'The Magic is There' - Jamaica's Rising Star Heads Back to Jamaica After Tough US Transition

Alana Reid’s agent, Dwight Thomas, has confirmed that the Jamaican sprint sensation has returned home after a brief spell training in the United States under two different coaches.

Following her professional signing with Nike, Alana Reid joined Dennis Mitchell’s Florida-based Star Athletics Track Club, where she trained alongside elite sprinters such as Sha’Carri Richardson and Twanisha Terry.

She later moved to the Hurdle Mechanics Training Group at the University of Arkansas, working under renowned coach Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

However, according to Thomas, Alana Reid found it challenging to fully settle in the U.S. training environments and ultimately decided to return to Jamaica, a move her agent says he completely supports.

Dwight Thomas explained that Alana Reid has chosen to part ways with the coaches she had been working with in the United States and made the decision to return to Jamaica to continue her training locally.

He mentioned that while a new coach had not yet been confirmed, discussions were ongoing to determine the best fit for her development.

Dwight Thomas emphasised that the decision was entirely Alana Reid’s own and that he fully supports her choice, noting that she has always felt more comfortable training in Jamaica.

He added that, unlike many other Jamaican athletes, Alana Reid turned professional without first experiencing college life abroad, which made adapting to the overseas environment more challenging.

“For Alana’s case, she decided to move on from the coaches that she’s been working with in the States and at the moment, she has decided to go back to Jamaica and train locally. We haven’t decided who would train her at the moment,” Dwight Thomas said as per TVJ News.

“We are working on that right now, but that’s what she feels is best for herself, and I support her 100%. You know, she has felt comfortable training in Jamaica; she did not experience going to college or adaptation to living abroad before becoming a professional, like other Jamaican athletes have done in the past.”

Dwight Thomas noted that Alana Reid’s transition from high school to training with a major professional group in the United States had not gone as smoothly as expected.

He explained that Alana Reid felt more at ease training in Jamaica, where she believed the environment suited her better.

Thomas added that many athletes who choose to train locally have found great success, and Alana Reid was confident that the same ‘magic’ could work for her as she continues to grow in her career.

“Her coming straight from high school and going with the big group adjustment was not as smooth as we thought it would be,” he added.

“She sees training at home as comfortable, and there is a lot of success that we see with many athletes who train locally. The magic is there, and she feels it could be part of her.”

Dwight Thomas has expressed optimism about Alana Reid’s decision, saying that returning home could be exactly what she needs to rediscover her rhythm and confidence.

He reiterated that Jamaica has long been a nurturing ground for world-class sprinters, and with the right guidance and environment, Alana Reid has every opportunity to thrive and fulfil her immense potential on the global stage.