Jamaica’s Jura Levy Adjusting Well at Oklahoma Baptist University

By  O’Neil A. Reid       “My goal this year is to make the Jamaican Olympic team” said Jura Levy, the former Vere Technical graduate. The 21 year old Levy is currently enrolled at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) and is now coached by Ford Mastin. Jura spent the past two years at South Plains College under the guidance of Blaine Wiley.  The 2011 season brought lots of success for Levy who re-wrote the record books at South Plains during her tenure, claiming records in all indoor and outdoor sprint events from the 55m (6.80 seconds) indoors to the 100m (11.07 seconds) and the 200m (22.76 seconds) outdoors.  Levy is the reigning National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) athlete of the week, winning the 60m in 7.38 seconds at the Iowa State Open in Ames, Iowa, on January 21, to top a field of 46 competitors. Jura also won the 200m in 24.14 second, ahead of 65 competitors. Fast Start and Good Attitude “I am further along this year than where I was at this point last year and my training is going good,” said Levy, who has adjusted well to life in at OBU.  Jura also pointed out that her classes are going well and that the college atmosphere at OBU is similar to that of South Plains College.  Jura said that she will focus on the 60m during the indoor season and is very excited about the upcoming outdoor season.  Levy also said that her goals for this season are to stay healthy and to make the Jamaican Olympics team. Commenting on Levy, coach Ford Mastin said that “we are delighted to have Jura here at Oklahoma Baptist University; she is a hard worker and has a great attitude.”  He also insisted  that he cannot take credit for Jura's progress, as that credit goes to coach Blaine Wiley. He said that coach Wiley has done a great job with her and that he is just building on what coach Wiley had done. Coach Mastin said that Jura is a good student and that she is humble and handles the media very well and that “she is not a diva.”