Day One of the Coca Cola Games got off to a good start for Xavier College athlete Shawntell Lockington. She won a gold medal in the first event and smashed a 32-year-old record in the Junior Girls High Jump at ANZ Stadium, yesterday.

The 15-year-old jumped a height of 1.66 metres beating the old record of 1.62m set by Adi Cakobau School’s Senimili Toloi in 1985.

Lockington said it has not been an easy journey since she has been suffering from old injuries to her ankles, shins, knees and back.

“Despite the difficulties, I feel very proud of myself to not only win gold in the first event of the Coke Games, but to break an incredible 32-year-record.

“I know I have the potential to do much better and my initial target was 1.70m, but I am still happy with the height I jumped.

“The competition was good and way better than last year. I want to thank all the girls who I competed with, for giving me such a tough competition.

“I think winning gold and breaking a record is a testament to the saying that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”

While most athletes would be trying shake of nerves and to focus competing in front a large crowd, Lockington said the secret to her success is her ability to stay calm.

“I think when I am jumping I am very relaxed and I am having fun and I shut out everything around me,” she said.

“I hear the music playing and I am dancing to it and I think that helps me do good because I am not trying too hard. I am just relaxed and at ease with my mind and body.”

Lockington hopes to represent Fiji in the near future.

“I know I have so much more potential in me and I know I can do so much better, so the challenge now for me is to keep training and doing the best I can.”