Pullen wants another first

When he qualified and competed at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016, Clive Pullen was the first Jamaican to do so in 44 years in the men’s Triple Jump.

A year later, he became the first Jamaican to jump over 17 metres indoors when he jumped 17.19 for the national indoor record.

And this year, he is looking to write his name into the history books again by becoming the first Jamaican to finish in a podium position at the IAAF World Championships.

“I definitely want to be the first Jamaican to win a medal in this event at the world stage. I have been using my Olympic qualification as motivation and I think I am in a good position to do well this season,” Pullen told STAR Sports.

The former Kingston College standout has already leaped to 16.92 metres this season, a mark he says is an indication that he could move into the 17 metres realm in the outdoor season.

“I am way ahead of where I normally am at this stage of the season, so I think it means I can do well when the outdoor season comes around. The aim is to go after the national record,” Pullen explained. “My coach and I have been working on some stuff and I think that we are already seeing the results.”

NEEDS TO IMPROVE

Pullen has a personal best outdoor of 16.90m, the distance he jumped when he qualified for the Olympics three years ago.

It might seem like he needs to improve by a metre to get to James Beckford’s 24-year-old mark of 17.92m, but Pullen’s 17.19m in perfectly still conditions means he could possibly jump consistently in the 17 metres region.

“I think I have what it takes to finish in a podium position but it is all about execution on the day,” Pullen said.

The 24-year-old 2018 season was cut short due to several factors.

“After the 2017 season, I was in my first season as a post collegiate athlete and I was finishing up school and I relocated with my coach (Travis Geopfert) from Fayetteville Arkansas to Knoxville, Tennessee, and I had minor injuries that brought a premature end to the season,” he said.

Pullen believes the new environment is also contributing to the great start he has had this season.

“The change of environment has been great. The support staff here is great,” he said.