Despite winning a fifth national women’s high jump title in the last six years, Lamara Distin says she was not pleased with her performance on Thursday’s opening day of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships at the National Stadium.

Distin cleared 1.86m, and while looking forward to defending her Commonwealth Games title later this year, she pointed out that she tends to not perform well at the national senior championships.

“I don’t understand it, I never perform as well as I would like at trials,” the 26-year-old jumper told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday. “I am not sure if it is because we are jumping on the first day when the crowd is not that big and we high jumpers like the crowd and the rhythm.”

Distin, who switched training base to Sweden, says the change of scenery has worked for her.

“I feel like I am moving forward, I feel better about my performances so far and I am hopeful that I will jump higher as the season goes on,” she said.

Annishka McDonald of West Virginia was second with 1.80m.

Also during the championships on Thursday, Ackelia Smith retained her women’s long jump title with a wind-aided 6.81m (2.8m/s). She edged Nia Robinson, who improved her outdoor best to 6.80m (0.8m/s). Rohana Sudlow of Kansas State took third with 6.25m (0.9m/s).

All the top men in the 400m hurdles advanced to the finals after Thursday’s semi-finals. They were led by Titans Track Club’s Assinie Wilson, who ran 50.48 seconds.

Malik James-King was next best with 50.55, while Romario Stewart (51.31) of Mico University, Jaheene Bell (50.87) of Xavier University of Louisiana, and Titans Track Club’s Demar Murray (50.95) also made progress.

Amiel Thomas of G C Foster College won the men’s 5000m, running 16:12.35. He defeated Calabar High schoolboy Odane Davidson (16:43.44) and Kemar Leslie (17:11.37).

— Paul A Reid