#Penns2022 | STETHS jumper on a high after win

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania

With the disappointment of failing to make Jamaica’s Carifta Games team still fresh in mind, newly crowned Penn Relays high jump champion, Dejone Raymond of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), says the win has lifted his confidence and he will now push for a spot on the World Under-20 team for this year’s championships in Cali, Colombia.

Raymond won the Champion­ship of America event in a new personal best mark of 2.05 metres, erasing his previous best of 2.00m. Kingston College’s Aaron Lawrence, who has jumped 2.13m this season, finished third with a mark of 1.99m. Damarion Potts from South Brunswick New Jersey was second with also a mark of 19.99m. However, Potts was awarded the second place after achieving the mark on his second attempt.

The 17-year-old Raymond, who finished in the event at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, told The Gleaner that his victory yesterday will be a massive springboard for him heading into the Junior Trials in June.

“This will improve my confidence for the National Junior trials,” said Raymond. “It will help me to see where I am at with my jumps going into the trials.

“I believe that I can make the team, so this is one of my main goals this season because I didn’t make the Carifta Games team and so this will give me a big push as I look to get on to the National Junior team,” Raymond said.

He added that he is very happy for the gold medal as coming into the meet he did not expect to win the competition.

“I am really grateful for this gold, and I am honoured because I wasn’t expected to win this event. I didn’t get enough preparation but by the grace of God I was able to come out with the victory,” Raymond said.

He pointed out that it was very cold inside the Franklin Field stadium and so he had to keep his focus and discipline throughout in order to come out victorious.

“I had to stay composed and relaxed while attempting each height during the competition,” he said. “This is my first gold medal at the Penn Relays, and I want to dedicate the win to my mother because she has always been behind me and encouraging me all the time,” Raymond stated.