Run-up change delivers for Porter

LILLE , France:

With the high jump bar at 1.79m, new IAAF World Youth Champion-ships bronze medallist, Chanice Porter, was not looking her normal, relaxed self inside the Stadium Lille Metropole yesterday.

Up to that point, she had missed two of her four attempts at heights she was quite accustomed to clearing.

1.70m took her two efforts to clear and she barely managed to clear on her second try, while at 1.79m she again missed at her first attempt and seemed uncomfortable about something.

Coach David Riley knew what was wrong, and before her second attempt he advised her to change her run-up to the bar and gave specific instructions regarding the adjustments that needed to be made.

The impact was immediate; Porter cleared the mark on her next attempt before going on to settle at 1.82m and secure her first world championships-level medal.

Porter, who competed in the long jump at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton last year, said that it was not easy to make the adjustment, but it paid off in the end.

"It wasn't easy getting used to my new run-up, it was a bit of a challenge, but I think I managed to execute well enough in the end anyway," Porter said.

"Considering I just learned it; Mr Riley told me what to do and I did it, and it worked out very well for me during the competition. It was a better run-up for me, it helped me to clear the bar easier, I think," Porter added.

Porter, while happy with the bronze, feels she could have done better, and judging by how close she came to clearing 1.85m, which would have matched her personal best, she has a strong case.

Good feeling

"It feels good but I think I could have done better, but it still feels good knowing that I medalled and a bronze is good," said Porter. "This will rank higher than anything else that I have ever achieved because, as my first World Youth Championships, to come here and medal is the best thing that has happened so far.

"I wanted to make Jamaica proud and I'm so happy, so proud of my effort today," she added.

She does have one complaint though.

"I miss my mother, I want to go home, I miss my family," she laughed.

Not yet, Ms Porter, there is the matter of a long jump to be contested. Porter is scheduled to line up in the long jump qualifiers today and she knows it won't be an easy task.

"It won't be easy, but I will just go out there tomorrow (today) and try to qualify for the final early and then take it from there," she said.

- A.L.