THERE WAS a hero's welcome for national 400 metre hurdles champion Melaine Walker when she visted her old school, Tarrant Primary, on Wednesday.

Hundreds of children, the teachers and the principal, Glentine Edwards, came out of class to meet and greet the athlete, who brought gifts for the school's track and field team.

Accompanied by her agent/manager Juliet Campbell, along with other Brick House International Sports Management Inc. athletes, Campbell handed over Nike shoes and spikes to the coach, Delroy Thompson.

The presentation function featured African dancing put on by female students for which a gold medal was won at the National Festival, and a skit done by the boys.

The defending national 400m hurdles champion, who leads the world with a season best 54.14 which was done at the recent Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, expressed her satisfaction with being able to give something back to the school where it all started.

"I know this can also be a motivation for the young athletes and maybe they will some day be a Melaine Walker and better," she said.

"I have to give them a chance so that they know that they have hope, and hopefully later when they know that, they will want to move on and later help others," added Walker, who has won four medals at three World Junior Championships.

Fitting

She said it was fitting that she give back something to the institution she received a lot from.

"I am happy because I was able to come back and donate, give backsomething for all that I have received," she added.

Walker's manager and founder of Brick House International Sports Management Inc., three-time olympian, Campbell, said the visit was more than giving but was designed to get the children at the school more familiar with Walker, who graduated from the institution in 1995.