Tough route to a Rising Star nod for Hibbert
Former coach at KC believes triple-jump ace already in rarefied air
Published:Thursday | November 3, 2022 | 12:14 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
THE OUTSTANDING performances of world under-20 triple jump champion Jaydon Hibbert have placed him among the elite of junior athletics and in the running for the 2022 World Athletics Men’s Rising Star award.
Hibbert was among five athletes named by World Athletics as a finalist for the prestigious youth award, which will be announced at the World Athletics Awards next month.
The 17-year-old national and World U20 champion won the world U20 title in a championship record, and an U18 best of 17.27 metres but will face competition from an impressive field.
This includes France’s Anthony Ammirati, the world U20 pole vault champion and French Championships bronze medalist; the USA’s Erriyon Knighton, World Championships 200-metre bronze medallist and Brussels Diamond League winner; as well as Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, the World U20 100m champion and 200m silver medallist and Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, a Rabat Diamond League 800m winner who was fourth at the World Championships.
The nominations are a reflection of outstanding performances at the World U20 Championships in Cali, the World Athletics Championships in Oregon and other world events such as the Diamond League.
Hibbert’s high school coach, Jeremy Delisser, said his former protégé, who also had the six best U20 performances of the year, is in distinct company and that it will be tough to come away with the prize.
TOUGH FIELD
“What I can tell you, that is a tough field. Any one of those names (nominees) could easily be voted the winner.
“If you look at the names and performances with people even winning on the Diamond League, being nominated in itself is a great achievement.
“To be in that class and that calibre, and to be considered worthy to be in that group is a worthy achievement,” he said.
Nevertheless, he believes Hibbert’s nomination is a fitting end to his season.
“He has worked extremely hard, and he is deserving of this nomination, and I am hoping he can win.
“It is a step for him up the ladder heading to the top. And for jumping it shows youngsters that they can still achieve great things in the field.
“If he doesn’t win, I think he has done extremely well because that is a tough field right there,” he continued.
He added that the triple-jumper is settling in at his new school and that he is highly motivated to surpass his personal best. Hibbert matriculated to the University of Arkansas this season.
“I have spoken to him. Training has been going well. He is very enthusiastic and wants to do well for his new school and his country, so he is very motivated.
“He has done exceptionally well, but he is nowhere near the top, and he wants to keep working and pushing through.
“If he doesn’t win, it is also a motivation because it tells him that he still has to work harder to get to that level where he is able to win that award.
“You want accolades and trophies and awards, but you also have to be grateful for being nominated for the progression, so he has to be grateful for that.”