Clive Pullen, defending Boys' long-jump Class Three champion, not only gave Kingston College an additional nine points as he retained his title after leaping 6.99m yesterday, he is also set to become the meet's Class Three champion boy with big performances expected today.

Pullen won ahead of Nicholas Phynn of Jamaica College, 6.81m, and Javari Fairclough of Calabar High School, 6.74m.

"I was very confident being the defending champion. It would have been hard for someone else to take it just like that," Pullen said.

He said the contest was very intense as Phynn and Fairclough gave him good competition.

"Prior to coming into the competition, I suffered an injury and that kind of set me back a little. But I was determined that I would do my best, not only for myself, but also for my family, and my school," he said.

Pullen also won a gold medal in the Boys' Class Three high jump, clearing the bar at 1.88m. He is also expected to medal in the Class Three 100m hurdles.

well prepared

According to Christopher Ferguson, assistant coach in jumps at Kingston College, Pullen would have set a new meet record if the wind reading had not been above the allowable limit of 2m per second.

"Pullen was prepared very well coming into the championships," Ferguson said.

"He is an excellent athlete to coach. He started early from last year when he won two gold medals. He stuck with it right throughout the year and has been training consistently," Ferguson said.

Ferguson said, based on Pullen's performance this year, his achievement was expected. "He is the defending champion and we expected him to better his mark," he said.

Pullen's parents, Jannett and Clive Pullen Sr, and sister, Danielle, took time out to support him at the championships.

"We are very proud of our son. What he has achieved is really the God that is in him," Jannett Pullen said.

"We have a strong community, biological, and the extended Kingston College family. They have done tremendously well in terms of the support that they have given to him," she said.

She added that, as parents, they tried hard to ground him and create a balance. "It is not a one-sided thing, he has to do well academically.

"It is a lot of hard work and dedication in the process, and we hope he will remain humble," she added.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com