ROGER LALONDE / Staff

Lely High's Manolitha Joseph, with her mother Delene looking on, is congratulated by Wade Taylor, assistant track and field coach at Warner Southern College, after signing a letter of intent for a scholarship to the college and to participate in track and field. Joseph signed the letter on Monday at the school. She will be the first person in her family to go to college.

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When Manolitha Joseph came to Lely High, she realized that sports could help her adjust to high school life.

The 18-year-old speedster is now the first person in her family going on to college.

Joseph signed a letter of intent Monday to join the Warner Southern College track team.

Warner Southern is an NAIA college in Lake Wales with 1,200 students.

Her mother, Delene, a single parent, brought her family of four from Haiti in 1991.

She sat proudly by Manolitha’s side.

“I am so happy,” she said. “It makes me sad for her to leave, but she won’t be far, so I cry for happiness.”

Said Joseph: “My mom has instilled in me to do well and I don’t want to let her down.”

Joseph said sports has been a driving force for her since coming to Lely. She has played basketball and run track all four years.

“I wanted to fit in and sports made it possible,” Joseph said. “Playing sports, I got to meet a lot of good people and it helped keep me on top of my grades.”

Said Nick Young, Joseph’s track coach for four years and basketball coach for three: “Manolitha pushed herself to be better than just good. Her scholarship is well-deserved and well-earned.”

Eastern Michigan courted Joseph, and she visited there two weeks ago.

“It is a very good school, but too far and too cold,” she said with a smile. “Warner Southern made it known early that they wanted me.”

Wade Taylor, Warner Southern’s assistant track and field coach, has known of Joseph’s potential for four years, three as head track coach at Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda.

“Her attitude is awesome,” Taylor said. “She is a positive person on the field and in the classroom.”

Joseph helped clinch a college spot when she won the 200-meter run in her best time of 24.88 seconds in regional competition. She also was fourth in the 100 at 12.29.

“The bottom line she is an example for other Haitians,” Young said. “She has been successful through hard work. It is great for her and Lely High.”