'I would like to thank these people because, without them, I would not have got the chance to do what I did.'

Raymond Graham, Star Writer

Jamaica captured their first medal on yesterday's opening day of competition at the Junior Pan Am Championships in Miramar, Florida, a silver in the girl's hammer throw from Daina Levy, who threw 55.79 metres.

Levy finished behind the United States' Ashe Shelby (59.25), who took gold, but ahead of Karen Henning (54.18), who captured bronze. It was the first time Jamaica were winning a medal in the event at these Championships, and also the first time competing for the country for Levy, who was born in Canada to Jamaican parents.

Her name isn't a familiar one locally because she did not participate at the National Junior Championships and when she was entered for the event it must have been a surprise to all. However, that did little to lessen the athlete's joy.

"It is amazing to know that I was able to come out here in my first international meet for Jamaica and win. The other members of the team made me feel welcome when I joined them here and that helped to motivate me knowing that it was the first time I was meeting them and they all made me feel at home."

Levy did not compete at the Junior trials, but she participated at the Senior Championships several weeks later.

heart in Jamaica

"I was able to get a chance to compete for Jamaica because although I was born in Canada my heart is in Jamaica, because my parents and my entire family are from Jamaica. My mother is from Kingston and my father is from St Thomas and I consider myself to be Jamaican," continued Levy, who gave special thanks to her parents along with Marie Tavares and Garth Gayle from the JAAA.

"I would like to thank these people because, without them, I would not have got the chance to do what I did."

Levy will be attending Auburn University this September and she is looking forward to the future in the event.

"I am looking forward to going to Auburn and I definitely will be looking to improve in the event so that I can compete in international meets for Jamaica; and I have the Olympics on my radar," she said.

Head coach Michael Carr was even more emotional than Levy in an interview after her silver medal.

"It is always good to get your first medal at an event, but when you get it in a non-traditional event the feeling is much greater. I am happy for her as she really wanted to represent Jamaica and she did it with passion, and the medal came by passion."