Tissanna Hickling came into the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships with one intention – to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

And she wasted no time on Thursday as she jumped a personal best 6.85m (1.5m/s) in the third round, hitting the qualifying distance dead in the eyes as she punched her ticket to her first senior global championships.

The achievement was not without drama as her jump was initially judged to be a foul, but after she lodged a protest, the decision was overturned.

“Well, everybody’s main goal is to just really qualify for the World Championships, but like I said, mentally and physically, I’ve been doing well this season, so I was really expecting just to come out here and do well,” the 25-year-old Hickling told the Jamaica Observer.

Hickling, whose previous personal best was 6.82m set in 2019, had a season’s best 6.66m before Thursday’s leap.

She said while she was happy with winning her third senior national title and qualifying for the World Championships, the work is just getting started under the guidance of Coach Kerry-lee Ricketts.

“[I am] just training and training… just working on my mental health and my physical health. We are working on my speed, on my take off, so those two parts of the jump,” she said.

Commonwealth champion Lamar Distin won her second high jump title, beating defending champion Kimberly Williamson.

Distin, who won in 2021, cleared 1.91m to beat Williamson, who managed 1.85m, which equalled her season’s best.

Distin has already achieved the qualifying mark of 1.97m, while Williams is in the World Ranking Quota. Both athletes are expected to be selected for the team.

Hickling joined Ackelia Smith as the two Jamaicans who have qualified for the event. Smith was third with a wind-aided 6.66m (5.9m/s) on Thursday, behind Chanice Porter who was second with 6.72m (3.5m/s).

Smith, of the University of Texas, had won the NCAA Division 1 title last month, and came into the championships with a world-leading 7.08m.

Smith said she expects to do better.

“I definitely expected a little bit more of myself, but it was good competition in front of the home crowd. I just have to go back to the drawing board and fix a few things.”

Smith, who was also second in the triple jump at the NCAA Championships, is not ruling out doubling at the World Championships as she did in the championships in Oregon and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, both last year.

“I’m honoured to represent my country in both as long as I qualify and I’m healthy. I would love to do both of them, it’s been a quick turnaround from nationals to now, but I’m sure by time August 19 comes around everybody should be well rested and ready to go.”