Ackelia Smith on the jump radar

“Sir, I have a lot of improvement to make.”

Those are the words of former Edwin Allen High School horizontal jump standout Ackelia Smith shortly after a personal-best jump of 6.73 metres in December. The distance and her desire for advancement have convinced her high-school coach that she has the right attitude.

Jeremy Delisser, who coached her at Edwin Allen, says the December jump could be a launch pad to a good 2023 season.

“It’s a good start, a personal best; great improvement. But I spoke to her not so long afterwards and, in her words, ‘Boy, sir, I have a lot of improvement to make,’ “ he told The Gleaner last Saturday.

“I like the sound of that, from the point of view that she, right away, isn’t satisfied,” he declared.

Smith had a fine start to her time at the University of Texas, reaching the 2022 NCAA finals in both the long jump and the triple jump, placing 12th in the triple at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and again reaching both finals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

Even so, she has leapt past her old personal best of 6.56 metres.

Her 2022 accomplishments underline the promise she displayed during a stellar high-school career, with gold, silver and bronze at the 2021 staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships in the triple, long and high jumps, respectively. The gold came with a winning leap of 13.42 metres.

Delisser, who also coaches the jumpers at Kingston College, says her 6.73m jump wasn’t perfect.

“There are some errors we spoke about, so I am happy with the start, but looking forward to the improvements,” he noted.

Smith’s presence in the World Championships triple jump final contributed to a milestone. The experienced pair of Shanieka Ricketts and Kimberly Williams finished second and seventh. With Smith in 12th spanning a lifetime best of 14.36m, Jamaica had placed three competitors in a World/Olympic field event final for the first time in its storied athletics history.

A delighted Delisser remarked, “I am hoping that she will be able to carry both events and get to the highest level doing both, because the triple jump, yes, the ladies have been doing well, but it’s good to see her trying to break through as well in the long jump.”

Delisser is optimistic.

“She’s well on her way,” he stated, “as long as she’s healthy, focused and keeps with the right attitude, and keeps making the improvements.”

The United States indoor college season begins this weekend, but while Texas will journey to the University of Louisville Carnival Classic, Smith isn’t listed to compete.