One of the hallmarks of true champions is the desire to compete against the very best to prove just how good they are. Jamaica’s back-to-back National Champion in the Women’s Triple Jump, Shanieka Ricketts, certainly possesses that trait.

After claiming the title last year, Ricketts returned to do it all over again, this time with her main rival in attendance, making the win even sweeter than a year ago.

“Yes, it’s very special. Last year when I won the National championships it was an off year so my biggest rival wasn’t here, so to have her here and to compete with a better field compared to last year, I am just grateful I was able to come off with the win.”

The rival of whom she speaks is the former National champion Kimberly Williams. Both women were in good form for the country in April last year, where Williams won gold and Ricketts won silver at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia.

But that was the only big ticket item in track and field for 2018, hence Williams failed to show for the National Championships. This year, with the World Championships being in Doha, Qatar, in late September to early October, everyone turned up to challenge for a spot on the team.

The result was that Williams pushed Ricketts to a near lifetime best in what was an exciting competition on the final day of the National Championships.

At the end of it all, Ricketts was pleased with her personal performance which has set up her season nicely, while adding a huge boost to her confidence.

“I am very pleased with the jumps, it is three centimeters off my personal best, so it shows great consistency throughout the season and I am just grateful with how the season has been progressing so far,” she said.

Ricketts explained that consistency in her jumping is one of the keys to having the success that she dreams about.

“I am just making sure that once I learn certain aspects of the triple jump technique I continue to do it whenever I perform so that the muscle memory is there,” she noted.

The 27-year-old won with a distance of 14.73m, but has her eyes on a particular distance that has so far been elusive throughout her career.

“I feel like I have said this a million times, I am just hoping to break the 15-meter barrier.”

Physically, mentally, and emotionally she may just be in the right place to challenge that milestone, sometime this year.

“I think I am more a student of the sport, I am falling back in love with triple jumping. So it’s not just about going out and jumping, I am enjoying what I am doing more, and I think it’s also reflecting in the performances so far this year,” said Ricketts.

Just about three months separate the Jamaican champion from the World Championships and she has placed herself in the hands of her support staff to ensure she remains in tip top shape, not only for her assault on 15m, but also the gold medal in Doha.

“It’s not so much my job to make sure that I peak at the right time, I leave that to my support staff, coach Kerry-Lee Ricketts, Norman Peart my agent, and my physiotherapist…so I allow them to do the job and I just come out and execute.”

There can be no doubt that the handlers of the national champion will do anything short of their very best to ensure that all the details are taken care of over the next few months.