For much of the season, St Jago’s Abigail Martin has played second fiddle to Holmwood Technical rival Cedricka Williams in the girls’ Class One discus competition.

In fact, coming into the 113th staging of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, Martin was placed firmly in the silver medal line by experts with the gold set aside for Williams.

However, Martin clearly has other ideas and made it known when she launched the instrument to a new record 55.19m on her very first attempt.

Interestingly, that mark bettered the 53.22m which Williams threw earlier when she erased the previous best of 53.04m set by Fiona Richards in 2017.

Though admitting that she was gunning for the record on her first attempt, Martin, whose previous personal best was 53.59m, was in shock that it actually materialised.

“I am still in shock,” the beaming Martin told the Jamaica Observer shortly after the feat.

“I said I wanted to get it in the prelims and more so on the first throw because I know my capabilities. I know I had it in me and I know I can produce great things, but I didn’t expect in the prelims and I am very grateful that it came to fruition,” she added.

The record achievement means even more to Martin, as she had her fair share of struggles with injuries which limited her capabilities, to some extent.

Still, with a firm belief and continued hard work, the 18-year-old was always confident she could rise above her circumstances to perform at her best.

“I’ve had my battles with a lot of injuries and so for most of the early part of the season, I was just trying to stay consistent coming into Champs. But I tell myself every day that I am a superstar and I will make it and, not to sound too cocky, but I think this is just the beginning of what is to come,” Martin, who also competes in the javelin and shot put, stated.

With Williams’s personal best standing at 55.25m, Martin, who placed fourth at last year’s edition, knows she is still not yet over the line where the gold medal is concerned. As such, she is anticipating another intense battle with Williams in Wednesday’s final.

“It is always great competing with her. She is a very talented athlete and they always say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. So I know she will push me and I know I can do much better, so we will see what happens,” the bubbly athlete ended.