2022 will go down in history as the year when Jamaica made a real impact in the high jump. Lamara Distin led the way with a stellar season, national records indoors and out, collegiate success for Texas A&M University and a gold at the Commonwealth Games. She wasn’t alone as Brandon Pottinger kept his head in the rain to win the World Under 20 high jump.

Both wins were firsts for Jamaica.

Distin, a Ruseas/Vere/Hydel product won the NCAA title indoor and sprung over 1.97m outdoors to establish a new Jamaican record. She and the previous Jamaican winner of the NCAA gold, Kimberly Williamson both reached the World Championship final in Eugene and moved to Birmingham to finish first and third.

Distin revealed that an improved approach run has made a big difference. “My approach was a major problem for me last year as I wasn’t consistent with it. So working on it allows me to be consistent which definitely helped me this year”, she said days after her 1.97m clearance on April 30 in Texas.

Their Eugene feat placed Jamaican colours in a women’s World high jump final for the first time.

The only other Jamaican to contest a World high jump final was the late Germaine Mason, who placed 5th in 2003.

In Birmingham, Distin and Williamson made more history. Sheree Francis and Karen Beautle had won Commonwealth high jump silver and bronze in the 2010 and 2016 Games respectively. Still, Distin and Williamson doubled up to take the gold and the bronze on Independence Day with Distin clearing 1.95m.

One day earlier, Pottinger outjumped Mason at the World Under 20 Championships in Cali, Columbia. Mason had won silver in 2000 and bronze in Kingston in 2002 but Pottinger survived a rain shower and his rivals to win at 2.14m. Pottinger took Jamaica’s first-ever high jump victory.

His winning clearance matched the height he went over to get the silver medal at the Carifta Games in April.

These achievements are a reward for persistence. Jamaica hadn’t placed two women in a World or Olympic final since 1972. In addition, our only other Commonwealth high jump gold medal came long ago in 1958 when Ernie Haisley soared above all.

Williamson had the best jump of her life — 1.93m — on June 5. She then upset Distin at the Nationals Championships. “God has blessed me with a tremendous support system and great opportunities and I was able to take some of the pressure off and just focus on track and it’s paying off”, said the 2019 Pan-American Games bronze medallist.

Perhaps the success of Distin, Pottinger and Williamson will kick start a new era in which Jamaicans will do as well in the high jump as in the sprints.