As the Summer Olympics come to an end in Rio de Janeiro, many of the athletes decide to take a break from their respective sports. Some enroll in college and begin taking classes again. But for younger athletes trying to accomplish their goals of making it to the Olympics one day, one thing is certain: There are no off days.
Leiya Green has an athletic resume that is in the 99 percent for people her age. As a freshman at Paxon School for Advanced Studies in Jacksonville, she has already run multiple events as a track and field athlete at the Junior Olympics. Leiya has competed in the 4×100 meter relay, 100m, 200m, and long jump. Her 4×100 meter relay team last year at James Weldon Johnson Middle School not only had the fastest time in the state for her age group, but at one point the team had the fastest time in the country.
Her father, Otis Green, said her two best events are in the long jump and the 200m. She placed nationally in both events, finishing as high as winning a silver medal in the 200m.
Most young student-athletes dread long practices or working out. However in Leiya’s case, that’s quite the opposite according to her dad.
“She definitely has that drive to go the extra mile and be the best she can be,” Otis said. “Whenever I’m ready to leave after we go workout, she’s begging me to stay a little longer so she can get better.”
Her drive isn’t only on the track. Paxon is one of three International Baccalaureate senior high schools in Duval County, putting an extra emphasis on academics. Leiya is the definition of a student-athlete. While she’s breaking records on the track with her team, she’s also a star in the classroom. Leiya is a straight A student and the proud owner of a 4.0 GPA. In middle school, she was a part of the National Junior Honors Society. As a freshman now, she’ll join the National Honors Society. Even after her goals of reaching the Olympics, she has her goal of going to school to become a Pediatrician.
“She’s such a gifted student,” Otis said. “She’s always striving for excellence in the classroom and studying when she’s not out on the track.”
While a gifted track athlete, Leiya also excels at basketball. She was a guard on her middle school team and averaged 20 points per game. She’s attended the Why Not Me summer camp here in Jacksonville. The camp focuses on telling girls that they can play basketball and other sports while excelling in the classroom.
Leiya also has an excellent family background in athletics. Her uncle is Rey Robinson. A former Olympian and current track coach at Florida A&M University, Robinson was at one point the co-holder of the fastest time in the world in the 100 meters. It doesn’t stop there with the genetics either. She has three cousins that have played football at the University of Miami and went on to play in the NFL.
After everything she has accomplished at such a young age, her father just stresses how proud he really is of all the things his daughter has accomplished.
“It’s immeasurable how proud I am of her,” Otis said. “She’s already accomplished so many things people in her family haven’t. I’m just excited to see her live out her dreams and hopefully accomplish them.”
There’s no doubt about a bright future for one of Northeast Florida’s finest athletes. Whether she’s breaking records on the track or setting personal bests in the classroom, Leiya Green is out of the blocks quickly on her way to success.
ITG Web Content
Track Star Qualifies For Junior Olympics
Written by Ryan Hutchins
