Manchester High School's Sheena Powell winds up to hurl the discus, in the girls' Class Three final competition on the opening day of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships, at the National Stadium yesterday. Powell won with a throw of 36.96 metres. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Sheena Powell of Manchester High School was beyond words following her gold medal-winning performance in the girls discus Class Three event, with a throw of 36.96 metres at the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletic Championships at the National Stadium yesterday.

Fourteen-year-old Powell, a third-form student who is attending the championships for the second time, won from a field of 20 athletes.

Kellion Knibb of St Jago (36.35m) took second place ahead of Samanthia Johnson (31.58m) of Immaculate Conception High School, who finished third.

Difficult training

"First, I prayed to God and asked Him to carry me through," Powell said.

She stated that at last year's competition she was a bit nervous and hence her seventh-place finish, but this year was hers for the taking.

"My training was a bit difficult but I worked hard and it has paid off. I go to the gym every day and also do steps, heels and abdominal exercises as well," she pointed out.

Coach of the throwing squad at Manchester High School, Tanya Thomas, said she was pleased with Powell's performance, but was a bit uncertain at first if Powell would have medalled.

Proved herself

"I am relieved because I know Sheena has the potential but throughout the season she wasn't doing so well," Thomas said. "Her performance would fluctuate so I was uncertain if she would come prepared and ready for the competition today. She proved she could and did herself well today."

Thomas indicated that the girls discus throw Class Three event was the only area Powell would compete in at the championships, but was optimistic that the remainder of the throwing squad would deliver for Manchester High.

"If the rest of the throwing squad do what they were taught in training, then I have no doubt that they will do well.

In the competition, they kind of crumble under the pressure, so if they can come out and do what they are capable of doing, we won't have a problem," she said.