The Central American Track and Field Championships finished three weeks ago - but two of Belize's most outstanding athletes have not yet had their moment to shine along with their medals.
That's because one of them Kaina Martinez was still training in Jamaica at the IAAF High Performance Center - the same place where Usain Bolt trains.
This Seine Byte 25 year old told us that specialized training is what enabled her to win gold in the 100, 200 and four by 100 relay:
Kaina Martinez - 3 Golds, C. A. Championships
"Being in Costa Rica competing, there was always an excitment for me, because always know its easier to get medals there. So knowing that I have been trained by coaches and getting my technique worked on, I knew that I would have improved a lot. I feel good knowing that I go out there, train, and see what training by coaches brought to me. And to be real, meet that I had in Costa Rica was my greatest meet. I was the happiest person. When got my medals I was like, if I have never been happy in my life, well today I am happy, knowing that I have worked hard, and I see good results out of it."
Tricia Flores, 2 Golds, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze, C. A. Championships
"I have been training since October of last year, until like March of this year, because I got injured in March. So From March to June, I wasn't training at all, because of the injury, and I went into the competition unsure. I wasn't sure of how I would have performed, but I really wanted to well. So I really went out there and did what I usually do."
Jules Vasquez
"But, for you all - You all really need a track here in Belize. It's an embarrassment."
Tricia Flores
"We really do, because when we go out at the MCC - I mean that's the best grounds right now in Belize City, but the ground is still uneven. And my injuries that I got early this year is due to the surface the track. So we still have to do with whatever we have."
Tricia Flores won her gold in the long jump and four by 100, silver in the triple jump , and bronze in the 4 by 400.
And while Tricia is one of the most versatile athletes who's been dominant in this region for many years, Kaina is just truly coming into her own with the training in Jamaica. She's the first and only Belizean to go to the High Performance Center and she did so through a scholarship from the Belize Olympic Association through the Belize Amateur Athletic Association.
She told us what it's been like getting this training:
Kaina Martinez
"Well I'm just doing training in track and field in Jamaica, and it's been a wonderful experience, knowing that I have learned a lot about what running it. It's not all about running from one end to the other. It's more of both mental and your body working altogether."
Jules Vasquez
"Now a lot of world-class track and field athletes train at the same place you train."
Kaina Martinez
"Yes, like 2 - well the major one which is Bolt, I know more. He trains actually on the same track that I train on. He is trained by different coaches, but on the same track that I train on."
Kaina just set the record at the Central American Championships with a time of 11.74 in the 100, but she's now aiming for the Belizean record held by Emma Wade which is 11.5...
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