Aisha Praught – I just connected with my father
FOLLOWING her switch from the United States of America (USA) to Jamaica, Aisha Praught’s World Championships debut might not have been the perfect one, but it is a performance she cherishes.
“It feels incredible. I feel very welcome. My teammates have met me with open arms. They really inspire me because everyone here is excellent and I also want to be excellent. It feels really colourful to put on the colours and race and I wish I could have done better,” said Praught.
Praught took part in the 3000m steeplechase and clocked 9:40 minutes in finishing ninth position but was later disqualified for a lane infringement.
“I thought that being in that heat it was going to be good. I wanted to come here and in the back of my mind, I had a 9:27 mark. I know it is in me but I just didn’t have it today (yesterday),” said Praught, who at the time, didn’t know she was disqualified.
The 25-year-old who was born in the USA applied to the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) for a transfer after meeting her biological father, Joseph Grant in Berlin, Germany ,in 2013 for the first time.
“He is so good. I am hoping to go see him in Berlin. Everyone is excited. My brothers and sister are just posting all over, everyone is so excited,” she said smiling.
Praught was reported saying that she knew something was wrong growing up and once she met her father in Berlin two years ago, they just connected. But not only has she connected with her father, Praught who has now spent nearly three weeks with her new teammates, has bonded quite well from the Japan training camp and now in Beijing. She feels fully integrated.
“Everyone has been super nice to me. They are trying to teach me patois. It’s all jokes, all fun, the energy is relaxed and it is confident and it pours off everyone and it falls onto me and I love it. I feel like everyone’s pet. It’s been really good,” said Praught, who lives in Eugene, Oregon.
“I am so rejuvenated and inspired and I can’t wait and if it does anything it makes me very hungry for next year. Just seeing all the Jamaicans and their performances…excellence, excellence, and I want to be one of those. I want to be a great. I am so excited for my next chance,” Praught said.
Praught, who is expected to give Jamaica a presence in the middle distances races on the international scene, was ecstatic with Usain Bolt’s victory over American rival Justin Gatlin while at the team hotel.
“Oh my gosh. It was crazy,” as her eyes opened wider.
“I was in my room with the lights down low. I was kinda keeping it down and I watched the race. I jumped up outta my bed and I screamed then I heard screams in the hallway. I flung open my door, Kimberly (Williams) opened her door, then all the girls were in the hallway screaming. It was awesome. It was hard to sleep after that, that was great,” said Praught, as she headed off through the mixed zone, proudly wearing the black, green and gold of Jamaica.