By BARBARA WALKIN

Senior FN Reporter

barbara@nasguard.com

Coach McArthur Rigby shouted praises from across the field when his young athlete, Karia Stubbs easily cleared the bar at 1.27m to win the 12 and Under Girls' High Jump Tuesday afternoon at the GB Sports Complex.

Karia dressed in her green PE uniform ran up to and glided over the bar, putting the technique that was taught to her by Rigby to work.

"You're the girl," he shouted.

Karia's father, Rudy Stubbs stood behind the fence cheering his daughter on to the gold medal performance.

Karia was the only competitor in her division to successfully clear that height, despite a slight injury.

After Karia cleared the bar, Coach Rigby took her to the side and stretched her legs. He then asked the officials if there was another competitor to jump the marked height.

"No," said the official. "Well," said Rigby, "she's got this, she cleared the height ... that's it for her, she in pain."

Karia got up, stretched out her leg and limped across the field to get a congratulatory hug from her proud father.

Next to the girls' event, the boys were also in high jump competition.

Where Karia didn't have much of a battle for top place in her division, the boys were having a three-way jump off.

Competitors from Martin Town, Holmes Rock and Hugh Campbell were duelling for the gold medal.

In the third flight the Hugh Campbell competitor bowed out. He was unable to clear the bar at 3' 6''.

So it was down to the Holmes Rock Primary jumper, Sherman Robinson and the Martin Town Primary competitor, Shyrone Kemp, who looked no more than three feet tall himself.

Both boys set up their approach for the 4' 7 1/2'' leap. On the first attempt both cleared the bar with inches between their bodies and the bar to spare.

Officials took the bar up to 4' 11'' and on their first attempt both boys missed; however, you could see them making some mental adjustments.

Shyrone was limping, though, and his coach Andre Moxey called for Rigby to give him some assistance.

Rigby stretched the young jumper, while officials gave him the allotted time before his second attempt.

On his approach, you could see Shyrone giving it his all, but that limp was more pronounced and he missed his second and third attempt. He had to settle for the 4' 11'' mark.

But for Sherman, the second attempt was simply a confidence boaster. He cleared the 4' 11'' marked. At that point he had the gold medal wrapped up, but he asked for the height to be raised to 5'.

The officials obliged and Sherman went for the new height. Unfortunately, he did not clear the bar and wanted to give it a second try, but his coach said, "that's good enough."

Sherman, if he continues training and listening to his coach he will be a competitor to reckon with in the future.

Competition continues today at the GB Sports Complex.