KINGSTON, Jamaica — Machaeda Linton of St Jago High School booked her spot on the World Athletics Under-20 Championships team with her first jump in the Girls Triple Jump on day one of the National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Thursday.

Her best effort of 12.93m into a headwind of -0.8m/s was enough to beat back the challenge of Jade-Ann Smith of Excelsior High, who had a best of 12.40m (-1.6m/s) to finish second. Sherika Christie of Hydel High, who had a best of 12.06m (-1.3m/s, took the third spot.

Interestingly, Linton was competing in the event for only the second time as she usually specialises in the long jump.

Making the grade without much experience in the triple jump left her speechless.

“I am out of words right now, knowing that I hadn’t trained for the event,” she confessed.

Winning the event and making the team came through sheer will and determination, she explained.

“I came out here with a mindset to say that I have to give it my best shot and only my best is good enough and here I am, on the team, which I am grateful for and it’s my last year.”

Securing a spot on the team on her last available opportunity has already boosted her desire to work even harder at the discipline before the championships in Colombia roll around in August.

“Between now and (the championships), I am going back to the drawing board and will work on my take-off, all the mishaps that I have been having throughout the jumps, knowing that for Cali, it will be a blast,” she promised.

Conditioned by jump coach Marlon Gayle, the 19-year-old says that his trust in her to do well in the event despite her lack of experience is a result of his coaching style which is very cerebral.

“His favourite phrase is that it always comes from the mind, so once I tell myself that I can do it, nothing can beat that,” she said.

Linton will also be participating in the Girls Long Jump final today which is scheduled to begin at 5:25 pm.