Sprinter Houston receives 15K BOA funding
Photos
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Tre Houston (left) with his mom, Stacy Van Putten, (centre) and dad, Lloyd Van Putten, (right) at the Pan Am Games in Mexico in October. Houston has received a $15,000 grant to help him qualify for this summer?s Olympic Games.
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Tre Houston
Top Bermuda sprinter Tre Houston has received $15,000 from the Bermuda Olympic Association’s London preparation fund to boost his chances of qualifying for the Summer Games.
The grant will allow Houston to continue his training at Brunel University in London where he is part of world-renowned coach Tony Lester’s sprint stable.
Houston was the beneficiary of a similar grant last year which helped him reach the Pan Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he set personal bests in both the 100 and 200 metres in October. He clocked a time of 20.91 seconds in the 200m, and 10.40 seconds in the 100m.
Next month Houston will be competing in the UKA AVIVA Indoor Trials Championships held in Sheffield in preparation for his outdoor season.
He said the BOA fund had been awarded to him on the back of his impressive showing at Pan Am.
“Its a great feeling to know I have the support and help from my country,” said Houston, who also competed at the Commonwealth Games in India in 2010.
“(The funding) is based of my performances over the year at big championships such as the Pan American Games in Mexico.
“It will also help for my preparation for this summer’s Olympic Games, but I will also be taking part in the UKA indoor Championship held in February.
“I’ll also be competing an indoor to gain speed early in the season to be ready for the 2012 outdoor season.”
Houston said he was ‘blessed’ to know he had a strong team behind him.
“It’s a boost just to know your country believes you to do something with the money they are investing in you, so I really do appreciate the funds I’ve been getting in the past two years,” he added. “For athletes in Bermuda receiving any type of grant is a big thing.
“I’d like to thank the continued support of president of the BOA Judy Simons and her committee, BTFA president Donna Watson, mom and dad, Gerry Swan, Cal Simons, De-von Bean because without their help I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Donna Watson, Bermuda Track and Field Association president, is positive on Houston’s chances of meeting the Olympic standard.
“We are very excited as Tre had a great Pan Am Games with his times just seconds away from the standard,” he said.
“Speaking with Tre’s coach Tony Lester he feels quite positive that Tre will be able to reach the Olympic qualifying standard especially in the 200m.
“We wish Tre all of the best in his up coming season and we are looking forward to some great results from him.”
Lester believes Houston has come on leaps and bounds since the pair started working together in January 2010.
“Running two personal bests at the Pan Am Games, more so the 200m personal best, has given him a whole new lease of life and now a firm self belief that nothing is impossible,” said Lester, who has coached Olympic gold medallists Mark Lewis-Francis and Marlon Devonish.
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Published Jan 5, 2012 at 5:59 am (Updated Jan 5, 2012 at 5:57 am)