Palmer looking to soar higher

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Vere Technical High came into the second day of Champs with 16 points, three more than second-place Wolmer's Girls.

The Clarendon school was given an early boost as their athlete, Chennel Palmer, won the first final of the second day as she cleared a height of 1.70 metres in the girls high jump Class Three, earning her school an additional nine points.

This was Palmer's first time clearing a height of 1.70m, as her personal best prior to that was 1.65m. She needed to have come up with that best as1.65m had already been cleared by Tatiana Wolfe and Krista-Gay Taylor, both from the Convent of Mercy Academy, Alpha - who placed second and third, respectively.

This also marks a significant improvement on her fourth-place finish last year and Palmer was delighted to have emerged victorious as she was beaten by these same competitors at the Carifta trials.

Great feeling

"It is a great feeling because at the Carifta trials I did not do my best and today I had a lot of competition here and I came out victorious," said Palmer.

"All season I have been jumping 1.65m and today I jumped 1.70m, my new personal best," she added.

She attributes her success to her parents and two coaches, who have helped her along every step of the way.

"My two coaches were behind me, Mr Patrick and Mr Adams and they gave me the motivation to do this today. My mommy, my stepfather and other family members are behind me 100 percent."

With her performance yesterday, she now hopes to still make it on the Carifta team.

"At the Carifta trials they jumped 1.65m and today I jumped 1.70m so I figure more or less that maybe I have a chance of still making the team. That was my motivation for Champs."

The 14-year-old has a lot more years left at Champs and promises great things.

"I have a lot more years left at Champs so you can expect a lot more from me. I love high jumping and I want to go very far in it."