Sabina Allen of Vere Technical winning the girls triple jump open with a leap of 12.63 metres at the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships yesterday. - Ian Allen

VERE Technical Class II athlete Sabina Allen registered a major upset on yesterday's opening day of the Grace ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships using her final attempt to become the first gold medallist of the meet, taking the triple jump open with a mark of 12.63 metres.

St Jago High's Avril McGee (12.58) and Camperdown High's Nickeava Wilson (12.38) had to settle for silver and bronze, respectively. Allen, who came into the event as one of the less-fancied athletes, was overjoyed with her victory and admittedly a little taken aback, she dedicated the win to her mother.

"I am surprised and I am overwhelmed as I did not expect to win, although I told my mother who lives overseas that I would have won the gold for her. To do this means something special for me," said an emotional Allen, who could not hold back the tears of joy.

"I told my teammates that I was going out there to do my best but to get a gold is extremely special and I would like to first thank God and then my hard working coaches who have worked very hard with me,"

"Being the first gold medallist of Champs 2011 is something really special as history will always have it recorded," said Allen, who is down to compete in the preliminary round of the girls Class II discus today.

Her jumping coach, Joseph Wilkie, formerly of St Elizabeth Technical High School, was one of the happiest men inside the Stadium yesterday.

"She told me that she would have gone over 12 metres, but to come and win the gold and to jump so far is extraordinary. She is new to this event and she has at least three more years and I am confident that she will get much better in the upcoming years," he said.

It was a heartbreaker for St Jago High's McGee, who took the lead from her first attempt and held that lead all the way before Allen, who fouled on her penultimate attempt, used her final attempt for the win.

The event was also a disappointing one for Carifta Under-17 Trials winner Opal James of St Elizabeth Technical and Kimberly Williamson of Edwin Allen High. Wiilliamson, who was favoured to score some points for favourites Edwin Allen, failed to advance to the final of the event as her 11.71 metres in the preliminary round saw her the 10th best qualifier while James was fifth with 12.21 metres.