IN 2017, as a 15-year-old, Deshanna Skeete wrote her name in the annals of track and field in Guyana, when she became the first and only Guyanese to win gold at the South American Youth Games, doing so in the 400 metres.
Fast-forward three years later, Skeete will depart this evening to compete for the New Mexico Junior College on the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division One circuit.
“This is like a dream come true for me because it’s something I’ve always wanted,” Skeete told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview.
Skeete is known for her dominance over the years at the National Schools Championship, where she competed for District 10.
“I’ve worked really hard for this. I mean, it took a long time, but I finally got it and I’m happy,” Skeete, the 2018 CARIFTA Games 400m bronze medallist said.

New Mexico Junior College is ranked Number One by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association among the NJCAA D1 schools, and according to Skeete, she’s more than ready for the competition which lies ahead.
“It’s a good school and I know it’s going to be top competition there, but I’ve been working hard. Honestly, when I got the news that I’m going to college, it actually helped me to believe in myself because I was ready to give up on Track and Field,” Skeete said.
The former McKenzie High School student-athlete spoke of the many times she wanted to throw in the towel on track and field and focus on other aspects of life, like helping her mother, Nicketa Weekes, a single parent, with sustaining the family.
“My mother was behind me and told me not to give up because she said it’s important for me to leave and seek a better life and education,” Skeete noted.

A MOTHER’S SACRIFICE PAYING OFF

When Skeete won Gold in the girls 400m at the South American Youth Games in Chile, on the surface it seemed like just another first place and medal for Guyana, but, for Skeete’s mother, it was ‘pay back’ for her hours of walking around the community of Linden, asking for donation to help realise her daughter’s dream.
The South American Youth Games, held every four years, never heard the Guyana National Anthem until Saturday, October 7, 2017, given the fact that Guyana had never won gold at the event.
After crossing the finish line with a time of 57.28 seconds to finish ahead of Brazil’s Jessica Moreira (57.54) and Ecuador’s Andreina Valencia (58.81), Skeete palmed her face as tears started to flow; those tears, however, came with a sorrowful story behind it.
“I want to thank God for blessing my daughter with this scholarship, you know, because I prayed for it, I know she worked hard for it and I sacrificed a lot to ensure that she didn’t give up,” Weekes said.

An emotional Weekes told Chronicle Sport that since Skeete’s father died when she was just 11 years old, as a mother, she did everything possible to ensure that her talented daughter is given a chance at excelling in Track and Field and make a life for herself from the sport.
“It was tough, you know; very hard sometimes. It’s not easy being a single parent but I’m happy for the support I get for Deshanna. People help out and I would sell at wakes and funerals and so on to catch my hand. So, I’m very happy she’s leaving and I wish her all the best,” Weekes said.
Guyana’s 800m (1:59.47) and 1500m (4:17.91) national record holder, Marian Burnette, along with US-based Guyanese, Donald Archer, were listed among the people who were behind Skeete since her history-making run in 2017 in Chile.