Hahnville High’s Precious Singleton takes her stardom in track and field to the screen in the Lifetime Network’s latest television drama
If when you hear the name Precious Singleton you picture a 16-year-old powerhouse track and field runner joining the Hahnville High School track team in numerous victories, then what you’re about to read will take your impression of this young athlete to a whole new level.
Singleton, who is the youngest of six siblings and her parents’ only daughter, takes her talent off the Lady Tiger track and brings it to the silver screen in the made-for-television drama, Racing for Time.
“A production company called Caps Incorporated contacted me to participate in a scene for the movie that involved track runners,” said Singleton.
“I was immediately interested and decided to give it a shot.”
The movie, which is directed by Emmy-award-winning actor Charles S. Dutton, brings to life the hardships and acts of violence that adolescent girls in a Texas detention center face every day.
Dutton, who makes his way from behind the camera to star in the film’s leading role as a correctional facility guard, is deeply disturbed by the girls’destructive behavior and the racial tension that exists among the female offenders.
Having seen all that he can bare, Dutton gathers African-American, Latina and Caucasian teens, and organizes a multi-racial track team behind the bars of the prison.
Participation in the team not only breaks down the racial divides between the girls, but puts them on a path to turn their lives around.
“I am in several of the track meet scenes as a member of the opposing team,” said Singleton.
“I play the runner in the third leg of the relay team.”
Singleton says that being able to star in such a fitting role and work with such an accomplished actor like Dutton is an experience she will never forget.
“Being part of this movie was a very inspirational moment for me and I will always cherish it,” said Singleton.
“And I will use the message of this film to carry me through my track career.”
And what a career it has been. Singleton has been running track since as long as she can remember and says that while she’s always had the support of her family, it’s her brother Vonnie who pushed her the hardest.
“When I was a little girl he (Vonnie) would always call me ‘JJK’, and I never knew what that meant,” said Singleton.
“Vonnie would put me in a running stance and say ‘Go, JJK’.”
But it didn’t take long for Singleton to realize that her “JJK” insigna was a reference to the famous African-American female track star, Jackie Joyner Kersey.
Singleton also points out that a man named Chipper Simon also played an influencial role in her love for track and field.
“Mr. Simon would take me jogging with him when his son and my brother, Ravon, played on the same All-Star team,” she said.
“He saw potential in me at six years old.”
Racing for Time, which airs Saturday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. on the Lifetime Network, took Singleton somewhere she’d never been before – a movie set.
“This was my first time being in a movie and I can’t stop thinking about how much fun I had,” said Singleton.
“I can’t believe how many shots it takes to capture just one scene on film.”
“I now see that being a movie star is not that easy, but I enjoyed every minute of it,” she said.
Precious Joy Singleton is the daughter of Ama’s Glenn Sr. and Angelina Singleton and plans to attend Xavier University to pursue a career in pediatric nursing.
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