Just three months after finishing third at the world indoor champs inIstanbul,Turkey, Shara Proctor jumped into history as she made a leap of 6.95 metres in the Women’s Long Jump Final at the Aviva 2012 UK Olympic Trials. Her third round jump was the longest leap by a Briton since Bev Kinch’s 6.90 metres in 1983. Proctor, who has now qualified for the Olympics and currently ranked 7th in the world, has her eyes set on reaching the 7- metre mark but, more importantly, having a podium finish at this summer’s London 2012 Olympics.
Speaking to the press after the competition, Proctor noted her excitement: “I’m just on top of the world right now,” she said. “I got the British record, I’m going to the Olympics – how good can it get?” She continued: “It was not good conditions but I said to myselfLondonmight be like this, so I have to prepare and do my best no matter what – so that’s what I did today. I have what it takes. I have to go back and work on some technical problems and I’ll be fine.”
Proctor was awarded one thousand pounds for the Aviva Performance of the Day in addition to a cheque of five thousand dollars for breaking the 29-year-old British Record.
Shara Proctor will become the first Anguillian born female athlete to participate in the Olympic Games and second overall as she succeeds Mr. Keith Connor. Connor who was born in Anguilla, representedGreat Britainin the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where he captured bronze in the Men’s Triple Jump.
