Kingston, Jamaica – On the final day of competition at the National Stadium on Saturday, long-distance runner Ackelia Smith etched her name into Jamaican athletics history, securing a maiden national long jump and triple jump double at the annual Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Puma National Junior & Senior Championships. Smith, who already claimed the long jump gold with a 6.81m leap on the opening Thursday of the event, delivered a winning 13.95m triple jump effort with a +2.0m/s wind reading to complete the historic achievement, all while competing through a nagging heel injury sustained more than a week prior to the meet.
Competing through consistent pain that could have easily sidelined her from the entire championships, Smith expressed quiet satisfaction with her dual titles, even as she acknowledged falling short of her own personal performance expectations. “I have to say it was a good week because I ended up winning both events, but personally I would have loved to jump better,” the 2024 Olympic multi-event competitor shared post-victory. “Still, I was competing with an injury that could have kept me out, so I’m just happy that I was able to come out and compete at all.”
The triple jump crown marks Smith’s first national senior title in the discipline, adding to an already impressive resume that includes four prior national long jump titles. Securing the double had been a core goal for her heading into the championships, and the athlete says she is relieved to check the milestone off her list despite the physical setback. “Winning the double was part of the plan. I’m glad I was able to come out and get it done,” Smith said. “I hurt my heel a little over a week ago and have been working on rehab for that, so I’m happy I was able to get through the competition healthy enough to win.”
When asked to name her favorite of the two jumping events, Smith surprised many by saying she would pick the triple jump if forced to choose, despite her longer history of success in the long jump. “People think I’m crazy for this but I do love the triple jump,” she explained. “While I like the long jump a lot, I have always had a special passion for the triple.”
Though just four athletes stepped to the triple jump runway on Saturday, the field delivered impressive performances across the board. Jade-Ann Dawkins, a former St Jago High standout competing out of Kansas State University, took home silver with a 13.67m effort, while NCAA champion Shantae Foreman of Clemson University claimed bronze with a wind-assisted 13.49m mark. Machaeda Linton of Texas A&M University rounded out the four-person field in fourth place.
In other key results from Saturday’s competition, former World Championships gold medalist Tajay Gayle claimed his third national men’s long jump title with a leading 8.37m season-best leap. Jordan Turner took second place with a wind-assisted 8.22m, while Nikaoli Williams secured the third and final spot on the national podium.
In the women’s shot put, Lloydricia Cameron earned the first national senior title of her career, throwing a winning 17.57m to outpace the field. Kimeka Smith of Clemson University took silver with a 16.03m throw, while Britannie Johnson of Purdue University rounded out the top three with a 15.55m effort.
Beyond the final events decided on Saturday, the meet also hosted semi-final heats to set the field for Sunday’s closing day finals. Rising star Kerrica Hill posted the fastest qualifying time for the women’s 100m hurdles final, clocking a 12.69 seconds season-best to lead the field into the final. Joining Hill in the final are Demisha Roswell, Olympic bronze medalist Megan Simmonds, NCAA third-place finisher Janela Spencer, Amoi Brown, Tonie Ann Forbes, and former Western Championships winners Alexis James and Salieci Myles.
Defending national champion Ashanti Moore topped the women’s 200m semi-finals with a 22.88 seconds run to lead the field into Sunday’s final. Jodean Williams clocked a 23.05 seconds season-best to take the second-fastest qualifying spot, with Alana Reid, Niesha Burgher and Lavanya Williams also advancing to the decisive round.
In the men’s 200m semi-finals, 2023’s runner-up Christopher Taylor posted a 20.49 seconds season-best to secure the top qualifying spot, edging out former 400m hurdles national champion Roshawn Clarke, who ran 20.63 seconds to also advance. Jevaughn Powell, Adrian Kerr and Kadrian Goldson all claimed their spots in Sunday’s men’s 200m final as well.