Bermuda Pacers Track Club stands as one of the Island’s premier grassroots athletics organisations after training and producing an array of high-class youth track and field stars.

Yet, it has not only been in the field of athletics that many of those, after emerging from the club, continue to impact local society.

Among former Pacers athletes directly imposing valuable life lessons upon a new crop of future leaders is Janine Scott, who around the turn of the century starred as a sprinter, commencing as a 100 metres runner, before graduating to compete at 200 and 400 metres.

Highly decorated after years competing on the junior circuit, with tours of the Carifta Games and Russell Blunt/East Coast Invitational included among the stops made by the athlete, Scott was offered an athletics scholarship to attend Seton Hall University.

The offer was declined by the Bermudian due to track team demands that infringed on her course requirements as an education major.

Instead she attended the New Jersey institution as a regular student, dabbling in track on the side, before returning to Bermuda upon graduation.

She currently occupies the role of mathematics teacher leader at Victor Scott Primary School in Pembroke and just last year was acknowledged by Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, for having achieved Lead Practitioner accreditation from the Schools, Students and Teachers network in Britain.

“Ms Scott is a phenomenal teacher,” said Crenstant Williams, the Ministry of Education mathematics officer.

“Ms Scott goes above and beyond when it come to her students. She will have after-school sessions and she does things during her breaks to make sure every student is engaged in her classroom.

“Ms Scott is someone who has a passion for her students and a passion for sports.”

Nevertheless, on the track and off, Scott has remained committed to Pacers, now having a dual role as both club vice-president and as an assistant coach.

Sanaa Rae Morris stands as one of the more notable young sprinters Scott has groomed, with Morris now competing as a member of Howard Universtiy’s track team.

“It was a smooth journey,” said Scott while being featured on the club’s Former Athlete Friday series.

“Pacers set me up for what life was gong to be like overseas, for college, to run, just life.

“My favourite memory was when I went to Towson State for the East Coast Invitational.

“Pacers has helped me to persevere when one encounters tough things and to stick to my goals.

“As a runner sometimes it’s hard and one thing about Pacers, the coaches are always encouraging you and have your back.

“They go over and are always willing to go beyond in their efforts to prepare you for longevity, whether it be work, school or even becoming a professional athlete.”

As a teacher and coach, Scott is following in the footsteps of her mother, Gail Scott, a renowned former educator, while she is also imitating the career of Cal Simons, Pacers president who is also a former primary school teacher.

Simons noted Scott as a highly motivated and focused individual with a commitment to aiding in the development of the Island’s youth.

“She’s extremely focused,” said Simons. “She’s always been a person committed to supporting the club and supporting the athletes over the last several years.

“She came back from school and jumped right in with coaching our young people.

“She said, ‘Mr Simons I want to help and do something’. So, she jumped right in and in addition to coaching she’s now the vice-president of Bermuda Pacers.”

Scott’s goals remain true no matter the circumstance, to encourage youngsters toward the highest realms of excellence, just as she also strives to improve her own skills in her chosen career field.