Hibbert hoping for electric crowd energy in Carifta Games debut
Published:Friday | April 15, 2022 | 12:05 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter -
Kingston College's Jaydon Hibbert was fuelled by the crowd en route to winning the Class One long jump and triple jump titles at the 2022 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletic Championships (Champs). Now he hopes that the same energy will be present as he returns to the National Stadium to compete in his first-ever Carifta Games.
The 2022 Carifta Games begin tomorrow as Jamaica hosts the annual regional athletics competition which has not been held for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hibbert, the 2021 World Under 20 Championship silver medallist, not only captured two gold medals at Champs but also broke the triple jump record on his first attempt with a leap of 16.66 metres. His winning attempt in the triple jump is also a World Junior leading distance.
While the crowd at Champs may have been split because of school allegiances, Hibbert said that he relished the opportunity of feeding off the collective support of the Jamaican faithful, similar to how he did days earlier to get him over the line.
"Everybody in the stadium will be cheering for one team. It's not like it will fluctuate like Champs when you get specific support. At Carifta you will get all the support you need because I'm sure that all of the Jamaicans are going to come out and cheer us on," Hibbert said. "I am really excited for Carifta. I have never made a Carifta team before and I can't wait."
Hibbert's success this season has been further elevated with his jump to the college level, as he was announced last week Wednesday as the newest member of the University of Tennesse Track Team, the same day that he won his first gold at Champs in the Class One long jump. While he is excited about the goals that he has for the fall, his immediate focus is on continuing his recent form in his first Carifta Games. His hunt for a gold medal, he says, is to prove that no matter how big the stage is, he has the mental strength to produce when it matters.
"Carifta is a big stage. Getting a gold medal at Champs and Carifta would show that I can perform at all levels," Hibbert said. "I will prove everybody wrong that no matter how close the competition is I can still execute all my jumps."