Hickling aiming for that big jump

DOHA, Qatar:

Improving Jamaican long jumper Tissana Hickling says she is looking forward to making her World Championships debut in Doha, Qatar, but is doing all she can to remain grounded and focused ahead of her competition.

"I'm really just trying to keep focused going into the championships and to go there and give it my best," she told STAR Sports.

Hickling, the national champion, continued her steady improvements over the past few seasons, when she moved her personal best to 6.82m this year, up from 6.61m in 2018 and 6.39m in 2017, the year she really started to underline her potential with a silver medal at the Pan American Under-20 Championships in Trujilla, Peru.

The 21-year-old Sprintec product, this year returned to Peru to win bronze at the Pan American Games in Lima and is hoping to continue her positive gains with at least qualification to the final here in Doha.

Push for a medal

"I am pleased with how things are going so far. I am hoping it can be better by the time the World Championships end on October 6," she smiled. "It's my first championships, I don't know what to expect, but everybody wants to aim high and so do I. I really want to go out there and make the final and even push for a medal."

With 13 athletes competing at the championships already boasting better marks this season in the event, it's likely that she will need to leave here with a new personal best if she is to meet those ambitions.

However, though surprised that she has been able to improve as much as she did this year despite dealing with a hip injury at the top end of the season, Hickling is backing herself to make a real impact here.

"I am glad that I can be one of those athletes that help to develop jumping in Jamaica and try and impact other athletes that want to do long jump and showcase their talents," said Hickling.