Daniella Anglin

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

Like an eagle gliding through the clouds with elegance, grace and ease, Daniella Anglin is one day hoping to soar onto the local and international stage, fulfilling her bid of becoming a professional athlete.

The lanky High Jumper, also known as ‘DUMPLIN’, after fighting a boy in Primary school over a dumpling, is the Western Mirror’s latest featured athlete as the entity continues its light-sided look at those who delight us in our sporting entertainments throughout each year.

Daniella was born on November 15, 2001, in the rural area of John’s Hall district in St. James.

Soft-spoken Daniella, who has four siblings, three sisters (including a twin) and a brother, and is the second in the pack, attends the Herbert Morrison Technical High School and is now a resident of Spring Mount district.

Daniella started her sporting activities as a Netballer, travelling often to the Montego Bay Boys’ and Girls’ Club to participate in the annual Burger King Under-12 Competition as a key component of the John’s Hall Primary School.

She then gained a place at Rusea’s High School in Hanover following her sitting of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), but was recruited by then Physical Education teacher at the institution, Rita Spence. 

The now Grade 12 student, who aspires to gain a scholarship to study overseas, began her education at the Salters Hill Basic School.

Anglin is preparing to sit CAPE subjects Biology, Advanced Food, Communication Studies and Physical Education.

She says she admires and would like to one day hold the accolades of Mutaz Barshim, the Qatari athlete, and national record holder who won bronze at the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio.

Almost always displaying a quiet and shy demeanor, Daniella revealed to the Western Mirror that though picking up the sport late, she has decided on pursuing a career as a professional High Jumper, one who will capture the hearts of the nation and the world.

“I started out playing Netball and it was my favourite sport at the time until I got introduced to High Jump by Mr. Grant while at ‘Compre’”.

Anglin, a National Youth representative, says her selection to the CARIFTA team was even more inspirational as “it made me realize I can do anything I put my mind to. But, overall, it has helped me to become a better person”.

She looks back at her start at the Bogue-based school as “welcoming”, , revealing that her arrival is filled with fond memories. Daniella also revealed that under the watch of coach Spence, no longer at the institution, her netball capabilities significantly improved and her love and passion were even greater. “She made me feel confident in the sport. She taught me things I didn’t know”.

For her coach, Claude Grant, “The world is at her feet. She has won medals at every National Girls’ Championships since 2014 ,and there are a lot of universities eyeing her.Daniella is an incentivedriven student-athlete. She comes to training with the willingness to learn and make adjustments  to her technique. She wants to maximize her potential.”

Filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment, the highly thought of coach Grant reminded the Western Mirror that Daniella, under his watch, has won every single High Jump competition she has participated in, and is the record holder for the western Championships Class 1, with a mark of 1.75 metres.