High jumper Beckford closing in on breakthrough year

PARIS, France:

Romaine Beckford’s first major global championship final was not just a landmark moment for high jump in Jamaica, but a testament to how far he has come in two years, and how much he believes he can still grow to reach the levels of elite success.

Beckford finished 10th in the men’s high jump final on Saturday, becoming the first Jamaica to compete in an Olympic final since 1956. In his second major global championship appearance, on his Olympic debut, he tried to push his body to its limit, but the demands of a long season only allowed him to clear 2.24m and failed all three attempts at his personal-best height of 2.27m.

“I think I executed pretty well. I wanted to jump higher, but my body said no. I felt pretty close in the qualifying rounds. There were some small things that I really needed to adjust. I have been through a long season. But I am just grateful that I qualified for the final,” Beckford said.

Beckford got the taste of the elite stage qualifying for the World Athletics Championships last year in Budapest. In a season where he took the NCAA outdoor title with a clearance of 2.26m, he rode that momentum to Paris, where he has etched himself in history despite not getting among the medals.

While the season has taken its toll on him, Beckford was nonetheless proud of the road he has travelled and believes that he is closing in on a breakthrough year.

“My body is kind of tired and I am trying to push it beyond the limit, but everything still feels good. I just haven’t reached that point to say this is my breakthrough, but I’m holding faith and giving God thanks for the journey that I am on,” Beckford said.

Beckford says that the stage has set him up for next year’s World Athletics Championships, eager to reach another gear, now knowing that he is capable of competing in a major global final.

“Even though I didn’t finish how I wanted, it shows the level I have now reached,” Beckford said.