Renae Medley of St Andrew winning the girls' high-jump open with a record clearance of 1.68m at the Jamaica Teachers' Association Sagicor National Primarys, All-Age and Junior High School Athletics Championship.

Renae Medley was the standout performer on the opening day of the 28th staging of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA)/Sagicor National Primary, All-Age and Junior High Schools Athletics Championship, which will be held over two days at the National Stadium.

Medley not only decimated her competitors in the girls' high-jump open, but also smashed the record. The St Andrew athlete easily erased the previous record mark of 1.58m, established back in 1990 by Aneka Samuels as she managed a clearance of 1.68m.

Portland's Kenesha Beckford could only manage a clearance of 1.45m for second, while Chantelle Downer of Kingston accounted for third with a clearance of 1.40m.

Meadly, who attends John Mills, believes she could have done even better if her competitors had presented a greater challenge.

"I feel proud because I broke the record and I also won," Medley said. "I did not have any challenge to push me, but I am proud because I won and I broke the record," she said.

Medley had earlier in the afternoon eclipsed the record in the girls' shot-put open with a throw of 10:04m. She had to settle for silver, however, as Kiona Bradshaw of Kingston went even further with her toss of 10.14m.

"I came second in the shot put and I said to myself, 'I am going to bring it in the high jump and break the record'," Medley said.

high jump

She conceded, however, that the shot put is not her preferred event.

"Shot put is not really my event, high jump is my event," Medley said.

"I never really trained for shot put; I was just there one day and took up the ball and threw. My coach saw me and said I should try the shot put, but I really don't like it," she added.

Medley, who normally runs the 100m as well, will not be doing so at this championship due to an injury to her right hamstring.

This could result in St Andrew being affected in their quest for a third consecutive hold on the parish championship and 17th overall as they enter tomorrow's final day two points adrift of leaders Kingston.

Kingston have amassed 70 points after seven finals, with St Andrew lying in second on 68 points. The top five is rounded off by Portland (41), St Elizabeth (22) and Westmoreland (21).