Cargill qualifies for Pan Am karate

JESSICA Cargill has historically qualified as Jamaica’s karate athlete for August’s International Olympic Committee Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, after successfully competing at the March 18-23 Pan American Senior Championships in Panama.

Fighting under the banner of the Jamaica Karate Federation (JKF) and backed by the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), Cargill is on track for qualification to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics if she advances in Peru.

Cargill beat Yoandra Moreno-Perez of Cuba, 5-1, before dominating Lissette Aguilar from El Salvador, 3-0, in the final.

“I am so happy to have qualified for the Pan Am Games,” Cargill said. “This is a first for karate and I am proud to represent Jamaica.”

A restaurant manager at F&B Downtown, Cargill has drawn inspiration from Olympian teammate Kenneth Edwards, who represented Jamaica in tae kwon do at London 2012.

GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT

“I am forever grateful for the support of the JOA, my coaches Jason McKay and Raphael Veras; Jamaica’s World Karate Federation (WKF) representative and head of delegation, Nathaniel Peat; as well as the JKF president, Tony Robinson; my training partner, Valentyna Zolotarova, and my teammates, Alton Brown and Edwards,” she said.

“This was a historic win for Jamaica in its first attempt at qualifying since the newly formed WKF was approved by the JKF,” she added.