Mitchell still over the moon with Champs swansong
Published:Sunday | April 2, 2023 | 10:16 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
A SUCCESSFUL title defence and breaking a decade-old record could not have provided Holmwood Technical High School’s Jody-Ann Mitchell with a better way to start her final ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships campaign.
Mitchell stormed to victory in 4:29.42 minutes, breaking Manchester High alum Natoya Goule’s mark of 4:29.81, which she set in 2010.
It was not just a matter of securing back-to-back titles, but it was the pride she felt in finally claiming a record she felt was reachable.
“It means a lot to me. I hear people telling me that the record is close to my personal best. I tried my very best, and did what I had to,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell’s personal best before last night was 4:30.31, which she set at the Central Championships earlier this month. What she did to bring that down, was execute a game plan.
“The plan was to just stay with the pack, and once I reach the last 200m I just had to swing and come home,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell started the season wanting to claim both milestones, believing that Goule’s 13-year-old record was not a lofty goal but attainable.
“I felt that it was achievable. It was challenging, but I managed to do it,” Mitchell said.
EXPECTED RESULT
“The result was expected. I have been training hard all season and now you are seeing the results.”
Mitchell was hoping that a middle-distance double was in her future but a bronze medal in the girls’ Class One 800 metres yesterday denied her.
Mitchell finished the event in 2:10.51, just behind Alphansus Davis’ Kishay Rowe, 2:10.24, and winner, Edwin Allen’s Amoya Jameison, 2:09.85.
Still, Mitchell believes her swansong has been good, saying the title was not only about personal validation but also about rewarding her coaches, who have stood by her throughout her high school career, making her into the athlete she is now.
“I am feeling like a champion. It makes me feel extra special. It is my last year and I had to let the coaches see me in my last season.”