Cornwall’s Tingling working hard for Champs glory

Cornwall College's (CC) Carlyle Tingling, a confident young track and field athlete specialising this season in the triple jump, high jump and long jump, is hungry to learn more about the sport and believes sports is in his DNA.

In an interview with STAR Sports, the first-year Class Two jumper admits that track and field training makes his day enjoyable.

"How can I express this? Training is good and is the best part of my day, apart from the track meets. I get to have fun, and I get to learn how to do things, and so on," said Tingling. "There is nothing I can say now that is an obstacle for me during training. I also play football for my school, but I am passionate about track and field because it is my favourite sport."

In his first competitive attempt at the triple jump, Tingling placed second with 12.72 metres at this year's COCOA/GraceKennedy Western Champs at St Elizabeth Technical High School.

'SPORTS IN BLOOD'

The 15-year-old Tingling said his involvement in track and field all started because both parents are highly involved in sports.

"Sports have been in my blood since I was born. My mother would always take me to different sporting activities, and my father is a good cricketer and sprinter. My mother is my biggest motivation because she always pushes me to do my best," Tingling explained.

Placing fourth in the Class Three boys' high jump at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships (Champs) last year, the optimistic Tingling is anticipating better results this year after clearing 1.75 metres, just missing the bronze on count back.

"I expect to go at everyone, everything or anybody in my way of winning. I am training harder and praying to the Lord to outdo my opponents. I am working on my PB and season's best this year," Tingling told STAR Sports.

EXPECTATIONS

"I will participate in the triple jump and high jump. I want to do two metres for the high jump and 13.58 for the triple jump.

"The Carifta Trials for me this year was a good experience and a way of exposing my talent. I came fifth in the high jump and fourth in the triple jump, with a PB of 13.00 metres. My expectations are very high for Champs. I see some brilliant competitors who will compete against me, based on the statistics I see online," he added.

Champs will be held from March 19-23 at the National Stadium in Kingston.