Perinchief Targets Podium At World Indoors
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Jah-Nhai Perinchief is so measured when he speaks that it is almost jarring when he casually says he can podium at the World Athletics Indoor Championships next week.
Perinchief, it appears, does not have to convince himself, or anyone else for that matter, of his medal-winning credentials.
His self-belief is palpable. And for a good reason.
The 24-year-old has made a sensational start to life as a professional triple jumper, finishing runner-up on his debut at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Staten Island, New York, last month with an indoor best of 16.55 metres.
He followed up with a win at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, jumping a then world-leading distance of 16.91.
Perinchief then set a meet record on his way to victory at the Arkansas Qualifier, which was also held in Fayetteville, leaping 16.84, eclipsing the previous four-year record by nearly a foot.
Although the Bermudian did not meet the World Indoors qualifying standard of 17.10, he received an invite from World Athletics based on his strong displays on the United States Indoor circuit.
“Because of the time difference between here [Arkansas] and Bermuda, I was half asleep when my mom called me to say I’d got in [to the championships],” Perinchief told Bernews.
“It was exciting, and I’m ready for it. I like big competitions. They bring out the best in me.
“I want to put myself in medal contention. I want to try and go for the win. I’ll do whatever it takes.
“Cuba has some great jumpers, the US has some great jumpers, and there are a couple of really good Europeans. It’s the World Indoors; the best jumpers will be there.”
Perinchief does not have to look too far for inspiration before the World Indoors, held in Belgrade, Serbia, at the Stark Arena from next Friday to Sunday.
His Bermudian mentor, Brian Wellman, won gold in the triple jump with a record leap of 17.72 at the same competition in Barcelona in 1995 and claimed bronze two years previously in Toronto.
“Brian and I speak a lot,” said Perinchief, who is 22nd in the world rankings. “He was very helpful to me throughout college [Iowa Central CC] when I’d go back home, sit down, and talk to him.
“Triple jump was very new to me back then because I was a high jumper.
“He still breaks things down for me. I call him before every big meet and send him footage of my jumps throughout the week. He advises me on the things I can improve.
“He got a big jump [at the championships in ‘95] to put him in a good spot to win. Hopefully, Bermuda can do it again.”
While Perinchief’s immediate priority is preparing for Belgrade, he has one eye firmly on the outdoor season when he hopes to consistently hit 17.00 as he builds towards the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.
“I don’t look at the numbers too deeply; I just look to execute and let the marks come,” said Perinchief, who missed out on qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year.
“Executing my jumps and listening to my coach [Travis Geopfert] has put me into a good position, and I know I have more in the tank.
“By the time outdoors come, I should be banging consistent 17-metre jumps.
“I plan to go to the World Championships and the Commonwealths. I want to win them both; that’s my goal. I think I’m ready for the big stage.”
Perinchief was on track to emulate Bermuda’s best-ever high jumper Clarence “Nicky” Saunders rather than triple jumper Wellman; he doubled up in both events as a student at the University of Arkansas, Texas Tech University and then the University of Tennessee.
However, after undergoing extensive rehabilitation for a hip injury in 2017 and tearing his hamstring a year later, Perinchief decided to focus on the triple jump, a physically less demanding discipline.
“I wasn’t used to the intensity and load of NCAA competition, and I didn’t know my body,” said Perinchief, who represented Bermuda in the high jump at the IAAF World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 2016.
“I was getting injured, and that’s why I transitioned to triple jump. It was safer on my body.
“It was a bummer, but I always tried to look for the positive, to come back stronger and learn more.
“I don’t get nervous anymore because I’ve already been hurt. I don’t feel I have anything to lose. I’ve always been able to bounce back. That’s always been my mentality.”
