André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Ramone Bailey

When Class One boys long jump favourite Ramone Bailey stood at the top end of the long jump pit's runway, inside the National Stadium, during the finals at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships, ahead of his last jump, one could tell that something special was on the horizon.

Uncomfortable in third place, and having not too long witnessed big jumps from Kingston College pair Keneil Grant (7.49m) and Jerome Wilson (7.45m.) Bailey, last year's silver medallist and captain of the Wolmer's team, knew only his best, or at least something close to it, would bring him to his desired target.

And with the crowd, or at least the non-KC support strongly behind him, Bailey dug deep to produce his second-best jump of the season, 7.54m, to literally steal the gold medal from Grant, who watched on in agony. Goes to show just how much can change with one jump.

Bailey, still bouncing from his dramatic 11th-hour victory, expressed delight at his success and shared that he was revelling in the heated competition presented to him by the North Street-based pair. But what was he thinking going into that final jump?

"Going into my final jump I really was just revelling in the competition from the other guys but I also knew that I was better than what they had produced up to that point, so I just got my mind right and gave it my all on that last jump," said a smiling Bailey.

"Yes I know it (win) was very dramatic, I knew that I could do it but I also knew that I had to improve my focus and go out there to do what I had to do," Bailey added before pointing out that he was anticipating a close battle.

"I wasn't surprised with the pressure that they gave me, I was expecting my competitors to push me today. I honestly wasn't thinking Keneil (Grant), I was expecting Jerome (Wilson) to be the one, but I definitely was not expecting them to beat me, because I know that I have produced way better jumps than what I had done up to that point," said Bailey who registered a record 7.61m at the Western Relays earlier this season.

"I'm a very confident person and also very focused and those were key for me today."

Bailey also underlined his determination to get his team off to a good start, a responsibility that also played on his mind before that last jump.

The 19-year-old will now turn his attention to the triple jump where he is also expected to finish atop the pile.

"I plan to have the same result in the triple jump except I hope to win it a bit earlier," Bailey smiled.