Three-time Olympian Medalist 

Kerron Stewart’s track and field career began when she was twelve years old at John Mills Primary & Junior High School in Kingston, Jamaica. One of the coaches asked her if she could run, and she answered, “No.” but still tried out for track, where she “blew away all the other girls during tryouts” and “I never looked back.” Kerron’s primary school accomplishments earned her a scholarship to St. Jago High School, a school famously known for producing great student athletes. 

 During her first year at St. Jago, Kerron attempted hurdles but soon discovered that her strengths is in the 100-meter and 200-meter, not the hurdles and 400m events. In her second year, she continued focusing on the 100 meters while adding the 200-meter sprints and 4×400-meter events. In her second years, she won the 100-meter and 200-meter at the boys and girls championships. Kerron’s achievements caught the attention of the late Essex County College (ECC) Track and Field Head Coach Michael Smart, who recruited her and offered her a scholarship to Essex County College. She arrived in the fall of 2003 and began building her legacy. 

In the fall of 2003, Kerron started training for the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. She recalls, “We didn’t have our own track to practice on, so we ran in our gym.” During these training sessions, Kerron continued to focus on the 100-meter and 200-meter sprint events. She also stated, “These practices were tough. We practiced hard, and Coach Smart worked us hard, but always stressed the importance of academics.” 

 During her first indoor season, Kerron won the 60-meter and 200-meter events at the 2004 Junior College National Championships. In the outdoor season, she secured victories in the 100-meter and 200-meter championships. Her athletic success was matched by her academic achievements. From the fall of 2003 through the spring of 2005, she earned Garden State Athletic Conference All-Academic and Region XIX All-Academic honors. She ultimately graduated from ECC with an overall GPA of 3.44. These accomplishments earned Kerron a full track and field scholarship to Auburn University. 

 In the fall of 2005, Kerron began training at Auburn University under Track and Field Assistant Coach Henry Rolle for the 2006 indoor and outdoor seasons. At the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Kerron helped her team—which included four other ECC women’s track and field standouts—win Auburn University’s first-ever NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship. In 2007, she earned the Honda Sports Award as the nation’s best female collegiate track and field athlete. 

 After her standout collegiate career at Auburn, Kerron set her sights on the world stage. She won the 2008 Jamaican national championship in the 100-meter sprint with a time of 10.80 seconds, earning a spot on the Jamaican Olympic team. At the 2008 Olympics, she won a silver medal in the 100 meters and a bronze medal in the 200 meters. Following her Olympic success, she continued competing for the Jamaican national team and was a member of the 4×100-meter relay team that won gold at the 2009 World Track and Field Championships.

 At the 2012 Olympics, she was part of the 4×100-meter relay team that earned a silver medal. Kerron continued to compete with the Jamaican national 4×100-meter relay team in the 2009, 2013, and 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships, winning gold medals in each event. 

She retired after the 2018 season. When asked about her success in track and field, Kerron reflected, “I think my proudest moments were the realization that something great is in me and that I can accomplish whatever I put mind to and work towards it. I walked away from the sport feeling fulfilled and blessed, knowing that I got to do what I love.” 

 I am forever grateful to Essex County College, and to everyone who played a part in my life while I was there. Being at Essex helped me to mature and prepared me for what’s next. Essex taught me that I am a student first and an athlete second. Before then, academics were second, and athletics were first. But when I got there, everybody challenged me to be a student first and an athlete second. Thank you to Essex County College.”