Despite competing with a pain in his left knee, Our Lady of the Angels’ Jourdaine Burke still managed to defy the odds to pull off an excellent performance to win the Class Two boys’ high jump competition on the opening day of the JISA/Little Caesars Preparatory Schools Championships at the National Stadium on Thursday.

Burke, who was competing with a knee brace throughout the competition, won the event with his final attempt in a personal best mark of 1.35 metres.

Emmanuel Christian Academy’s Dejaun Harley, who led the competition into the final round, was second in the event with a leap of 1.30m. Burke’s teammate, Amorey Green, who also cleared 1.30m, was third in the event.

Burke told the Jamaica Observer that he was motivated to win the event after receiving some advice from his mother before the start of the event.

“I was thinking on that last jump that I hoped I could win because I remember my mom saying this morning that, ‘Every time, just try your best’,” Burke, who won a bronze medal in the event last year, said.

“I feel good about winning this competition because last year I came third,” he said.

Burke explained that the competition was challenging for him because of the pain in his knee during the event.

“It was a very difficult competition as my knee hurt because I have something that they call jumper’s knee, so I have to wear this [knee band] and it still hurts right now,” he said.

Mona’s Isabella Martin won the girls’ equivalent in a personal best mark of 1.20m. Our Lady of the Angels’ Madison Small was second, also at 1.20m. However, Martin got the victory after clearing the height on her first attempt while Small achieved the mark on her final try. Rhaena Rowe, from Vaz, was third with a mark of 1.15m.

Our Lady of the Angels leads the points standings with 23 points after two finals. They are followed by Mona (15), Emmanuel Christian Academy (12), Vaz (six), Sts Peter and Paul (5.05), St Andrew (five), and Hydel (four).