Shantea McLean ... a star on and off the track. - PHOTO BY Anthony Foster

THERE WERE YEARS when Shantea McLean would turn up at Girls' Championships and leave with two or more gold medals.

However, in preparation for the 2009 championships, the young Holmwood Technical middle distance athlete decided to give up hard, intense training and spend the extra hours burning the midnight oil instead as she prepared for her Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. The results were marvellous.

In one shot, McLean, who identified mathematics as her favourite subject, has done what no other Holmwood Technical High School girl has ever done, she got 10 CSEC passes with six distinctions.

In 2007, McLean ran 2:13.09 to win the Class 3 800m and returned in 2008 to retain her title in 2:13.89, adding at the same time the 1500m crown in 4:35.18.

This season, however, in her first year as a Class Two athlete, McLean had her first defeat in three years, finishing second in 2:11.49 behind Edwin Allen's Ristannana Tracey. She also failed in her attempt to make the Jamaican junior team, but said this was due to less time training.

BALANCE

"This year I decided to focus much more on academics, as a result, I did not do as well in track and field as I am used to ... if I did not give academics so much of my time, I think I would have done well in terms of making the national team," she said.

McLean, who starts lower six at Holmwood tomorrow, added: "Balancing academics and track and field is not always easy. You have to prioritise the things you want and what level in terms of academics you desire to accomplish."

Admitting that her performances on the track could have been better, she said after seeing her excellent results, she does not regret the sacrifice.

" ... Now I can give track and field more time and see how far it can take me," she said.

When examination results were released earlier this Month, it was a joyful time for the 16-year-old and her family. She secured ones in electronic document preparation and management, information technology, English language, social studies, principles of business and office administration, and twos in principles of accounts, English literature and mathematics, while picking up a grade three in Spanish.

Despite these excellent results, McLean, a lover of rice and peas with chicken, said she was expecting a bit more.

"I was expecting a one in mathematics after sacrificing so much of my training, but then again, I got grade two, so I am happy," the avid fan of R&B, soul and gospel music said.

Her love is for track and field and she wants to become a professional in the sport because of the exposure she has had in its field and she looks forward to better things in the coming season.

"This coming season I want to make all the teams possible and I am confident I will."

She recalls being a part of the 4x400m victories at Girls' Champs (2007) and Penn Relays (2008) as her most memorable moments.

keep focused

McLean, who lives in Spaulding, Manchester, sees herself in 10 years as part of Jamaica's Olympic team, and when asked if she thinks she can add something to Jamaica's poor middle distance running, McLean, who admires World and Olympic 100-metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, because of her humility, replied: "Yes, I believe that, once I keep focused.

"I am aware it takes a lot of work, but once you have your mind set on it, you will achieve," said the girl who has five brothers.