, proving to be one of the best discus throwers in the nation. An Olympic A standard in the discus is 61.00m and this season Barnett threw 61.28m at the Steve Scott Invitational in Irvine, Calif. breaking her own school record of 58.99m.
Currently, Barnett ranks 26th in the world heading into the Jamaica Athletics Administration Association (JAAA) National Senior Trials. Barnett already has goals and a plan in place to move up the ranking as 62.00m will put her in the top-12 in the world and in the finals in the Olympics. The predicted mark to be top-8 would be 63.00m.
"My objective when I came to GCU was to become good enough for the Olympics," Barnett added. "Coach Flood always motivates me to push myself and coach (Joe) Riccio has helped me improve so much on the field and in the gym."
The accolades poured in for the junior from Kingston, Jamaica this season as Barnett was named the 2016 NCAA Division I West Region Field Athlete of the Year after being named the top Female Field Athlete at the 2016 WAC Championships in Lawrence, Kan. after claiming first-place in the shot put and discus. Barnett was also a four-time WAC Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season.
GCU track & field head coach Tom Flood has been able to recruit some of the best talent throughout the world and Barnett is a clear example. In just a six short years of GCU's track & field program existence, they have the opportunity to claim its first athlete in the Olympics.
"The Olympics is the grandest stage any track & field athlete can compete on and it will be a well-deserved honor for Tarasue to represent Jamaica and GCU," said Flood. "For a track & field program in just its sixth year of existence, we are totally thrilled to watch Tarasue compete for a spot in Rio. We hope it's just the beginning of a long international career for her and a tradition for other GCU track & field student-athletes."
Barnett will leave the United State for Jamaica on June 28th as the trials begin on June 30th and will go through July 3rd.
"I am not nervous for the trails because I have thrown against some tough competition here at GCU," said Barnett. "I have seen some great pro-athletes here in America and back home I was not pushed as much because there wasn't much competition."
Heading into the trials, Barnett has the best mark in the discus in Jamaica and now she is one step closer to having the opportunity to represent her country in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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