Tue | Apr 30, 2024

‘Triple jump future in good hands’

Ricketts backs young Ackelia Smith for big things

Published:Sunday | July 24, 2022 | 12:12 AM
Pause
Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith lands in the sandpit during the women’s triple jump final on day four of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field on Eugene, Oregon on Monday.
Gladstone Taylor
Jamaica’s Ackelia Smith lands in the sandpit during the women’s triple jump final on day four of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field on Eugene, Oregon on Monday.
Shanieka Ricketts bounds toward the sandpit during the women’s triple jump final on day four of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Gladstone Taylor
Shanieka Ricketts bounds toward the sandpit during the women’s triple jump final on day four of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
1
2

EUGENE, Oregon: WHEN WORLD Championships silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts hops, skips and jumps no more, she says she knows that Jamaica’s triple jump future is in good hands. Ricketts captured back-to-back World Championships silver medals on...

EUGENE, Oregon:

WHEN WORLD Championships silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts hops, skips and jumps no more, she says she knows that Jamaica’s triple jump future is in good hands.

Ricketts captured back-to-back World Championships silver medals on Monday, with a jump of 14.89 metres in a final, which included her national teammate Kimberly Williams and debutant Ackelia Smith, the first time that Jamaica has had three athletes in the event at a major global final.

Smith finished 12th, her best attempt measuring 13.90. However, Ricketts was focused on the bigger picture, and is optimistic about her future.

“It is a historic moment. I didn’t have the opportunity to compete with both Trecia-Kaye Smith and Kimberly at the World Championships or the Olympic Games. So to have young Ackelia, who is just in her first year of college, being in the championships in the final, really shows that Jamaica’s triple jump is in good hands and, when we decide to walk away from the sport, we know that it is in good hands and it is good to see,” Ricketts said.

Disappointed

While disappointed with her efforts, Smith said she now heads to next week’s Commonwealth Games with valuable experience.

“I’m sad that I didn’t get the personal best that I wanted but I got a lot of experience. I got to compete with some of the ladies that I look up to. Hopefully, I will use the lessons that I have learned here to come back and apply them to my next competition.

The milestone created on Monday was not lost on national jumps coach Marlon Gayle, who also shares Ricketts’ optimism about Smith’s potential, as well as the emerging talent in the discipline.

“It was a great achievement for us as a country. There were certainly high expectations. The motivation going into the final was right there. We were all cheering for everyone regardless of the results,” Gayle said.

“There are quite a few hungry triple jumpers coming up, and they will certainly also represent well in that area.”

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com