Jireh Westerlund of the Saint Joseph’s College has taken out the Most Valuable Player (M.V.P.) award for the Senior Boys' Division in the Champ of Champs after a dominant performance last Friday.

The Taufusi and Lalovaea student came first in the Senior Boys Division’s 400 metre hurdles and second in the 110 meter hurdles and the 400 metre dash.

He also ran in the Senior Boys 4x400m team relay event where his team took first place.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Westerlund said he never expected to be presented with the award and only focused on getting through the athletics events he competed in. 

“In the Zone B Games I was also awarded the ‘M.V.P.’ Award for the Senior Boys division,” said Westerlund.

“But I never even once thought that I’d be selected as this year’s Champ of Champs most valuable player as there were others such as Senior Boys’ 100 mere dash winner Johnny Key and 110m hurdles winner Paul Stanley.

“Nevertheless I am extremely honored to receive the award and I dedicate this towards our heavenly Father for his guidance, to my family who have been here since the start of the competition to root and cheer me on.”

Expressing his appreciation to the Saint Joseph’s College teachers and coaches, Westerlund said they were instrumental for ensuring the team’s participation.

“I also want to thank my teachers and coaches of Saint Joseph’s College Athletics. They were instrumental in pushing us (S.J.C. team) to try our hardest out there today. Fa’afetai lava mo mea uma,” he said.

Attributing his track and field success to the training and coaching of his college coaches, he said he trained twice a day months before the zone athletics and the Champ of Champs. 

“I would go jogging early in the morning and then I’ll get home and prepare for school,” he told this newspaper.

“Then after school we have training there with the coaches, and then I’ll go running again in the evening when I get home after school finishes. It was hard but the reward was worth it.”

When Jireh was asked if he would still continue with athletics after his final year at Saint Joseph's College, he replied saying he aspires to compete at a future Pacific Games as well as the Olympic Games. 

The Champ of Champs 2021 held last Friday at Apia Park not only set 15 new national records, but also produced a handful of talented young athletes who could represent Samoa internationally in the future.