Davontè Howell is looking to build on his Olympic performance in Paris, as he sets new goals for the upcoming track season.
Howell, who ran the 100-metre prelims and quarter-final heats at the Stade de France, said though the Olympics was the highlight of his young career, it was time to take his abilities to the next level.
“My biggest goal I have set is to simply improve on the foundation I built last season,” he told the Compass, noting his plans this season are to dip under the 10-second mark in addition to competing at major meets.
Among his goals are “making an SEC 100m final, making a NCAA 100m final, competing in the World Championships as a more recognisable name instead of ‘the young 18-year-old’.”
Howell said as he continues to make strides in athletics, fame is slowing coming with it, especially on the back end of his Olympic debut, but he is focused on those who have been there from the start.
“I am receiving more attention … I don’t really pay much attention to it. I’ve always had my close friend group who I can rely on and know I can reach out to if need be.”
Reflecting on Paris
Howell, one of Cayman’s most promising track athletes, missed an Olympic semifinal spot by .18 seconds. He won his preliminary round in front of 80,000 people, running 10.31 seconds, before lining up against Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs – the 2020 Olympics 100m champion.
“Jacobs and I talked before and after the race,” Howell recalled. “He’s a really cool guy and we honestly didn’t talk about much, just watching the races before our own, speaking about how they went, wishing each other well and congratulating each other after the race.”
Outside racing against an Olympic gold medallist, Howell said he enjoyed French cuisine outside the village’s everyday cafeteria options.
“After competing, we went to a really nice restaurant and had some steak,” he said. “That was probably my favourite meal. That was a little gift from our [chef de mission] there at the Olympics, Ms. Shaneika Bush.”
The two-time CARIFTA gold medallist said he was proud that he was able to endure a long college season and then compete against the world’s best.
“I didn’t leave with the times I wanted but I left with lifelong memories and experience,” he said, noting that his biggest takeaway from the Olympics is that anyone can win.
“It’s the meet made for upsets, and it’s left to the person who executes the best on the day and not necessarily the fastest.”
Howell will continue to hone his craft as a freshman at the University of Tennessee heading into the 2024-25 season, where he aims for bigger and better times.
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