Lowe wants to join Pinnock in eight-metre realm

Last year, Kingston College long jumper Shaquille Lowe cheered gleefully as his training partner, Wayne Pinnock, became the first schoolboy to soar beyond eight metres in the Long Jump at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.

Pinnock's achievement not only amazed Lowe, but also inspire him as the 18-year-old is shooting to become the second schoolboy to jump over eight metres.

"My objective this year is to jump eight metres. Last year, I jumped 7.75 metres, which is not far from 8 metres, and even though I know it is not easy, I still believe that I can achieve it," Lowe told STAR Sports before a training session at the Byron Bachelor Athletics Complex on the school's Melbourne Park campus last week.

Making strides

Apart from being exposed to the same training regimen as Pinnock, Lowe believes that he has made some strides this year, which should propel him into the eight-metre realm.

"This season I start to do a lot more sprinting and I am working harder in the gym," he said.

The third-year Class One athlete opened his season with a 7.45 leap at the Milo Western relays on February 8.

"It was the first time that I was jumping that far in a season opener so that is something good," Lowe said.

Lowe also wants to settle the friendly battle he has with Pinnock about who can secure the most long jump titles in their champs careers. Lowe reigned supreme in Class Two while Pinnock turned the tide on him in Class One, winning the last two Long Jump titles.

"this year will determine who take the overall title in terms of the number of gold medals that we have in the long jump because I won in Class Two and he won two years in Class one," Lowe explained, with a smile.