Texas A&M Track and Field Sensation Spills Secrets to Mental Readiness Before Shattering NCAA Record

Often, athletes who have strong mindsets are perceived as rude. And this is exactly what happens to the Jamaican track-and-field sensation. The one who recently made her name stands tall on the final day of the SEC Indoor Championship which took place at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Lamara Distin is Texas A&M University’s senior high jumper and track and field runner. She made history by clinching her third consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) title in high jumping. This not only made her win the title but also set a new name in the Jamaican women’s high jump record. But often Distin is misunderstood for her resting-focused face as someone mean.

Inside the mind of a champion

Distins’ achievement came as she flew high over the height of 2.00m, breaking her previous national record of 1.97m, which she made a year ago. However, the buzz is about her demeanor this time. In an interview, she recently shared that the secret behind her record-breaking performance is her remaining focused on herself.

The interview came out on the official Twitter page of FloTrack with the caption, “@aggietfxc star Lamara Distin is always locked in (and not mean ) for high jump, and she recorded a 2.00m NCAA indoor record at SEC Indoors.”

In the video, she shared, “I just try to stay focused. Focus on myself.” Distin also mentioned that she is always aware of her opponents and shared, “You know, I always have like competition and support. I try to block them out.” This is the reason why her dominance surpassed the 1.97-meter mark she set in 2022, and on her final attempt, she successfully cleared the 2.00-meter mark.

Adding another victory to her national record, Distin was marked as the second female athlete in SEC history to bag three indoor high jump titles, after Florida’s Maria Galloni in 1990–92. Her performance at the 2.00m exceeded the indoor all-time collegiate mark of 1.98 m, which was shared by Kansas State’s Akela Jones and Texas jumper Destinee Hooker.

The preparation paid off for the track and field icon

Earlier in 2013, Distin extended her achievement beyond the SEC Indoor Championship, where she scored 1.99m under the outdoor all-time collegiate performance. The jumper showcased her dedication by taking first place before Rachel Glenn from Arkansas and Elena Kulichenko from the University of Georgia, who scored 1.94m and 1.91 m, respectively. If that is not enough, then let us tell you she is a standout athlete on both the national and international stages.

Also read: “I Hate It”: ‘Disgusted’ Track and Field Star Heavily Criticizes Sport Over World Indoor Championship Withdrawal

Previously, in 2023, she became the runner-up in the NCAA outdoor competition, followed by a victory in the indoor one. The top-tier Jamaican athlete gave strong competition to all the international circuits as well. In the World Athletics Championship, she delivered an impressive performance by coming in fifth with a score of 1.94 m/6-4.25. Throughout the entire season, she remained a consistent presence, and that led Distin to bag a total of ten meets, eight first-place finishes, and two runner-up spots.