Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

OLIVIA MCKOY shone brightly under lights last night at the National Stadium, smashing the national javelin record at the National Hurdles & Field Event Championships.

"Ohhhhh God, it's a blessing ... I don't have words to explain how happy I am," explained McKoy with tears in her eyes.

In stretching her previous mark to 59.87 metres, McKoy, blew away rivals Tenesha Blair of Holmwood (38.55) and Keniesha Throughsingh of Vere (35.95).

McKoy, who had the previous record of 58.29 metres, said she is her own coach, and "for me to come out here today and do this performance, it's really amazing".

HAPPY

She added: "I know I can do it, I haven't even started my weights training yet, but ohhhhh God, I don't even know what to say, I am just happy ... I'm crying tears of joy right now.

In her first three throws, McKoy, who represented Jamaica at the Sydney Olympics, recorded distances of 56.12m, 57.79m and the record on the third, while throwing over 58m on the fifth.

"I know more is in me and I am just taking it easy, cram, and I know I can do better," said the Information Systems and Maths teacher at St. Mary's College.

She said at present she is just meditating on what she wants to do, while taking a back seat.

Meanwhile, G.C. Foster College's Peta-Gaye Beckford and St. Jago's Steve Hammond were also in top form.

Beckford leapt a personal best 6.35 metres to win the women's long jump, beating her teammate Andreen Miller (5.39m)

Hammond threw 53.69m to beat Camoi Hood of Bridgeport (49.48m) and Jamaica College's Sharif Small (43.33).

In other events, Latoya Heath of St. Andrew High (5.90m) beat Wolmer's Renee White (5.88m) in the girls' Class One long jump.

Phelecia Reynolds of St. Hugh's won the girls' Class One shot put, throwing 12.69 metres to beat Throughsingh (11.48m).

Nicholas Gordon of Calabar jumped 14.95m to upset KC's Carlos Mattis (14.88m).