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High school trainer lauds current coach for ‘tremendous job’ on Levell - High school trainer lauds current coach for ‘tremendous job’ on Levell
September 23, 2025
Leon Powell, who formerly coached freshly minted World Championships 200m bronze medallist Bryan Levell while he was at Edwin Allen High School, has lauded the athlete's current coach, Shanikie Osbourne, for the tremendous work she has done in guiding the young sprinter to his first global individual medal.
Levell, who enjoyed an outstanding season, clocked a personal best 19.64 seconds to secure the 200m bronze medal last Friday in Tokyo, Japan.
The event was won by American Noah Lyles in 19.52, with his compatriot Kenny Bednarek taking silver in 19.58.
In lauding Osbourne, Powell said: "I don't think that she has had enough credit so hats off to her and her team for a job well done.
"This is his second year at the senior level and to come away with a bronze medal, I think she deserved all the credit for the tremendous job that she has done," Powell said.
Osbourne, who is the head coach of Optimum Performance Track Club, is also the coach of quarter-miler Delano Kennedy, who ran a personal best 44.74 seconds to make the semi-finals of the men's 400 metres at this year's World Championships.
She has also guided the career of veteran female quarter-miler Candice McLeod.
NO SURPRISE
Powell, who coached Levell for seven years at Edwin Allen High in Clarendon, said he is proud of the 21-year-old's accomplishment.
"I am not surprised by the time and the fact that he had won a medal. Going into the World Championships with 19.69, I knew he was in shape and we all saw that and we at least expected him to run 19.69, which he did, so it wasn't a surprise for me," Powell explained.
"This is what Bryan always wanted; he wanted to win a global medal because he didn't win an individual medal at the junior level and at his first World Championships at a senior level and coming away with a bronze medal it is a wonderful achievement for him and he can only grow from here on and get better and faster," he added.
Levell, 21, is now the third fastest Jamaican in history behind Usain Bolt (19.19 - world record) and Yohan Blake's 19.26. He enjoyed a stellar championships, running 19.84 in the heats, before posting 19.78 in the semi-finals.
ROOM FOR GROWTH
Powell stated that Bryan has even greater achievements ahead of him in the future.
"I would say that he is still developing because I don't think he has developed to his full potential as yet. I think that there is still room for growth and I am expecting that, and he said it prior to the final that he is not limiting himself. He is young and once he stays healthy, which is every athlete's dream, to stay healthy, then I am expecting him to run much faster in years to come," Powell said.
"This will definitely help his confidence because when somebody sets their sights on winning a global medal and you win one at 21 years old, then this can only boost your confidence. If you realise the type of person that he is, he is really and truly a reserved person and this may just let him believe a little more, it will help him believe that, 'hey, I have the bronze now so next time I can get the gold'," Powell underscored.
Powell also stated that Levell's achievement has ignited pride at Edwin Allen.
"I am proud and the entire Edwin Allen is proud of him because when we were watching the final at school, the entire auditorium erupted when he won the bronze medal."
