'I did not expect to take the record'

Edwin Allen's Marston surprised after hurling away 14-y-o discus record

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Sasha-Gay Marston of Edwin Allen High was responsible for breaking Class Two girls discus record, on the penultimate day of Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association Boys and Girls' Championships, at the National Stadium.

Marston threw the discus 45.65 metres to erase the old mark of 43.42m, which was set by Tanya Thomas of Manchester High in 1996.

The 17-year-old was naturally delighted at winning the event, but did not expect to break the record.

"I can't find words to explain how I am feeling right now, I am so excited, I am just happy," a smiling Marston shared.

"Once there is life, there is hope and nothing is unbreakable. Someone set it and I know that someone else can break it, but although I expected to win I did not expect to take the record because of the injury that I had suffered," she added.

Unable to train

The injury which made it almost impossible for her to extend her arm, saw her being unable to train up to the beginning of this month. It also forced her out of several development meets.

"Because of the injury I couldn't train and some of the development meets I couldn't attend, I couldn't even stretch the hand out," Marston explained.

She had also won the event last year, with her final throw.

This year she will be attending the Carifta Games in the Cayman Islands, where she will look to defend her discus title and improve on her second-place finish in the shot put.

"Last year when I went to the Carifta Games I was first in the discus and second in the shot put. This year I want to be first in the shot put and first in the discus again."

She will be hard pressed to take the double at Carifta, as she will be up against Candicea Bernard, who set a record in the discus to take the Class One Champs title.

Despite her success in athletics, the Edwin Allen prefect has not neglected her academics.

"I am a prefect at school and I know that without education I can't go anywhere so I have training but I ensure that after training and before training I hit the books," said Marston.

"When I have break time at school, I ensure that I stay in the classroom and study because education is the way out," she added.

She was also quick to point out that her school is hungry for this year's Champs title.

"Edwin Allen's girls track team is very hungry for the championship and we will do anything to get this championship and take it back to Frankfield. I just came out here and did my part."