BUDAPEST, Hungary — Jamaica’s Carey McLeod is promising “fireworks” in Thursday’s men’s long jump final at the World Athletics Championships at National Athletics Centre, where an unprecedented three Jamaicans will line up.

McLeod’s teammate, repeat national champion Wayne Pinnock, was the one, however, who provided the pyrotechnics in Wednesday’s qualifying round with a world-leading and personal-best 8.54m (1.2m/s) on his first attempt, to top his qualifying group. He led all qualifiers.

McLeod also topped his group with 8.19m (0.5m/s) on his first attempt, over the automatic qualifying mark of 8.15m, while 2019 champion and national record holder Tajay Gayle jumped 8.12m on this third attempt to book his spot in the next round.

Pinnock, who was ninth at the World Championships last year in Oregon, United States, broke his previous lifetime best of 8.37m set in May this year.

He said he was almost speechless after the event.

“I prayed for this moment and it came, and I’m very grateful. Like, words can’t even explain how I’m feeling right now,” he said, adding he does not plan to change anything in the final.

“Well tomorrow… just go out there, do the same thing, execute and…if a medal comes, it comes.”

Pinnock had an almost-perfect execution.

“When I took off I was just… like, my arms just started propelling, and when I landed I saw the distance but I had no idea how far I had jumped. But yeah… I’m grateful,” he explained.

Despite getting past the first round in Oregon last year, Pinnock, who won the South-Eastern Conference outdoors title and was second in the NCAA championships, said last season was challenging.

“Coming from last season knowing I had… some major injuries, I worked on them this season to ensure that I have no problem going in. I’m ready. Like last year I know the field wasn’t better than me [but] I just wasn’t prepared; I wasn’t prepared at my best. So I ensured that this season came — and I am ready to execute.”

McLeod, who won the NCAA indoors and outdoors title, beating his University of Arkansas teammate Pinnock in the latter, said getting through the qualification stage was the first step.

“The feeling was just… come out here and get a good shakeout. A qualification run is a qualification run. [I] did that today and I can’t complain; [I] move onto the next round.”

He said his jumping past the qualifying mark on his first try was proof of his fitness.

“Come out tomorrow if you want to see fireworks,” McLeod quipped.