NSW Championships: Kailyn Joseph - When a PB is a gold medal

Published Sat 04 Mar 2023

4 March 2023

NSW Championships: Kailyn Joseph - When a PB is a gold medal

Competing on a gloomy and damp night on day one of the 126th NSW Track and Field Championships there was one special highlight in the women’s ambulant long jump. Kailyn Joseph didn’t finish on the podium in the event, but it was a breakthrough that has been five years in the making.

After her international debut in 2017 at the World Junior Para-Athletics Championships, 15-year-old Kailyn Joseph was selected in the Australian team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where she placed fifth in the T38 long jump with a leap of 4.06m.

Over the ensuring five years, Kailyn has negotiated her HSC and commenced a Physiology degree at Sydney University. She has also continued her athletics, but it has been challenging.

“I’ve had it really rough with injuries and medical issues,” she said.

But at Homebush last evening there was a change is luck for Kailyn.

“I jumped a PB, which I set five years ago. I was also 11cm short of the qualifying for the 2023 World championships,” said an emotional Kailyn.

But for her, it was more than just the distance she jumped.

“Mostly I’m just proud of myself.

“This last two months have been super difficult, but I have just shown up every day and I did it. I’m proud of myself for sticking to it.”

She also feels there is more progress.

“I did three foul jumps today and they were all really good jumps and I was very consistent. The qualifier was probably in one of those foul jumps.”