Virgin Islands long jumper Chantel E. Malone has qualified for the World Championships in Doha, Qatar after leaping 6.90m at the 3rd Annual Torrin Lawrence Memorial in Athens, Georgia on April 26, 2019. Photo: Provided

In 2017 at the World Championships at London Olympic Stadium, Malone became the first Virgin Islands athlete to make it to a senior IAAF World Championships final. She finished the Women’s Long Jump event in 7th place. Photo: Provided

Chantel E. Malone’s winning leap of 6.90m at the 3rd Annual Torrin Lawrence Memorial set a new Virgin Islands and OECS Long Jump Record and is currently recognised as the leading jump this year. Photo: Provided/File

There was much more to cheer about as Malone’s winning leap of 6.90m set a new Virgin Islands and OECS Long Jump Record and is currently recognised as the leading jump this year.

The previous VI Long Jump Record was 6.69m, also held by Malone.

Malone has also qualified for the Pan Am Games.

Malone’s 6.90m at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial saw her finish ahead of Aliyah Whisby (6.76m), Baiesha Johnson (6.49m); Jaeda Hunt (6.34m); MeKayla White (6.22m) and Bria Matthews (6.18m).

Breakthrough of a lifetime- Malone

Writing on her Facebook page on April 28, 2019, Malone described her performance as a “breakthrough of a life time” and revealed that she was at a low point in athletics.

“You have no idea what this means to me! I was at a point where I felt like I was losing myself! See track and field became my identity without even realising it. So when everything kept going downhill I felt like I was being buried. Tears of frustration were frequent. I had thoughts of quitting but being the person that I am, Of course I couldn’t!”

Malone disclosed that she decided to trust the process and her new Coach Dwight Phillips. She also said she was now motivated to reach for even higher heights.

More to come!

“This is by far not my end goal but getting to this point has reignited the belief that I had in Chantel! As little as that sounds... it’s the biggest factor in the equation to my future Success.”

The gold medal winner at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Vera Cruz, Mexico also shared some words of encouragement.

“So to all my fellow athletes, especially the young athletes at home and abroad, take it from an old head like me! Lol. It will get dark, frustration and doubt will come! But keep fighting! We got this!! #teamBVI.”

Malone will now be hoping to improve on her showing at the World Championships to be held in Doha from September 28 to October 6, 2019.

In 2017 at the World Championships at London Olympic Stadium, Malone became the first Virgin Islands athlete to make it to a senior IAAF World Championships final. She finished the Women’s Long Jump event in 7^th place.