There is a symmetry to the 400-meter hurdles. Each one is placed 35 meters apart on the track, and each one stands 30 inches high. Success is about speed, power, and timing. The barriers are there, but they are expected and predictable.
Life is not a 400-meter hurdle race. Its barriers are random, unexpected, and in different shapes and sizes, sometimes appearing out of nowhere to trip you when you least expect it.
For St. Catherine, Jamaica native Johnelle Thomas ’24, MBA ’26, the hurdles have come in a variety of forms – the least of which are the literal hurdles the four-time USTFCCCA All-East Region runner cleared in her career. From racing itself, to traveling to a different country, to higher education, to motherhood, and beyond, Thomas has navigated those with the same tenacity that she has leapt and sprinted past opposing runners.
The First Race
From a young age, Thomas was a competitor.
“I started competing in track and field when I was 3 years old in basic school in Jamaica, which is similar to pre-K in the United States. My mom always says that even back then, other kids didn’t want to race against me because they knew I would win,” she said, noting that she was scouted by coaches at Vere Technical High School. “I actually tried hurdles, fell, and wanted nothing to do with them after that,” she said, discussing her start at Vere.
Over her high school career, she worked her way from running the shortest sprints to the 400-meter dash, and eventually gave sprint hurdling a chance. When her coach suggested she combine her endurance and jumping skills in the 400-meter hurdles, it was clear she had found her event.
All the while, she was completing her education at St. Catherine High School. The combination of academic and athletic success had already connected her with colleges in the United States, and she was exploring her options when she received word of another interested coach: Logan Sharpe, then the Director of Track and Field at American International College.
Her conversation with him helped turn a potentially difficult decision into an easy one.
“Out of all the coaches I spoke with, he made me feel the most welcomed and genuinely wanted … Between the welcoming environment, the opportunity to compete, and receiving a full athletic scholarship, AIC quickly moved to the top of my list.” she said.
Sprinting Toward Success
Transitioning from Jamaica to Massachusetts to start college meant more than just a change in climate. As a result, the lessons Thomas learned came off the track as often as on it.
“I learned how to prioritize, stay organized, and make sacrifices when necessary … My education and athletics were both important to me, so I worked hard to give my best in both areas,” she said.
All of that might have been overwhelming for her, but against the cold and other challenges, she found warmth at AIC.
“What helped me most was building relationships with teammates, coaches, professors, and staff who genuinely cared about my success,” she said.
With that system, Thomas flourished. She started her career with a bang, taking two gold medals at the 2021 Northeast 10 Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship, both in the 400-meter hurdles and as part of the 4×100-meter relay, and with those helped AIC secure its first-ever NE10 title in women’s track and field.
A year later, she repeated as NE10 Champion in the 400-meter hurdles and qualified for nationals, coming in seventh and earning All-American status.
In 2023, she did it again at the NE10 Championship, securing individual gold for the third time in her career.
Then, an unexpected hurdle appeared.
A New Track
A search of the Track and Field Results Reporting System, often shortened to TFRRS by those in the college track world, will show two student-athletes at AIC named Johnelle Thomas, one of whom has a career that goes from 2021 to 2023 and abruptly halts.
Strangely, it appeared as if she had ended her career with two seasons of competition left.
Thomas had not suffered an injury, nor had she simply given up the sport. She had given birth.
“My senior year was one of the most challenging and rewarding periods of my life. Becoming a mother changed everything. There were moments when I was exhausted and unsure of how I would balance school, motherhood, and athletics,” she said. Not surprisingly, that balancing act required some extra hands.
“I honestly can’t single out one person because everyone played a major role in helping me get through that season of my life.” she said. “I’m especially grateful for my roommates, who would hold my baby while I studied for finals, my coworkers in the dining center who constantly showed me love and support, my teammates who embraced my son as their own and encouraged me through the challenges of postpartum motherhood, and my coaches who understood my situation and gave me the grace and support I needed.”
The Victory Lap
She walked across the stage at the MassMutual Center in late spring of 2024, her baby in hand, and earned her undergraduate degree. It was another hurdle that she had leapt past. But it was not to be the last.
Thomas applied for and was accepted into graduate school at AIC, and decided that, on top of the rigor of a master’s program and the challenges of raising a child, she would return to the track.
Some days, it felt like trying to jump moving hurdles.
“Between being a mother, a graduate student, and a high-level athlete, there were days when it felt like there just weren’t enough hours in the day,” she said.
The support system at AIC continued to be a core strength for Thomas, and she used her first season to ramp back up. By the spring of 2026, she was back in form.
With each race, seconds fell off her time. At the NE10 Championship, she clocked a 1:02.97 in her feature event – second in the conference, and high enough regionally to be ranked as All-Region for the fourth time, three years after the previous accolade.
It was for herself, her son, and all those who had helped her over the hurdles along the way.
“After becoming a mother and facing so many challenges, there were a lot of doubts and opinions about what my future in track and field would look like. Earning my fourth All-Region honor proved all of those doubters wrong … My son became one of my biggest motivations, and every accomplishment feels even more meaningful because of him,” she said.
(Photos By Leon Nguyen ’16)
The Next Race
In May of 2026, Thomas again crossed the stage at the MassMutual Center. Her son was with her this time as well, an inseparable duo and a representation of passion and determination overcoming the hurdles of life.
“It was one of the proudest moments of my life. Walking across that stage with my son beside me represented years of sacrifice, hard work, and determination. I wasn’t just earning a degree for myself—I was setting an example for him. It was a reminder that no matter how difficult the journey is, you can still reach your goals,” she said.
Thomas hopes that her story will be an example to other young parents who find themselves facing the same challenges she did, and that they too will stay on track and jump the hurdles to reach the finish line.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that becoming a parent means your dreams have to stop. Ask for help when you need it, believe in yourself, and remember why you started …Bring your baby along with you through your journey and let them be part of your success story.
“There will be difficult days, but every step forward is worth it. Your children are watching, and by pursuing your education and goals, you’re showing them what resilience, determination, and hard work look like. One day, they’ll be proud of everything you accomplished, and you’ll be proud that you never gave up,” she said.