Jamaican track athlete Kaven Waysome had one reason for his sudden interest in America and Fresno City College.

“Opportunity,” he said.

Waysome, according to his coach and teammates, sets the standard for the FCC track and field team, not only in the men’s 200 and 400 meter categories but also in the area of commitment.

Head coach Robert Foster saw a change almost immediately in the work ethic and dedication of his team after Waysome arrived after winter break. Waysome stepped into the life of a completely different culture, Foster said, and embraced the change.

Kids in Jamaica have a much tougher time than kids in the United States, Foster said.

“[They] don’t have luxuries or conveniences but have a strong work ethic. They don’t expect someone to take care of them.”

Waysome said his first and foremost objective is to excel in his classes and feel secure with his grades before focusing on running.

Coach Foster was one of the first connections his family had in transferring to the states, Waysome said.

“Our goal is for you to get a good education and come back and help the kids in Jamaica,” is what he remembers his family telling him before he left.

Waysome’s mentality and hard work has rubbed off on his teammates. Coach Foster expresses the difference in Jamaican expectations.

“There is a different level of work expected [there],” Foster said. “It is eye opening to see people from other cultures and learn how they live. Our kids don’t know how good they have it.”

A fellow track runner, Kaitlynn Castaneda , told the story of one of Waysome’s first experiences with American currency. He didn’t know what change was, Castaneda said. The cashier gave it to him and he threw it away because he didn’t know what to do with it.

Another fellow runner on the FCC track team, Onna Turner, said Waysome “fits in well as part of the team and impresses everyone in races.”

In the CSU Stanislaus Alumni-All Comers Meet on Feb. 20, Waysome placed first in the 400-meter dash with 50.49 and second in the 200-meter dash with a 22.34 time, according to the Cal State Stanislaus results.

On Feb. 21, he “won the [COS 400-meter dash] in 50.49, just ahead of teammate Donnell Love’s 50.61,” according to the Fresno Bee.

Each day, Coach Foster said he pushes Waysome to achieve things that would not be possible for him in his home country. He hopes to assist Waysome in qualifying to compete in state championships.

“He has never trained at this level before,” Foster said. “Normally he would be running later in May or June, so his training has sped up. He can only get better from here.”

Waysome said he hopes to move up to a state college and continue on with his degree and someday become a physical education coach.

If the Olympics were to call, he will answer and represent his native Jamaica, sporting his country’s colors.