At just nine years old, Benjamin Cartwright Jr has already built an impressive track record—literally. On Saturday, March 29, he received the Athlete of the Year award for his age group. Just weeks before, he set a record as the fastest 9-10-year-old to run at the Ocean Breeze Track, clocking an incredible 27.02 seconds. He has dominated the 100m and 200m races multiple times since stepping onto the track scene.
Remarkably, Benjamin only began training as a junior Olympian in 2023, competing in his first meet that December. His events include the 60m, 100m, 200m, and long jump, all of which he has excelled in, earning several medals along the way.
Although his first love was football, Benjamin’s journey into athletics was almost accidental. With no coach available for his football team, his grandparents, Donohue and Julea Nelson took him to the Dashing Dons & Divas track club in New York, where they reside. That decision changed everything.
In an interview with Freedom Come Rain, Benjamin credited his parents and grandparents for their unwavering support.
“They give me the right food to keep me nourished so I can keep running. And sometimes, only once a week, I can get McDonald’s,” he shared, explaining how they limit his fast-food intake to ensure he stays in peak condition.
An honour roll student, Benjamin—affectionately called BJ—has mastered the balance between academics and athletics.
“For school, I try my hardest to get things done quickly so I can rest up and not get stressed during training,” he explained.
When it comes to motivation, BJ has no problem staying on track—especially with his grandparents keeping a close eye on him.
“If I run badly, my coach is going to make sure I have a ‘hard’ weekend!” he joke
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His grandmother, Julea, is one of his biggest supporters, often cheering loudly from the stands.
“Sometimes, I wonder how he got this level of determination and focus. Even when I’m yelling, he just tunes everything out. He’s locked in when he’s on that track,” she said.
While BJ credits his Jamaican grandparents for his success, Julea insists that his discipline comes from within.
“He’s just a focused kid. It’s not something we taught him—he just has it,” she said with a proud smile.
Despite his many victories, Julea reminds BJ that losing is also part of the journey, especially as he now competes against older athletes.
With his exceptional talent, the question naturally arises—would she love to see him represent Jamaica someday? While that would be a dream come true, Julea insists the decision will be entirely up to him, with no pressure from the family.
As for BJ, he has one clear goal in mind: breaking the 200m world record that was set by sprint legend Usain Bolt in 2009.
