St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) principal, Keith Wellington, is standing firmly behind former STETHS star athlete and now Olympic quarter-miler Junelle Bromfield, encouraging her to block out the negativity from critics and stay focused on her athletic journey.
“Junelle, we know you’re a warrior, a fighter. You’ve never had anything handed to you easily, and you’ve earned everything you have through hard work. No matter what critics may say, you know deep down that you deserve everything you’ve worked for,” Wellington shared with Observer Online during a Friday interview.
Bromfield has recently faced harsh criticism on social media from Jamaican track fans following an interview where her boyfriend, American sprint star Noah Lyles, mentioned gaining insights into Jamaica’s track and field scene through her. The backlash included hateful messages targeting Bromfield’s dark complexion.
Addressing the attacks, Bromfield took to Instagram, stating, “For all the [Jamaicans] in my inbox coming for my complexion… Calling me black is not [an] insult. This black is gold!!”
Despite the negativity, Bromfield’s former principal is urging her to disregard the “noise in the market,” attributing the comments to ignorance.
“Many people will make comments when you’re in the public eye without having the full story. They’ll see bits of information and make assumptions, drawing conclusions based on limited knowledge,” Wellington explained. “It’s just noise in the market; it doesn’t dictate what’s being sold. You have to ignore the noise and stay focused on what’s ahead.”
Bromfield, an exceptional athlete at the youth level, has an impressive history of winning multiple titles at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships. In 2016, she claimed gold in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m events and anchored the STETHS 4X400m relay team to victory. She also represented Jamaica internationally, earning a bronze medal in the 400m at the 2016 World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz.
Though her transition to senior-level competition has been challenging, Bromfield’s career has seen a recent resurgence. She is set to compete in an individual event at the Paris Olympics for the first time after finishing third in the 400m at the National Championships.
Wellington, who also serves as president of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association, praised Bromfield’s resilience and dedication throughout her career.
“Junelle initially started out wanting to be a sprinter and a long jumper, excelling in those events during primary school. At STETHS, she transitioned into more of a quarter-miler and 800m runner. She always worked hard and never shied away from putting in the effort,” Wellington said.
He continued, “Transitioning from junior to senior competition is extremely tough. People need to understand that you don’t go from competing against your age group at 17 or 18 to competing against the world’s best at 20 or 21 and succeed immediately. It takes patience and perseverance, qualities that Junelle undoubtedly possesses.”
