Latest update January 6th, 2025 4:00 AM
Mitchell on her way to athletic stardom
By Edison Jefford
Tiranna Mitchell is an unassuming teenager with an intrinsic girlishness that literally
Tiranna Mitchell
undermines her imposing ability on the track, but it is clear after just two years of competitive track and field, that Mitchell is on a trajectory toward definite athletic stardom.
“I love track and field because I think it is something fun to do; since I was young I always loved running. I took part in school sports and I loved the fun, but now I think I can get a scholarship,” an ever-smiling Mitchell told Kaieteur Sport in an exclusive interview.
The 14-year-old East Ruimveldt Secondary School student-athlete, who burst onto the scene two years ago at the National Schools’ Championships with a silver medal in the U-14 Girls’ 200m at the National Stadium, said athletics is one of her natural abilities.
And from all indications, it had to be; Mitchell wears a permanent smile, and never looks to be in the usual competitive spirit of athletes; she is obviously shy, which brought into sharp focus how she transitions that timidity to the typical aggression of sprinters.
“I train hard and I am dedicated. I think I am at the highest level right now for my age, and when I go to compete I think the same way. I say to myself that no one could beat me,” she continued in our interview, adding that her aim is always to develop consistently.
Following Mitchell’s 2010 silver medal performance at Nationals, she returned last year and won gold in the 100m U-16 race and opted out of the 200m after an injury. It was her first year in that age-group and she delivered for her South Georgetown District.
But she really turned heads, sent tongues wagging and triggered inquisitions relative to her place of origins at the CARIFTA Games trials last month when she blast out of her blocks like a rocket to win the 100m U-17 race in a fast and impressive 12.1 seconds.
The performance was a split-second outside the Athletics Association of Guyana qualifying standards and resulted in Mitchell being named among 10 athletes to compete at the CARIFTA Games, but a lack of funding to send the full team prevented her from representing Guyana at the Games that concludes tomorrow in Bermuda.
“I am young, I will have other chances. I really do not feel any way about that. I still have time to compete at CARIFTA. I still have two more years Under-17, and hopefully when my time comes I will be fully ready,” she said about missing CARIFTA Games.
Asked what motivates her to continue to aspire to athletic excellence, Mitchell indicated that she has her entire family behind her career. The soft-spoken athlete from Kwakwani believes support is inseparable from the success of young up-and-coming athletes.
“I have my whole family behind me, my mom is always encouraging me to continue running and take school seriously. I want to go as far as possible in athletics; later this year, or next year I will have a firm plan of what I want exactly from athletics,” she posited.
But for the while, Mitchell informed that her grades in school are good and if she does not get an athletic scholarship, she will be sure to have her education, to fall back on. If she was to choose a career at this juvenile stage, Mitchell said it would be teaching.
She remains an integral part of the Mercury Fast Lanners Track and Field Club that arguably one of the best junior coaches in Guyana, Christopher Gaskin, heads. Mitchell’s athletic dream is one that sees her setting new world records and winning Olympic medals.
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