Budding track star Ronesha is ‘running with her books’

When 13-year-old Ronesha Rhule crossed the finish line at the BK 5K earlier this year, she was only focused on winning the race.

She could not have known it would lead to a high school scholarship that gives new meaning to a mantra her mother repeated for years, “Run, but run with your books, too.” The Holmwood Technical High School student stood among 34 outstanding recipients who received more than $14 million in scholarships and bursaries from the Burger King Scholarship programme last week. She was awarded one of nine Secondary Open Scholarships to help see her through the next five years of high school. But Ronesha’s path to the scholarship was anything but conventional.

Following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the 5K, which was typically in the preseason line-up, instead happened in March, and she found herself, as a brand-new member of the renowned Holmwood track team, representing her school while her seasoned teammates rested for the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships. Despite a lack of senior athletes, and ongoing challenges related to the hurricane, Holmwood Technical dominated their races at the 5K and Ronesha simply stood out.