The Sprinter Factory
Watch at: 00:00 / 00:00:20(upbeat music)- Girls' track and field.Yeah, it's serious business in Jamaica.(whistle blowing)We have so many girls wanting to be a partof this great legacy
that we have in Jamaica.Watch at: 00:20 / 00:40There's no other school
in Jamaica that producesthe amount of athletes
going to the Olympicsas St. Jago School.The pressure is immense.The pressure is immense.These kids are hungry.Watch at: 00:40 / 01:00They are from poor
families, and they see thisas a vehicle to keep them out of poverty,and you know, to breed success.Soon, and very soon, I'm going
to have my Olympic champion.I mean there are a lot of prospects here.Watch at: 01:00 / 01:20I couldn't tell you who's
going to make the transition,but first we have the
Boys and Girls Champs.(muffled announcing)
(horns blowing)I don't think there's any
harder high school eventin the world like the Boys
and Girls Champs in Jamaica.Watch at: 01:20 / 01:40It's fierce competition over five days.All of these great athletes
who have competed at Champs.Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann
Fraser-Pryce, and Elaine Thompson.At Champs, it was like a
platform or a springboardfor them going into their
adult or professional career.Watch at: 01:40 / 02:00(fun, bouncy music)- I can say that this football field,it has done me great justice.Watch at: 02:00 / 02:20I can't count on my
palms the days, my hands,the days that I've trained over there.During the nights, you
know, I'm there running,we don't know where I'm
running to, but I'm gettingto the end of that line.Watch at: 02:20 / 02:40I am going to be that
Olympic gold medalistin the 400 metre.- These are Okhalia's medals.Most particularly proud of this.This is the 400 gold
medal winner from Champs,Boys and Girls Champs.That experience is so
overwhelming, I scream, I scream,and I say, go, Okhalia, that's
my girl, that's my girl.Watch at: 02:40 / 03:00- [Okhalia] I ran 54.42, that
placed me eighth in the worldfor the juniors.- [Announcer] Okhalia Buchanan.- [Okhalia] And I was only 14.Watch at: 03:00 / 03:20- 'Cause she was the
smallest one in the pack,they called her little rocket.- The big rocket is
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.So, that's the big rocket.- [Narrator] This is what house?- You know, this is where I'm from,so I'm familiar with everybody.(mixed chattering)Yeah, so these are my, I
grew up with everybody here.Watch at: 03:20 / 03:40Wha gwan?Growing up, my mother was very poor.We lived in a one room.We had a lot of violence,
so most times you comeon this street, you see a lot of police.You can't come out at a certain hour.My mother was an athlete.She got pregnant when she was very young,she dropped out of school,
and that was it, you know?Watch at: 03:40 / 04:00And for me, she wanted to make sure thatwhat happened to her didn't happen to me.I remember my mother saying, you know,track and field's your way out.This can be your way out.Watch at: 04:00 / 04:20So you find that for a lot of girls,now more focused than
ever because they realiseit's possible for them
to become an Olympian,it's possible for them to become morethan their circumstances.- I won't say that my mother is rich,Watch at: 04:20 / 04:40but she tries her best to keep us,to keep us alive and to let us know thatthere's always bigger and better thingsfor the years coming.- Okhalia is not from
an affluent background,she's from a low income
family with her mother,who is the bread winner,
doing as best as she can.(mumbling)Watch at: 04:40 / 05:00For me, that imagination of
being an Olympic championin terms of my family, I would
ensure that life is good.I'd leave no one behind.(fun, bouncy music)Watch at: 05:00 / 05:20- Okhalia Buchanan,
fantastic young athletewho has had some challenges
because of injury.She has had a lasting hamstring injurythat thank god we are now getting
down to fix it properly.- I have to get continued flush outsWatch at: 05:20 / 05:40so the pain can be
removed, as I train daily.- Okhalia, she didn't get to run last yearbecause two weeks before
Champs, she got injured.The year before, something
similar happened,so I think her soul, her spirit is down.Watch at: 05:40 / 06:00- Track and field, as everyone would say,is an ungrateful sport,
but I'm coming backslowly but surely, and time will tell.- I don't think much people
out there remember Okhaliabecause she's been three
years out of the running.She needs to go there
and surprise people now.(upbeat music)Watch at: 06:00 / 06:20- Yes, Okhalia, low squat, go down.Not half squat, right, full squat.Anything has to do with your
arms, you've got to be quick.Can't waste much time.Alesha Kelly is our special talent.So, we have some big plans in terms of hergoing to the World Juniors in June,
and maybe in the Olympics.I honestly thought that last year,she could have gone to
the Olympics, you know,I thought she could have at
even a part of the four by four.Watch at: 06:20 / 06:40- [Keilando] Alesha, she has
a recent recruit at St Jago,Watch at: 06:40 / 07:00she's a gift to us.- Well, training is very importantbecause all the top schools
want to see in peopleis a track and field war.It is very intense,
everybody wants to win.Watch at: 07:00 / 07:20But at the end of the day,
there only can be one winner.I will bet that St.
Jago will be the winner.- [Narrator] So, that's a casualty?- Casualty.After patch her up, I
can get her back ready.But she'll be good, she'll
be good, she'll be good.(reggae music)
(mixed chattering)Watch at: 07:20 / 07:40- I'm currently living in Spanish Town,I've been here for one year.I grew up in Saint Mary.It's about two hours from Spanish Town.- This is where Alesha
lived for the past year.I have five boarders here and
I have two daughters here,which are mine, there's several girls.Watch at: 07:40 / 08:00Five teenagers, which is just,means it's kinda hectic at times.I love them, Alesha is my girl.She's a very nice girl,
very, very nice girl.- Well, my family, you know,
they're all over the place.All over.Watch at: 08:00 / 08:20My mom is in Orlando, Florida.Well, I talk to my mom every day.Every single day, so.(reggae music)- At first, she used to
like, cry, and sulk away,but I talked to her and I said, Alesha,God gave you this gift to run.It's not where you're from,
it's what you intend to doWatch at: 08:20 / 08:40and what you do do with that.Stop looking behind,
Alesha, try to look forward.(chanting)(upbeat reggae music)Watch at: 08:40 / 09:00- At Champs, the last five years,we have won four championships.The past Olympics, that
was our most successful,we had four Olympians.We have well over 100 girls.Watch at: 09:00 / 09:20And they make up about 70% of the teamfrom the length and breadth of Jamaica.But that's our little
dormitory for our female team.And that's where all of
our champions sort of,able to develop from.Girls, incredible on this
side because we're gonnado work over here.Watch at: 09:20 / 09:40We start to recruit at age 11, 12.The girls want to be at Edwin AllenThey want to be the girls
who are the champions,who are born and still exceling.For example, Shellece Clark,
Shellece has been championcoming up since age 11, 12.When you go to recruit, they would ask,we are going to go to the
same school as Shellece,Watch at: 09:40 / 10:00can we meet her?So, sometimes we probably take her alongso they would meet her and you know,get attracted to her, and want to be a partof our programme as well.(upbeat music)
(muffled announcing)- [Narrator] Leading away
our first time, a fast game.- In Champs 2015, I
participated in the 100 metre,Watch at: 10:00 / 10:20200 metres, and the 400
metre, which I came out withbeing a triple gold medalist.I guess you could say I'm
surprised overall becausegrowing up, I wasn't really
a fan of track and field.It's pretty shocking.Watch at: 10:20 / 10:40- [Woman] This is where
she won three gold medals.Once Champs seasons starts,
every paper, we take out.- [Man] Every paper.- Something pertaining to Shellece.When she was about three years old,I noticed she walked on her toe point,Watch at: 10:40 / 11:00and I always wondered, is
something wrong with her?I took her to the doctor,
and the doctor said no,she's fine.And a friend of mine said,
she's going to be a sprinter,that's why she walked
on her toe point like that.Watch at: 11:00 / 11:20- Yes, the Olympics gold, yes!Watch at: 11:20 / 11:40- One year at Champs.
- Be confident.Probably 20, 2020?- 2020.
- 2020, yeah.2020, we're looking for it.Watch at: 11:40 / 12:00(upbeat music)(banging)Watch at: 12:00 / 12:20(mixed announcing and horns blowing)Watch at: 12:20 / 12:40- I would imagine roughly
50 coaches come down hereto recruit some of these athletes.One of the reasons why I recruit hereis because the kids here
are a lot more hungry.The opportunities are more scarce here,so they're trying to run themselves outinto a better situation.Watch at: 12:40 / 13:00(muffled announcing and horns blowing)- I think Champs is the
reason that Jamaicantrack and field athletes for a populationof only three million
people are so dominant.What these kids go through
in terms of the pressureWatch at: 13:00 / 13:20and handling the pressure,
it gets them readyfor a bigger stage when they go onWhen they go on to the world championships
or the Olympic games.They've been brought
up in this atmosphere,they're ready for it,
and you can see a result.(mixed chattering)Watch at: 13:20 / 13:40(cheering)- This year, I've endured
a lot of challenges.Watch at: 13:40 / 14:00I've had an hamstring
problem since last year,but I guess it progressed into
this year and it got worse.Monday when I got here, I
found out that I wouldn't bedoing the 100 metre, so it
kinda threw me off, but yeah.Patrice will be replacing
me in the 100 metre.Watch at: 14:00 / 14:20- [Announcer] From Edwin
Allen, Patrice Moody.- They learn from now
that you have to work hardeach year in order to
maintain the top position,and any time, any moment,
you can be kicked awayfrom that top position by someone else.Watch at: 14:20 / 14:40Shellece will only
be running the relay.You know, I know that
Shellece is disappointed,but I don't work with sentiments.It doesn't matter what
you have done in the past,track and field is all about history,it is what you've done on the day.(horn blowing)
(muffled announcing)Watch at: 14:40 / 15:00I expected her to run the 100mBut she didn't, so we're still here supporting herShe'll be running the four by one(hip hop instrumental)(horn blowing)
(muffled announcing)Watch at: 15:00 / 15:20- Run, run!- [Announcer] This is Shellece
Clark with a slight fumbleby Edwin Allen, that
allows Excelsior to sneakup on the outside, but
Shellece Clark gets backinto contention.- Shellece!Run, Shellece!Shellece!Watch at: 15:20 / 15:40Shellece!Run, Shellece!Shellece, run!- [Announcer] Edwin Allen, from Clarendon, turnand goes away for the gold medal.(muffled announcing)Watch at: 15:40 / 16:00A gold medal, yeah- Yeah.(mixed chattering)- I saw her make it and that was it.You understand me, go out and
do your thing today, Okhalia.- The next Jamaican
sensation, look at her now.Look at that, the mommy there.- Yeah, okay, love.Watch at: 16:00 / 16:19(mixed chattering)(mixed chattering)- She out here doing it for us.- Everybody's out here
supporting me right now,and I'm very thankful.(mixed chattering)Ever since I've been running,
they have been supporting meWatch at: 16:19 / 16:40even though I was Injured,
they would ask me like,when am I coming back,
when am I gonna turn back.I'm ready to go out
there, compete at my best.- [Narrator] You are the best.- Thank you.And do whatever it is that
takes me to the finals.Oh, Jesus.(contemplative music)- After yesterday's performance,
Okhalia was a little bitWatch at: 16:40 / 17:00shaky in terms of self confidence,
and we're trying to seeif we can get back to the stage
where there is the Okhaliaof three years ago.She ran a beautiful
350 metres at the race,and then coming down to the end, she died.She ran a 57, we need
Okhalia to run at least a 55to be guaranteed a spot
going into the final.Watch at: 17:00 / 17:20So, it's two seconds off.This year would have been the
year, she has been workingvery hard, but coming back
from the type of injury,she has had two hamstring
injuries back to back,and we don't want to be
unrealistic in saying,oh, she's gonna just
suddenly run at 52 or 53.(mixed chattering)Watch at: 17:20 / 17:40- These girls are very excited
about this championship.You know?You are competing against
the best of the best,so this is the thing that
overseas schools look at,they don't look at any other thing.Watch at: 17:40 / 18:00This is my final year.I'm here to do big things,
great, great things.I'm determined of everything that I do,so it's gonna be competitive, yes,but I don't think it's gonna
be very hard for me to win.(horns blowing)- [Announcer] Joins her, Alesha
Kelly presses on the gas,Watch at: 18:00 / 18:20so she wants to secure
the win, and she does.She passed her best time going into the semi finals- [Announcer] So, on track
now, girls 400 metressemi final round.In lane five from St. Jago, Alesha Kelly.Watch at: 18:20 / 18:40In lane two, from Wolmers, Okhalia Buchanan.(banging)So, here we go, and
Alesha Kelly of St. Jagois kind of like the bullet from a gun.Onto the back stretch on the outside,Watch at: 18:40 / 19:00Setania Wright, also travelling fast.So is Ranesha McGregor of Hydel,St. Jago's Alesha Kelly,
and Satania Wright.Also going well on the
outside, Okhalia Buchananof Wolmer's is trying to
get back to the party.It's Alesha McGregor all
by herself from Hydel,away from Alesha Kelly of St. Jago.McGregor, she come across the line first.Watch at: 19:00 / 19:20Alesha Kelly slowing down rapidly,but gets across the line
in second just aheadof Satania Wright and
Myesha Bonds of Stethsand Edwin Allen respectively.(contemplative music)- I can only hope that from here on,I can only improve and
not go back to square one.Watch at: 19:20 / 19:40As coach says, the race isn't who comes first but who endures,that's what I'll see,
it's not the end of me.- I think Jamaica pushes some
of these athletes too hard,especially with the talented ones.Watch at: 19:40 / 20:00A lot of these kids are doing
a lot of work in training.Some of them get injured, and
the schools and the coachestend not be proactive
with injury management.And we see them come into
Champs and aggravate an injury.There's a lot of talent in Jamaica.Watch at: 20:00 / 20:20Some of the coaches
feel it's just a matterof moving on to the next.So, they don't have to
take the time to dealwith injuries correctly
because there is always someonewaiting in the wings.- [Announcer] It is McGregor,
following Kelly Winter.Williams coming now on the inside,Watch at: 20:20 / 20:40Williams of Steths taking
aim, but on the outside,it is Kelly Williams fighting back.Williams and Kelly.Stacy and Williams of Steths.Great run there by Kelly of St. Jago,but Stacy Williams just made it home.Watch at: 20:40 / 21:00- Talent pool in Jamaica,
every year, one set graduates,the next year, it's just
some other persons pop upWatch at: 21:00 / 21:20Even when Elaine comes, and
Shelly-Ann Fraser Price retires,I don't think we'll have
a problem replacing thembecause the talent pool
in Jamaica is almost likea spring or a fountain, and
we're looking forward togiving the world their
next big female faceof track and field.(orchestral music)Watch at: 21:20 / 21:40(horns blowing)(upbeat music)
About The Author
Read between the lines… track fans. What the documentary is really saying is : Jamaican athletes have a very high injury rate amongst poor children. An Olympic ban on jamaican athletes will prevent poor children from being "exploited" in hopes of making it out the ghettos of Jamaica. America and the British are tierd of competing against young, hungry lions in Jamaica.
3:20 what did the guy on the bicycle say?
The PED factory.
It's a factory, but with lots of talent left behind. Malnutritioned and over trained. There's always new meat waiting for the grinder when others get sidelined by injury there are 5 others waiting to take their spot. For a few lucky once it's the only way out.
What is the music at 11:47 ?
I Love the fight of Jamaican Girls !
My son can run, I might have to send him to Jamaica to train. Cawz him cudn’t neva mad fi run fi America. Mi nuh response if him bawn ah farin
Christopher do your thing do not give up your a mi star
Go Vegan you’ll hardly get those king of injuries, check the relationship between what you and your Endothelium, you ain’t dilating properly because of what you eat
aaaaaaa aaa aaa, why a u ronin? why a u ronin?
@ara
HAHOUHAHOUHAHOU
In the United States in the inner city I can’t keep a relay team together!
where is the sprint factory now? they didnt even make the finals this year…what happened?
I walk on my toes a bit and as a kid my mom took me to multiple neurologists in Mexico who said it was brain damage. I was also a sprinter in high school.
This was a great documentary and really showcased the talent of young Jamaicans and the hard work the coaches there put in for their country and its' kids.
Jamaica is Blessed! Wish I could visit the country I heard it is amazing.
My people my people… so proud of my country
Oh man…i LUV Jamaican environment peoples..like ALWAYZ supporting each others..d way they give & show d supported very Amazink!
Vere technical high produced the most Olympians not St. Jago high… Vere technical high produced athletes like Merlene Ottey Beverly McDonald Veronica Campbell Brown Simone Facey Shericka Jackson and the list goes on
The F’in Jamaican Government can’t do better than that garbage of a country? As much tourism that goes on there one wonders what the heck their government does with the money. They obviously don’t do much for their Citizens. Bad management of a country.
Too bad there isn't going to be Olympics in 2020
Where my penn relays people at!? always loved the energy and competition these schools and the Jamaican people brought to the event.
Yesss I keep telling people Jamaica doesn’t play when it comes to track when was in Jamaica one summer my moms friend was asking if I’d like to run for Jamaica cause he heard I was fast
Their strength/injury prevention coaches need to get better… Injured 2 times before competition?
Don’t focus on the money yet girl, just stay focus and driven
We must stop killing our kids and women
Yes Jamaicans are my favorite olympians. Blessed are the poor who work so very hard. I luv you❤ Jamaica, go conquer the world, reach the stars!!!
-Kimi (Malaysia)
Jamaica, a place where they don't do much to make certain athletes aren't doping.
Major doping issues in Jamaica. To be fair, most other countries as well.
What's the name of the song at the beginning?
what about sports nutrition!
Need to do a lot better for our athletes !! SMDH. Sooooo much natural talent in Jamaica
How can I become a part of the team I whould like to participate in the runing
Look at jamaica we dont have much but we are rich in sprit and rich in the mind just stay focus we can do it other country s always looking at us as i always say we may not win all the races but once were in the race we will push you..hard….
Sir i am Indian you help me
I am so proud right now my eyes are completely welled up!!!