Francis targets two-metre mark
FORMER national youth representative Sheree Francis has set her sights on improving her national high jump record to two metres by the end of the season, even as she prepares for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October.
The former Vere Technical star made the pronouncement after improving the national record from 1.91m to 1.93m at the second Jamaica All Comers meet at GC Foster College on Saturday.
“My season will not end until October and I feel that with competition I can jump at least two metres,” she told journalists on the weekend.
Francis, who represented Jamaica at the inaugural IAAF World Youth Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, back in 1999, had attempted 1.98m after her clearance of 1.93m.
“I wanted to go at 1.98 just so that I could see where I’m at because I’ve tried jumping 1.95 before and… realised that it’s possible,” Francis said, noting that she is satisfied with her progress after recovering from a neck injury sustained at the Gibson Relays in February.
“At the Gibson Relays I had hurt my neck and I was out for a couple weeks, so going into the Jamaica International Meet (May 1) I was still a little hurt,” Francis said, explaining that the injury contributed to her under-performance at the IAAF Area Permit Meet whre she only cleared 1.85m.
“I felt better than I’ve felt for the last couple meets, so I’m really happy,” Francis said on the weekend.
Francis had written her name in the Jamaican record books in February at the Youngster Goldsmith Hurdles and Field Events Classic by clearing 1.91m to better the previous mark of 1.90m established by Dianne Guthrie in 1992.
The 26-year-old Francis, who returned to Jamaica two years ago, joined the Fortis International Track Club in a bid to revive her injury-stricken career.
“I did put track down, but I had friends who believed in me, and family members, so I decided to give it another try and I am doing pretty well now,” she said earlier this year.
Francis’ progression over the years:
2010 1.93 Kingston, JAM 07/02/2010
2009 1.88 La Habana (PA) 04/07/2009
2005 1.89 Kingston, JAM 26/06/2005
2004 1.80 Mesa, AZ 09/04/2004
2000 1.86 San Juan, PUR 16/07/2000
1999 1.70 Bydgoszcz, POL 16/07/1999
