Motueka athlete Joeline Jones felt quite literally on top of the world after clinching a gold medal at high altitudes during an international athletics championship in Mexico City earlier this month.
Joeline, who races under the Athletics Nelson umbrella, attended the North America, Central America and Caribbean Championships from November 6-9, alongside North Island competitor Vanessa Hodge.
The pair were invitational athletes, meaning that although they were not part of the official championships, they could still compete as outsiders and attempt to win medals without affecting the regional placegetters.
Nine months of battling Achilles tendinitis in the left leg and a torn plantar fascia in the right foot left Joeline with just three months of track training before the championships.
With a strong strength base thanks to Motueka Recreation Centre gym, but not as much track time as she would have liked, she arrived unsure what to expect in terms of achievements or times.
At nearly 2,300m above sea level, the altitude was brutal. “Every race felt like breathing through sandpaper,” says Joeline, describing how the athletes were struck by a dry cough that brought them to their knees and rendered their times irrelevant.
After placing second in the 100m heat, she fought through the final to claim silver, just 0.06 seconds shy of gold.
Choosing to withdraw from the 400m to focus on the 200m proved wise, as the 200m became her redemption.
Cruising through the heat in second place, she dug deep in the final to seize victory by 0.17 of a second – taking the gold from the same athlete who had beaten her in the 100m.
It was an emotional win for Jo, who took to the podium wrapped in the New Zealand flag and fought back tears as the te reo Māori version of the national anthem rang out through the stadium.
“I have never had this experience before and it choked me up. I had to wear my sunnies to conceal the tears of pride,” she says. “I can’t thank my coach Tony Aikenhead, the physios at the Sports Clinic Nelson, and Motueka Rec Centre enough for the support they have given me, to get me back on track after many injuries.
“I also have a really good masseuse -Dom. Without this great team around me, I wouldn’t be back at top form. I also want to thank the Motueka community for getting behind my fundraising efforts and all the messages of support. I feel truly blessed.”
As for the host city, Jo describes it as a revelation. “Chaotic traffic, vibrant culture, and a skyline where pre-Columbian and Aztec ruins meet with sleek modern skyscrapers.
“It was an experience that will stay with me long after the medals are hung on the rack.”
