Leon Hunt KAZAN – Begin to jog forward. Reach your left hand back. Start running faster. Feel the baton hit the palm of your hand. And take off toward the finish line.
Leon Hunt is the anchor in the 4×100-meter men’s relay race. He is one of six athletes representing the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Right now we’ve got our whole country on our backs.”
This is the Florida A&M University graduate’s second time competing at a Universiade and said the only thing different from the 2011 Universiade in China is the weather.
“The heat is different here,” he said, as he looked up at the Russian sky.
The Virgin Islands brought a brand new relay team to the competition this year, Hunt said. The team consists of four NCAA track and field athletes, including Hunt who is also competing in long jump at the Kazan Universiade.
“We’re just out here letting everybody know what the Virgin Islands is and what its about,” the 26-year-old explained.
All six athletes from the Virgin Islands are competing in athletics events, including the only female representing the nation, Ninfa Bardnard, who competes in the 800-meter race.
Hunt is honoured to have the opportunity to represent his small country at such a big event, he said, and he is competing to make his nation proud. To everyone back in the Virgin Islands, Hunt said, “Keep on believing.”
Kelcey Wright/FISU Young Reporter (CAN)
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