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Hodges … Represented Jamaica at the Carifta Games and IAAF World Youth Championships, 2007.

By Anthony Foster, TrackAlerts.Com Writer

Motivated by her mother who struggled with her as a child, Shavine Hodges has always told herself she will not let her down.

Hodges, a former student at Mt Alvernia High, pointed out that her mother “struggled to send me to high school” and according to her that was her biggest motivation.

“I always tell myself that I will never let my mother down” mainly because “I saw how she struggled to send me to school.”

Despite all that, she did very well in high school, both in academics and track and field, which afforded her a full scholarship study at Grand Canyon University in the United States.

She graduated from Mt Alvernia with passes in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English, Food and Nutrition and Religious Education. She was named Most Accomplished Athlete of Graduating Class 2008.

However, after just one year in University, she received the worst news of her life to date  –   her beloved mother, shot accidentally during gang war in Rose Heights, Montego Bay, Jamaica on December 31, 2011 at the age of 39. 

Despite that, the 23-year-old Grand Canyon University honors graduate determined not to let her late mother down, wouldn’t stop, as she continued to complete both her Bachelors and Masters Degree in 4 years.

Now she is the holder of a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Addiction Counseling.

Hodges, who represented Jamaica at the 2007 World Youth Championships in Ostrava, has personal best times of 7.32 (60m), 11.33 (100m) and 23.04 (200m)

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Hodges is now the holder of a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Addiction Counseling

Now with her huge academic success out of the way, at least for now, Hodges switches her focus to track and field, and listed to become “multiple Olympics and World Championships medalists, and break the women's 100m and 200m world records” as her goals. 

Hodges, who trains professionally with the World Athletics Center based in Phoenix Arizona, said, “training is great.”

She added: “We work on a lot of speed and technique. Getting ready for the professional stage definitely has a lot to do with your mind, you have to be focused but yet have fun with what you do.”

Hodges is well aware of what is needed to be successful.

“Learning to compartmentalize my life, being more focused and having fun with the sport are definitely the three major things I am working on, and that will make me more competitive at the professional level,” added the 2007 Carifta Games 4x400m gold medallist.

She listed as maximum “family and friends support” along with a “great professional training environment” as positives.

However, financial support is lacking, which could be the biggest game changer.

“The only thing that is missing would be sponsorship. I am currently working full-time so that I am able to pay my bills, however if I am able to get a few sponsors I will have a lot more time to focus on Track, and do the small things that matter for me to be successful. Many times it's the small things that matter most.”

“Working full-time and training do not mix very well. Many times I am sleep-deprived and we all know how important sleep is, especially for an athlete,” added the determined young lady, who always works overtime to achieve her goals.

HodgesOn the track, some of her accomplishments

Are – Most Decorated Female Athlete in Grand Canyon University history.

16 Times All American

6 Time Academic All American 

NCAA D II 2012 Indoor Track Woman of the Year

PAC West Track Female Athlete of the Year 2012

Multiple times Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Athlete of the Week 

PAC West Co-Track Athlete of the Year 2013

WAC High Point Award 2014

Grand Canyon University 55m, 60m, 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m record holder,

Represented Jamaica at the Carifta Games and IAAF World Youth Championships, 2007.

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