Homecoming for Adelle Tracey
Published:Monday | July 18, 2022 | 12:06 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
EUGENE, Oregon:
While the COVID-19 pandemic brought a hiatus to sports, and uncertainty around the world, it was a blessing in disguise for middle distance runner Adelle Tracey who is competing in her first World Championships in the Jamaica colours.
Tracey’s eligibility became official on June 27 and she has since made her Jamaican debut competing in the women’s 1500 metres. Tracey is the daughter of former Jamaica College quarter-miler Nicholas Tracey and was born in Mandeville, Manchester. Tracey has represented the land of her mother’s birth, Great Britain, since she moved from Jamaica, for the majority of her career. While she has been considering making the switch for some time, the pandemic brought on an opportunity to make the change permanent.
“It was something that only came to the forefront of my mind during COVID-19. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity if it wasn’t for COVID-19 because it opened up a year of eligibility for me. And, after not making the Olympics last year, I kind of thought, why am I not representing Jamaica?” Tracey said.
While she had the traditional English experience regarding the school process, Tracey said that she felt that it was destiny for her to represent Jamaica, having watched various Jamaican Olympians before her compete on the world stage growing up.
“When I was a child, I used to watch the Olympics and I’d always thought that I’d run for Jamaica. Everyone always sees me as a British athlete. I love my British experience but it’s amazing that I am able to represent that other side of my heritage,” Tracey said. “It feels amazing. It’s great to get the vest on. I feel like I have come home.”
Tracey’s 1500m campaign came to an end on Saturday, finishing eighth in her semi-final, not enough for a place in today’s final. With the 800m still to come, Tracey hopes to be a part of the growth of middle-distance running in Jamaica.
“I feel like there’s a real ability for Jamaica to go far in the middle distance. I would love to join athletes like Natoya Goule and Aisha Praught-Leer in that campaign to get more athletes in the middle distance,” Tracey said.