‘Stars align’ for Ricketts Performance Centre

National senior field event representatives Carey McLeod and Ackelia Smith have returned to the island to join the Ricketts Performance Centre as they ramp up preparations for international competition this season, according to head coach Kerry-Lee Ricketts.

The Ricketts Performance Centre is also home to Tajay Gayle, last year’s World Championships long jump silver medallist, as well as veteran triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts, a two-time World Championships silver medallist and Olympic silver medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ricketts expressed delight at the addition of the two elite athletes to his programme, pointing to their global pedigree and the significance of their decision to train locally.

“I am feeling really good because it is a great feeling knowing that I am contributing to the continued development with Jamaica sport, especially where field events are concerned,” said Ricketts.

“When you talk about jumpers worldwide both of these are world-class athletes and some of the best in the world and so the fact that they can trust me to continue their development is a great thing.”

EYE OPENER

He added that their return to Jamaica should serve as encouragement to young athletes considering their development options.

“I think this is an eye opener for a lot of young, talented athletes who are leaving Jamaica, to know that gone are the days when we don’t have the facilities and the coaching staff to help develop their careers,” Ricketts noted.

“Ackelia feels at home because she loves the country area, she loves Santa Cruz because it is a breadbasket parish and so down here is really encouraging where food is concerned and our training environment is also very encouraging.”

Ricketts also highlighted the positive environment within the camp, pointing to the presence of experienced and accomplished athletes.

“Everybody is loving the vibes and it is a nice atmosphere, Shanieka Ricketts is in the programme and also Tajay Gayle, who is a former world champion, and if you remember he won silver last year at the World Championships in our programme,” he said.

With this year considered a transition period, Ricketts pointed out that it presents an ideal opportunity to refine key elements of the athletes’ performances.

“Even though it is an off year, it is probably a great time to work on some things and use it to establish certain fundamentals of their careers in terms of what we need to work on. The technical aspects in terms of their biometric and strengths and so see what is weak and what is strong,” he said.

McLeod, 28, a two-time national champion, won bronze at the World Indoor Championships in 2024 and boasts a personal best of 8.40 metres in the long jump. However, he did not advance to the final at last year’s World Championships.

Smith, 24, represented Jamaica in both the long and triple jumps at the Paris Olympics, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. She has personal bests of 7.08 metres in the long jump and 14.54 metres in the triple jump.