Hickling welcomes positive G.C. Foster transition
WHILE NOT making the team to the Commonwealth Games, G.C. Foster College l ong j umper Tissanna Hickling is still banking on 2018 to be a successful season.
“Despite the challenges I had in the early season and missing the Commonwealth team, I’m just looking forward to improving my distances and winning a couple titles,” shared the optimistic Hickling.
A former national j unior champion while representing St Jago High School, Hickling spoke to The Gleaner at the launch of the 2018 NCB Intercollegiate Track and Field and Cheerleading Championship about life at her new home.
“The transition from St Jago to G.C. Foster has been a fruitful experience,” said Hickling. “Coming from where I used to just jump, I’m actually running as well, so I am pleased with where I am now.”
With her prowess and exploits at the junior level, Hickling had numerous offers to further her studies and take her talents overseas but opted to remain in Jamaica where she believes she will be better able to chart a way forward for women’s long jump.
“I want to make that difference,” remarked Hickling “by staying in my country to at least improve how the field event is shown.”
So far, that decision seems to be the right one for the unassuming Hickling, who has already leapt to 6.73m (+3.1m/s) at G.C. Foster Classics last weekend, with reigning national champion and UTECH student-athlete Jessica Noble in second at 6.64m.
Hickling will l ook to add valuable points to her team’s title defense, when the two-day championship gets under way on April 6.
Karen Young, manager of the National Commercial Bank (NCB), UWI Mona branch, emphasised the importance of sports and national pride to the company. Hence, NCB has again committed $3 million to this year’s staging of the event as well as an education grant of $100,000.00 to the top female and male athletes.