Emanuel Archibald is a local track and field star jumping and running through life chasing his dreams.
His biggest dream? Representing the Golden Arrowhead at the XXXII Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan this summer.
The 26 year-old from Linden, along with his coach, Johnny Gravesande, believes he has the potential to take his talents to ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’ and even climb the podium steps.
“He can qualify” said Gravesande. “He is right by the door and has a good chance to qualify and even medal in both (long jump and 100m).” Gravesande added “I see him going under 10s and as competitions keep coming, he will run faster.”
With two wins in two outings in the long jumps (8.10m and 8.07m) and the 100m (10.21s and 10.24s) this season, he is indeed knocking at the door to Toyko.
The national long jump record holder (8.12m) needs to disturb the sand at 8.22m and cross the line in 10.05s or better in the blue riband event to punch his ticket to Japan.
Archibald, who will compete at the National Senior Championships here in mid-April, needs to complete those tasks to realize his dream before the qualifying window closes on June 21.
He believes the key to unlocking that door is consistency and he will have several chances to reach the qualifying standards following the National Championships when he returns to Jamaica where he is on a scholarship.
“It will come (the entry standards), I am right there. The goal is to stay consistent, I am not far off, I will get there” said a confident Archibald.
Another Olympic berth is not promised, hence Archibald really wants to make hay in the sunshine at this year’s Olympiad.
The star jumper would be in rarified air as only the second local athlete to medal at the prestigious showpiece.
Boxer, Mike Parris is the nation’s lone Olympic medalist. He boxed his way to a bronze medal in the bantamweight division at the XXII Olympiad which was held in Moscow, Russia four decades ago.
For Archibald, a happy, go lucky athlete to end the medal drought, he will have to be serious and be his best version ever.
