Athlete of the week: Jermarrion Stewart

*_{Psychology junior Jermarrion Stewart runs in the 4×400 relay race on Jan. 20 at the Robert Platt Invitational in the Yeoman Fieldhouse on the University of Houston campus.}* _{COURTESY PHOTO} _{UTRGV ATHLETICS}

Majoring in psychology and minoring in health administration, junior Jermarrion Stewart is a sprinter for the UTRGV Men’s Track and Field Team. Stewart graduated from Collinsville High School in Collinsville, Illinois, and came to UTRGV after being recruited.

Although he did not compete in indoor track and field his freshman year due to the pandemic, Stewart brought his sprinting prowess to the forefront in the outdoor competition, where he brought home a Western Athletic Conference championship win in the 4×100-meter relay.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

A: “Hanging out with my friends, listening to music, eating. I love eating. Trying new foods, and just running. I don’t know if I said running, but running.”

Q: What kind of music do you like listening to?

A: “I like R&B and soul, like, I like ’90s music, such as Brent Faiyaz. I love Brent Faiyaz, ’90s music. I would say, like, Ginuwine, Keith Sweat. People in that era.”

Q: What are some of your favorite foods?

A: “Honestly, my favorite food, I like sushi. I just got on the sushi train, like, in November. So, like, I’m really liking sushi. I love steak. Steak is a favorite thing that I like. I like it well done. I don’t want no pink, no blood. So, yeah, well done is my favorite.”

Q: What keeps you motivated to keep playing?

A: “Honestly, just like, God. God, my friends, my coaches, my teammates. There’s so many times where I’m like, ‘Ugh, I don’t wanna do this.’ And my teammates are just like, ‘Dude, you got this. You have one year left. You have to go hard, finish hard.’ And so, yeah, that’s what I would say. My friends and family.”

Q: What has been your proudest moment in your athletic career?

A: “I would say having the most school records here at UTRGV. I would say that is my proudest moment, right now, in my career at UTRGV.”

Q: What is your training regimen like?

A:“I hate training. It hurts so bad, but some of my regimens are, like, get out, execute well and finish strong. When I’m running, in the zone, I’m thinking about breathing, lifting my knees, beating my opponents. So, yeah, that’s what I would say some of my regimens are.”

Q: How does this team compare to where you ran before?

A: “My other teams, I was always a short sprinter. I was always a 100, 200, 4×100 guy. And now I’m a 400, 4×400, 200 guy. So, this, this training is intense. It’s super intense.”

Q: Would you say you have a familial connection with your team?

A: “Yes. My teammates, we’re like siblings. We fight, and then we come back together, we fight again, and we come back together. So, I would just say that my teammates are literally, like, my motivators. Those are my people.”

–Compiled by Julien Juarez