Having signed for Mississippi State University (MSU) in the USA this past week, Kingston College star jumper Shacquille Lowe is looking forward to winning titles and battling with former teammate Carey McLeod when he begins his collegiate career, hopefully in the fall.
Lowe, with personal bests of 7.75m and 14.32m, for the long and triple jump, respectively, ranks among the best high school jumpers of the modern era in Jamaica. That talent attracted several suitors from NCAA Division-I schools before he finally settled on MSU.
“I’m very elated and happy to have received scholarship offers from multiple schools in the States, and being one of the first persons in my family to go to a university; that makes me overwhelmed,” he tells Sportsmax.TV.
“Mississippi State University was my preferred choice because we had a long talk about my future goals before the track season. The coach of MSU contacted me as soon as he heard about my accomplishments at Kingston College and then he saw some video clips of me. He told where I could be in the future and I was impressed by his response.”
Having decided where he wants to spend the next four years of his academic journey, Lowe reveals lofty goals for his NCAA career.
“I would like to be an NCAA champion, both indoor and outdoor, and set new records at MSU, and continue to make national teams for my country and make my family proud,” he said, explaining that his ambitions extend well beyond the boundaries of the NCAA.
“l would also like to be an Olympian while there, knowing I’m already a Youth Olympian and to win medals in both Olympics and World Championships.”
Lowe is likely to come against his former his KC teammate, Carey McLeod, who enjoyed an outstanding indoor season for the University of Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) this past indoor season.
McLeod is the 2020 SEC Indoor long jump champion and the 2020 SEC Indoor triple jump silver medallist. He is also the 2020 USTFCCCA South Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year (Indoor), 2020 SEC Men's Field Athlete of the Year (Indoor), and was a member of the 2020 Indoor All-SEC First Team.
During their years together at Kingston College, Lowe and McLeod developed a bond of friendship, a bond that remains strong even though the latter has been at school in the USA.
No slouch himself, the Jamaica U20 long jump champion, said he looks forward to competing against his friend and former teammate.
“Carey McLeod, that’s my brother from another mother there. Well, the SEC is the most competitive conference in my opinion. Knowing that we went to the same high school and doing what he’s doing now in the SEC, I feel excited to compete against him,” said Lowe, who won the long jump silver medal at the 2019 ISSA Boys and Girls Championships.
“Carey taught me a lot while at Kingston College on how to train and how to be a leader, so I’m excited to be the underdog and I think I’m ready to face anyone in the SEC.
“The only place I’ve ever competed against him was in training because he’s three years ahead so now it’s all in the “big man league“ as they say, so I just have to work hard and try to improve every day.”
Incidentally, his contemporary at KC, Wayne Pinnock, will also be attending Tennessee.
Lowe said the only disappointing aspect of his impending collegiate career in the uncertainty around when he will actually depart for school given the COVID19 pandemic sweeping the globe.
“The pandemic virus has been a major setback for many athletes over the world not just in Jamaica. Whenever the Government opens the country I’ll leave for school when everything is cleared up because I have already sorted out everything,” he said.
“The pandemic has stopped my goals for the 2020 season but I’m glad that I got a scholarship secured and I’m looking forward to being in the NCAA and making a mark.”