KC's Clive Pullen has eyes on the top prize

Kingston College team captain Clive Pullen made short work of qualifying for today's Class One boys long jump final with a relaxed 6.93m, in the preliminary round yesterday at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships inside the National Stadium.

However, the international youth representative is well aware that his event is a key one in his team's calculations and that there will be no relaxing later today, when the medal round jumps off inside the venue.

Pullen, who has represented Jamaica at IAAF World Youth and World Junior levels, watched from the stands, offering moral support, as his teammate and biggest gold medal threat Keneil Grant, the defending champion, started his qualifying round.

Grant also booked his spot in the final with a 6.82m jump in his qualifying flight. Calabar's Jullane Walker qualified with the best mark; measured at 7.10m.

biggest burden

A sign of solidarity among two of the Fortis clan's most experienced representatives; two of whom will carry the biggest burden in the North Street-based school's efforts to dethrone Calabar and win its first title since 2009.

"I am feeling good, the instruction was just to go out there and get over the qualifying mark, which I did, so I am feeling good," said Pullen, who will line up alongside Grant in the final scheduled for 5:55 p.m.

"I am expecting the same from him, so I am just watching and supporting him, waiting on him to qualify, so we can go over and get some rest," Pullen added before underlining the importance of their efforts today towards the big Champs picture and where the Mortimer Geddes trophy eventually ends up on Saturday night.

"Yes man, I am very confident that we will be able to lift the title. My role is to push the guys, motivate them, lead from the front, be with them, guide them and be there for them," Pullen added.

"As leaders, we have to lead from in front and the smaller guys are looking up to us, so we have to go out there all guns blazing," he added. "We have spoken to them and they are ready, we are ready, so we will just lay it out on the track and let our performance do the talking."

Grant took the event at last year's championships with a 7.27m jump in the final with Pullen taking the silver medal with 7.15m.

The pair is expected to once again dominate the top spots in the event.

- A.L.