Khalifa St. Fort of Florida told FLrunners.com on Wednesday afternoon that she will forego the rest of her high school eligibility to accept an endorsement deal with the Caribbean-based Flow Communications.
The former UCLA commit is the Pan-American Junior Champion and World Youth Championships silver medalist for 100m. She owns PRs of 11.19 for 100m, which ranks No. 8 All-Time for athletes under 18 years old, and 23.5 for 200m. St. Fort has competed unattached from her high school, St. Thomas Aquinas, for the past year and trains exclusively with Ato Boldon, an Olympian and NBC analyst.
"Today has been an amazing day. I get to start the new part of my career as a pro and I'm so happy," she said in a video interview submitted by Boldon to FLrunners.com.
The announcement comes on the eve of the CARIFTA Games this weekend, where St. Fort will represent Trinidad and Tobago. She won a bronze medal at the senior level IAAF World Championships last summer for the island nation, per her efforts on the 4x100-meter relay. St. Fort will travel to Grenada for the meet this weekend, where she will contest the 100m and 200m.
"She's doing it before CARIFTA because they have a huge campaign coming for the CARIFTA Games and the Olympics," Boldon told Todd Grasley of
FLrunners.com. "This starts the Khalifa brand moving. Win or lose CARIFTA, it's a win for her. Her value is in her brand, not just a race."
St. Fort is not working with an agent and Boldon will serve as her advisor for the time being. She is not currently sponsored by a shoe company.
St. Fort's American professional debut will come next weekend at the Texas Relays in Austin. She will race the 100m.
"My thoughts are to train harder, work harder and do everything I can to put myself in a good position to be on the biggest stage in the world," she said.
Khalifa St. Fort of Florida told FLrunners.com on Wednesday afternoon that she will forego the rest of her high school eligibility to accept an endorsement deal with the Caribbean-based Flow Communications.
The former UCLA commit is the Pan-American Junior Champion and World Youth Championships silver medalist for 100m. She owns PRs of 11.19 for 100m, which ranks No. 8 All-Time for athletes under 18 years old, and 23.5 for 200m. St. Fort has competed unattached from her high school, St. Thomas Aquinas, for the past year and trains exclusively with Ato Boldon, an Olympian and NBC analyst.
