KINGSTON, Jamaica (March 28) – The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, popularly known as CHAMPS 2023, kicked off at the National Stadium with two record-breaking performances in the Class One discus for girls. Holmwood Technical High School’s Cedricka Williams and St Jago’s Abigail Martin impressed with their throws in the preliminary round, breaking the previous event record.
Williams set a new record with her first attempt of the day, throwing 53.22 meters, surpassing the previous Champs record of 53.02m set by Fiona Edwards of Edwin Allen in 2017. However, Martin soon improved on her record in the second flight of the qualifying round, throwing an impressive 55.17 meters on her first attempt. Read Also: Day 1 Order of Events and how to watch Champs 2023
While Williams owns a personal best of 56.21m, which she set in 2022, Martin has shown that she is one to watch, improving her previous personal best of 53.59m, set earlier this month. Williams has already thrown impressive marks this season with 53.12m, 53.40m, 54.01m, and 55.25m, making her a strong contender to challenge the record again in her final year on Wednesday.
A victory for Williams at CHAMPS 2023 would mark a significant improvement from her seventh-place finish last year when she only threw 45.59m. The young talent has emerged as a favorite to win the discus event at this year’s championships. Meanwhile, Martin was fourth last year with a throw of 46.43m and is also expected to put up a good fight.
CHAMPS is a highly competitive event that showcases the best high school athletes in Jamaica. Over the five-day event, spectators eagerly anticipate more thrilling performances by young talents. The event has served as a launchpad for several of Jamaica’s most decorated track and field athletes, including the likes of Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shericka Jackson, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, to name a few.
Are the young outstanding talent going to come good in Budapest or perhaps paris 2024