July 1, 2003 — Jamal Blyden competed, along with 900 athletes from the state of Florida, at the USA Track and Field / Florida Region IV Junior Olympic Regional Championships in Tampa, Fla, on June 21.
Jamal, son of Coast Guard Electronics Chief Warrant Officer Flavel Blyden jr. and the former Cheryl D. Hector, both of St. Thomas, helped pace his team to a first-place finish in the 4×800 meter relay, thus qualifying for the National Junior Olympic Championships. He competed for the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville, Fla.
The national event will be held July 29-Aug. 3 in Miami, and more than 6,500 competitors are expected to take part in more than 9,000 entries.
Jamal will be a sophomore at Landstown High School, Virginia Beach, Va. His brother Flavel III has also been winning on the track.
CWO Blyden is stationed with the Coast Guard in Portsmouth, Va.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
