—Jamaican Youth Take Off in Road Runners—
As audiences around the globe get into the Olympic spirit, WORLD Channel salutes the Tokyo Games with the premiere of filmmaker Mike Todd's "Road Runners" on Sunday, August 1 as part of WORLD's acclaimed series DOC WORLD.
"Road Runners" follows three students at Spot Valley High School in Montego Bay. Though their day-to-day lives, often marked by poverty and crime, stand in stark contrast to the nearby world-famous vacation resorts, the students —Tyrese, Leyone and Toria — look to their talent as runners to bring pride to their community and a chance to alter the trajectory of their lives.
The film also explores their connection to their inspirational and supportive coach, Kerron Grant, who shares his home and his expertise with the teens as they race, train and work to overcome obstacles in the lead up to the country’s most prestigious sporting event, Champs, which sees the country’s best high school runners compete in Kingston.
A profile of the students’ individual journeys, the documentary also explores a national culture devoted to track and field resulting in the small island nation consistently dominating the sports globally.
"Road Runners" will premiere on WORLD Channel and worldchannel.org. Season 4 of DOC WORLD, a weekly series, gives U.S. audiences a passport to the best in international documentaries.
