The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HAVING survived the ordeal of a heartbreaking family loss to inking her name in the record books, Pedrya Seymour is hoping that she can be one of the catalysts to help turn things around in the resurgence of the Bahamas women’s track and field programme.

Seymour, who surprised herself by setting a new national record in the women’s 100 metres hurdles, is considered the new rising young star after she become the latest female to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August.

While she didn’t expect to run as fast as she did with her time of 12.92 seconds to finish second at the Big Ten Championships over the weekend, Seymour said she was destined to get to the level that she is at right now.

“I knew that my time to shine was coming,” Seymour told The Tribune. “Although I had my ups and downs in track and field, from I was a young girl one of my spiritual advisers prophesied to me that I will be an Olympic medallist. But in this sport it takes a little God-given talent and a lot of hard work. So from my offseason I had to put in a lot of hard work and I had to be dedicated.”

That determination resulted in Seymour breaking the ice when she competed at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 60m hurdles in Eugene, Oregon. That prepared her for the task of competing in the NCAA season for Illinois University where her trek to the Olympics got started with her running under the qualifying time of 13.00 by posting the new national record in the process.

“The race at Big 10s was such a good race,” Seymour said. “I had confidence that I was going to do well because I have trained hard and practiced competitive hurdle rhythms over and over again. World indoors was a great experience for me - now having some of my idols as my rivals. It was my first senior national team and I came out with a PR.”

And she made history, becoming the first Bahamian to run under the 13-second barrier, erasing the national record that was tied last year by Devynne Charlton and Adanaca Brown. But Seymour said she didn’t expect to run as fast as she did when she did.

“I had no idea that I broke the record until I saw it in the newspaper, so I was ecstatic,” she stated. “Now that I’m sure the record has my name on it, I am going to continue to work on my speed to the first hurdle and quicker hurdle rhythms so that record will be pushed out of reach. I definitely look forward to going to my first Olympics.”

The performance came as Seymour was still grieving the loss of her brother, 32-year-old Keron Dean, who was murdered on Ash Wednesday on Cable Beach opposite the Landshark Hotel. 

“It’s bitter sweet because I’m still heartbroken that he can’t share this experience with me,” Seymour reflected. “But I will dedicate my experience to him because although I’ve experienced the ultimate low in my life this year, God found a way to make beauty out of the ashes.”

It so happen that the same day that Dean was killed, Seymour had a meet and she still decided to compete. With the coaching staff and her team-mates gibing her the moral support she needed, Seymour went on to begin what has turned out to be a biggest transformation in the event as she went from running 8.41 in the indoor 60m to 8.27.

“So from then, I just picture my brother in the stands cheering me on,” she proclaimed. “I would just tell myself that I’m running for him.”

Looking at her performances since that ordeal, once would think that Seymour has progressed tremendously in the event. But she noted this is just her first year competing in the 100m hurdles. She actually got recruited from St Anne’s High School as a 400m hurdler, but it was just last year that her coaches at Illinois started to prepare her for the high hurdles.

“I haven’t ran the 400 hurdles this year,” she said. “When I tried to transition from indoor to outdoor and started training for the 400m hurdles, I got a minor injury in my lower back which prevented me from alternating lead legs..Next season I may be back to the 400 hurdles.”

And with running the hurdles, she admitted that she have to go through the injuries that are a part of the growing pains.

“The event is arguably one of the best event in track and field, but it is strenuous on the body especially on the hips and lower legs,” she pointed out. “Running fast times and PR’s can definitely stress the body because it has never work that hard before. So it can sometimes take a longer time to recover after running a fast race.”

And just how does she recuperate after running a hurdles race?

“Drink plenty of coconut water,” she insisted. “Since I haven’t been able to find real coconut water over here, I had to find something in the grocery store that’s close to it. It has the nutrients needed to help in the body’s healing process. But my trainers also work with me and give me treatments and necessary.”

And her trip to Portland to be a part of the star-studded field at the World’s has also made a big difference,

“It was good seeing the professional athletes at work,” she insisted. “I got to see what they eat, how they warm up and how they interact with their coaches. It was a learning experience for me.”

Seymour, however, would perferred to have some company at the Big Ten Championships as her arch-rival Charlton, had to sit out nursing an injury and won’t be available to compete in Rio, although she has qualified.

“I am really sad that Devynne is not going to be there with us,” Seymour stressed. “Our generation, especially the ones that I was close with like Carmiesha (Cox), Shaunae (Miller), Katrina (Seymour) and Tynia (Gathier), are going to play a major role in restoring the women track legacy for the Bahamas.”

And even though her focus will be on the high hurdles when she get to Rio, Seymour said she want the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and the Bahamas Olympic Committee that she wouldn’t mind “being a part of the (women’s 4 x 100m) relay, if they ask me.”

When she come home for the BAAA’s Nationals in June at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium, Seymour said she doesn’t intend to step out of her comfort zone to run the 100m, which is one of the criteria for selection to the relay. She said she intent to run the relay for Illinois, so she’s hoping that experience will help to serve as her impetus for the team, if she is needed.

Seymour, a sophomore studying in the Division of General Studies, is the daughter of Pedro and Cecily Seymour. She will be celebrating her 21st birthday on Sunday, May 29.