University of Illinois eyeing sprinter Ashley Kelly. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—The University of Illinois Fighting Illini is avidly recruiting British Virgin Islands sprinter and World Jr. Championships 200 meters qualifier Ashley Kelly, who returned from visiting the school on Sunday, where she spent four days on a recruiting trip.

Kelly who turned 17 a day after the Carifta Games where she qualified for the July 8-13, World Jr. Championships in Poland, has run seasons best in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and contributed a leg to the territory’s 4 x 400 meter national record setting squad. So far this season, Kelly has posted career best times of 12.21 and 56.24 in the 100 and 400 meters and came within .03 of her 200 meters best after running 24.64.

“The trip was a great experience,” Kelly said before Monday’s workout. “I like the atmosphere, the people are hospitable, the academic and athletic programs are good and the facilities are excellent.”

Kelly, who plans to pursue business law and eventually become a corporate lawyer, said she’s happy to have had such an opportunity. She also had an opportunity to train on the school’s 200 meter indoor track, which brought back memories of competing on the Festival Village Grounds—but under better conditions. “This opportunity makes me want to do excel more in what I’m doing and to keep focused,” she said. “It’s great to know that something you have as a hobby can grant you these kind of opportunities and open doors for you.”

BVI 1988 Olympian and 2008 Olympic Coach Willis "Chucky" Todman and Ashley Kelly. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Kelly had been coached by 1988 BVI Olympian Willis “Chucky” Todman for the last four years. “When something like this occurs, you want to show that you are disciplined, do the hard work and make sacrifices, good things will happen,” he said of the first of his athletes to have a university showing interest in them. “That is exactly what is happening to Ashley now.  School wise, track wise, her discipline outside of track and school, have kept it all together. Now she’s stating to reap the benefits of all those days that everybody else were out partying on a holiday and she had to be on a track. So, it’s paying off right now.”

Todman said with Chantel Malone attending the University of Texas and Kelly likely going to Illinois, it opens the doors for others behind to follow. “It shows that our athletes can go to these big schools and be competitive,” he said.