Wills hails impact of new JC track

The brand-new Jamaica College/Ashenheim Stadium track, which boasts a 400m Mondo track, has not only served to motivate members of the school’s track team, but, according to star jumper Safin Wills, it is part of the reason why the team has improved in all areas.

“I am really thankful to the Ashenheim family for this stadium, and I know it will enable us to perform better at Champs(ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships). The grass track was egregious. There were holes all over it. We used to call it ‘potholes’, and because of this wonderful track, we are able to train better. We do not have as many injuries as we did,” Wills explained.

The Carifta Games silver medallist in the Under-20 boys long jump is one of the many JC boys who have produced personal-best performances on the track.

He delivered a lifetime-best performance of 10.81 seconds in the 100m and leapt to 7.40 metres at the JC Pure Wata/Danny Williams Invitational Meet, which was hosted at the facility in early January.

“Also, we can run better times in training and jump farther distances,” he said.

Along with his personal bests in the 100m and long jump, Wills has a season best of 15.32m in the triple jump.

The youngster finished second in the event last year behind teammate Malik Cunningham but is hoping to strike double gold at this year’s Champs, which takes place from March 26-30 at the National Stadium.

With Kingston College’s Wayne Pinnock, the defending champion and a prospective IAAF World Championships team member, standing in his way, Wills knows it’s a steep ambition, but he is putting in the work and pushing for his best.

“I am trying to win both the long and triple, and I know it will take something very special,” he said.

Pinnock won the event last year in 7.77 metres.