Jumpfest for Gibson McCook Relays

Minutes after Shawn-D Thompson jumped to within 2cm of an Olympic qualifier on February 8, his thoughts leapt forward to the Gibson McCook Relays this weekend. The relay carnival this Saturday will see Thompson and outstanding schoolboy Wayne Pinnock striving to achieve the long jump qualifying standard of 8.22m. In addition, the men’s and women’s high jump and the women’s long jump should grab the attention of everyone present at the National Stadium.

Thompson jumped a personal best of 8.20m at the Western Relays. Though he barely missed the Olympic qualifying standard, he said, “The 2020 Gibson Relays will speak for itself. Hopefully, every thing will be all right by then.”

Pinnock, the exciting Kingston College jumper, won at Gibson McCook last year with a wind-aided jump of 8.14m, with Thompson third. Having set an ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championship record of 8.05m last year, Pinnock, too, will seek the Olympic qualifier at each opportunity.

Both high jump competitions, and the women’s long jump, should be good. The 2017 Penn Relays victor, Lushane Wilson, restarted his high jump career with a 2.15m win at the Western Relays and had a good effort at 2.20m. To win at Gibson-McCook, he will have to surpass three-time Bahamian champion Ryan Ingraham, the 2012 World Junior bronze medallist.

“You’ll see there’s a different Lushane Wilson. Hopefully, the fans come out and see the difference,” Wilson said after the Western Relays contest.

In addition, two Pan American Games bronze medallists should be in action. Kimberly Williamson expects to make her season debut in the high jump, which also lists reigning Champs Class Two champion Shaunte Foreman of St Jago High while Tissanna Hickling will compete in the long jump for the second time this year.

EAGER TO GET GOING

Hickling jumped indoors for the first time earlier this month and is eager to get going outdoors. Speaking on February 19, she reflected on her recent experience at the Mueller Indoor meet in Birmingham, England, saying, “It wasn’t how I wanted it, but I still give God thanks for the 6.3m, knowing that I’ve been doing more running, so when I get back into the pit this week, I will see where it goes from there.”

Hickling placed sixth with a best jump of 6.38m.

A personal best of 6.82m, the PanAm bronze, and a chance to jump at the World Athletics Championships in October have her wanting more.

“The outlook is to PB (personal best) again, hopefully, try to reach the 7m, go to the Olympics. Hopefully, I can make the finals again and just give my best,” said Hickling who, like Thompson, Wilson, and Williamson, is coached by Marlon Gayle at G.C. Foster.