By Bockarie Allieu
FREETOWN, Sep 6 (SALONE TIMES) – Juan Faith Jackson of Sierra Leone has recorded a new Personal Best of 24.16 Meters in the Women F46 Javelin Throw in the on-going Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
She finished 10th ahead of Pawpaw New Guinea athlete. The event was won by Holly Robinson of New Zealand with a throw of 40.99 Meters. In second position was Noelle Roorda of Netherlands with a throw of 40.06 Meters.
The highly profiled Hollie Arnold of Great Britain took the third with a disappointing best throw of 39.73 Meters.
Juan Faith Jackson improved rapidly within four months. In March this year, during the Grand Prix of the World Para Athletics held in Tunis, she recorded a Javelin throw of 15.41 Meters which qualified her to the Tokyo Games. But despite competing among World Stars, the Tokyo Games second youngest athlete and the youngest in the Track and Field shown determination and proved to the world that she can compete at all levels.
A sports analyst in Japan congratulated her for her brave performance, noting that with optimism that the young athlete will dominate the Para Sports World if given more opportunities.
Juan Jackson was spotted by the NPC, Team Leader Unisa Deen Kargbo who transformed her from Football to Athletics. Sierra Leone Soccer Star Kai Kamara recently posted in his Facebook page that he is willing to help the young athlete attain higher education in USA. Juan is currently a JSS 3 pupil of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls.
