ST Elizabeth Technical High School standout Richelle Stanley is harbouring significant aspirations at this month’s ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs).

Stanley, aged 19, is set to compete at Champs for the final time in her high school career, having yet to secure a gold medal at one of the world’s most prestigious high school track and field meets. Stanley won three medals, including a silver, in the Class One high jump, and bronze in the long jump and triple jump events. However, she told the
Jamaica Observer that she is determined to end her Champs career with at least three gold medals this year.

“I am feeling good and I am confident that I will come in the top three in all three of my events,” she said. “In fact, my aim is to win three gold medals in all three of the events that I will be competing in at Champs this year.

“Honestly, I think that I will have to be consistent, injury-free, and have a free mind going into all my competitions in order to achieve my goals at Champs. I haven’t won a gold medal at Champs before so I am very determined to achieve this in my final year competing at the championships.”

Stanley, in excellent form leading up to the championships, secured a second-place finish in the Under-19 long jump competition at the Carifta Trials last weekend. She leapt to 5.97m, trailing behind winner Rohanna Sudlow of St Catherine High School who achieved a jump of 5.99m to claim victory.

Stanley detailed her diligent approach to training this season, adhering closely to her coaches’ instructions. She affirmed that maintaining focus during the five-day championships would establish her as a formidable contender for all three gold medals.

“This has been a good season for me so far because I got a lot of big jumps and I am hoping to repeat them at Champs — which will help me to win the three gold medals that I am aiming for this year,” Stanley said. “There is a lot of pressure that will be on me, seeing that I will have a lot of competition, but I just have to stay in the right frame of mind and stay injury-free and everything will fall into place.

“I have been training really hard and listening to my coaches, and I am doing everything that they have told me to do — which is to stay consistent and focus at all times.”