Lamara Distin, Jamaica’s most accomplished women’s high jumper, thinks the timing was right for her to make the transition to the professional ranks and tick off one of her lifelong goals to “make a career” out of her “passion”.

On Thursday, the Hanover native announced she had signed a professional contract with German sportswear giants Puma.

“Excited to announce that I’m stepping into the next chapter of my career with Puma!” she said in social media post.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and national record holder, both indoor and outdoor, said the decision was not a difficult one for her to make with only an NCAA indoor season of eligibility left at Texas A&M University.

“Deciding to turn professional was both an exciting and challenging decision for me,” she told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

“On one hand, it was a fulfilment of a lifelong dream to compete at the highest level and make a career out of my passion. I only have eligibility to compete indoor next year and I thought coming back to compete as an amateur and jumping into the professional world after indoor wouldn’t be an ideal decision,” she said.

“I made the decision to turn professional, embracing the opportunities and challenges that come with it,” the 24-year-old said.

The athlete, who was a finalist at the last two World Athletics Championships — she placed fifth in Budapest, Hungary, last year — has her eyes set on going even further in Paris.

“Leading up to the Olympics, my preparation has been intense and focused. I’ve been training rigorously, fine-tuning my jumps, and pushing my limits every day. My expectations for Paris are high and I’m excited to give it my all on the global stage.”

She has left a trail of victories and records in her wake since secondary school level while attending Rusea’s High, Vere Technical and Hydel High. She won the Class 1 girls’ high jump and triple jump Open hours apart at the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association Athletics Championships in 2019.

At Texas A&M she continued on her winning ways with four South-Eastern Conference (SEC) and three NCAA titles as well as a personal best 2.00m which broke the NCAA and Jamaican national records.

With her college career winding down, the two-time Jamaican national senior champion said it was time for her to make the next step.

“The biggest factor for me in making the decision to turn professional was the feeling that I had accomplished a tremendous achievement in the collegiate system and left my mark.

“I felt that it was the right time to take the next step and pursue a professional career. I believe that I have the potential to excel at the professional level that influenced my decision,” she explained.

Distin, who will be based at College Station, Texas, at Texas A&M University where she will continue to train with coach Mario Sategna, said her prior arrangement with Puma made it easy for her to sign with them.

“I signed a deal with Puma because they align with my values and aspirations as an athlete. The Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) deal I had with them last season solidified my trust in their commitment to athlete empowerment, making it an obvious choice for me to continue our partnership,” she said.

Distin, who majored in sports management with a minor in recreation parks and tourism science while at Texas A&M, was one of several Jamaicans included on the prestigious US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Academic Awards. She said it was “a great honour to receive such an amazing accolade”.

Distin added: “It’s a testament to the effort I put into balancing my academic responsibilities with my athletic pursuits. Achieving this honour motivates me to continue striving for excellence both in the classroom and on the field, knowing that my efforts are being acknowledged and appreciated.”