All about the points – Edwin Allen’s Ashley
AFTER COPPING the girls Class Two long jump gold medal and contributing nine valuable points to defending champions Edwin Allen’s title ambitions, Annia Ashley could hardly contain her excitement following her success inside the National Stadium at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships.
Ashley, who entered the competition as the overwhelming favourite for the gold medal after being the only girl in her class to jump beyond 6m this season underlined that she now wants to add the high jump title to the long jump crown she won on Wednesday.
Most importantly, she wants her school to have the nine points on offer for winning that event as well.
“It really means a lot to me to win this event, because I really want my school to win the championship again this year and the points are very important. So I am happy for the win,” Ashley told The Gleaner after leaping 5.92m to finish ahead of Holmwood’s Susan Francis, who went 5.89m and her Edwin Allen teammate, Lotavia Brown, who was third with a leap of 5.62m.
Although satisfied with her long jump effort, Ashley believes that she could have done much better had she been fully fit.
“5.92m was an OK distance but I am just happy I came out and executed very well but this was not really my best performance, because I have been sick all season,” she added.
HIGH ON AGENDA
However, repeating her success in the high jump final today and pushing her team closer to retaining the title is high on her agenda, and she expects a similar level of performance from herself on the final day.
“We are on course to repeating our title. I have the high jump and I expect to do well in that event as well. I think I can win but when the day comes we will see what happens,” Ashley said.
Ashley enters Champs as the third best Class Two high jumper in the country after clearing 1.78m earlier this season. When the Class Two girls high jump final takes place at 2:05 p.m. today, she is expected to do battle with Lamara Distin from Vere Technical and her Edwin Allen teammate Janique Burgher, who have both cleared 1.80m this season.