Rusheed Edwards starts track club in Brandon

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/07/2024 (451 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rusheed Edwards feels Brandon has a need for speed.

He’s ready to bring it. The 30-year-old from Kingston, Jamaica is starting Assert Track Club, the only one of its kind based in the Wheat City.

Edwards is holding a free one-hour training session on Tuesday at the Sportsplex track for those interested in joining.

“I think I’ve come to the right place because there’s somewhat of a need for it here,” Edwards said. “We don’t really have the facilities but I’ll try to work with what I have to have these athletes do better and contribute to athletics in Canada.”

Edwards started competing in track and field around age nine and went on to run the 200-metre and 400-metre for G.C. Foster College in Jamaica from 2012 to 2016.

When he graduated, a friend encouraged him to stay involved through coaching. He moved across the country to teach at Rusea’s High School and also assistant coached the track and field team at Cornwall College, about a one-hour drive away.

His dream, however, was to start a track club. When the opportunity wasn’t there back home, he started researching other locations. Edwards decided to join some friends in Brandon and pursue a master’s in education at Brandon University, which he started last September.

He contacted Athletics Manitoba executive director Alanna Boudreau and Winnipeg Optimist Athletics about coaching opportunities, and was encouraged to start his club in Brandon.

Edwards coached under Jason Jones at Vincent Massey High School during the 2023-24 season and learned a lot about how differently the sport is viewed in Canada compared to Jamaica.

“The training is not that long because of the snow and … cold. It’s not that long, it’s not as developed as how it should be,” Edwards said. “Some students … maybe they are just doing track because they like it but in Jamaica, we do it because we are passionate about it.

“From a coaching perspective, it’s not enough.”

Still, Edwards saw a lot of potential in the area, especially as a handful of Vikings medalled at provincials. He’s looking forward to turning already talented athletes into track stars.

For now, Edwards is looking for athletes age 14 and older, since he doesn’t have a coaching staff around him.

“My goal is to develop a culture here for track and field in Brandon,” he said. “To develop athletes’ capabilities, to write structured programs for each athlete … to show them that this can be a career for you, to use my expertise to get them better, to get them faster, to get them stronger and to contribute to Canada.”

Those interested in attending Tuesday’s session or with questions about the club can contact Edwards at edwardsrusheed@gmail.com or 204-441-7221.

He’s also welcoming other coaches to assist with the program or anyone interested in sponsorship.

“I would like sponsorship grants if possible to get some simple equipment and assist in paying for facilities,” he said. “Because it does cost a fee for them to use the facilities but I don’t want it to be too much for them to pay.”

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com

» Instagram: @thomasfriesen5