Next March Latroya Darrell will be missing from classes at CedarBridge Academy but her teachers can hardly get angry.

Their student has a perfect excuse ? she is going to the Commonwealth Games.

The lithe high jumper booked her passage to the prestigious meet late last month when, en route to a silver medal at the Pan Am Junior Athletic Championships, she soared to a new personal best (PB) and simultaneously cleared the Commonwealth Games qualifying mark of 1.79 metres.

So focused was Darrell on the competition in Windsor, Canada, that she didn?t realise her new top mark made her instantly eligible to pack her bags for Melbourne, Australia.

?It didn?t hit me but my coach, Mr. (Gerry) Swan, ran over and told me. I was really happy and excited,? recalled the 17-year-old.

Though ?surprised? to achieve such a major feat while still a junior, the local champion credited her association with older rivals for her success.

?I guess I?ve been training with and jumping against people like Zindzi Swan for a while now. I?ve been up there with the older girls so I think of myself as more their age competition-wise,? noted Darrell who already has scholarship offers pouring in from US colleges.

Regarding the Pan Am Juniors, she revealed it was a see-saw experience for her, starting out rather straightforward before becoming nearly disastrous.

?It was pretty easy at first with the low heights. Once I got to 1.73 (metres) I started knocking down (the bar) but I got that on my last attempt. I was kinda nervous. I didn?t think I would do well once I started knocking down but when I got over 1.73 it built up my confidence.

?When I saw other girls jumping and clearing that height I said I had to do it too, so I just went and did it. I got the next height (1.76 metres) on my first attempt and 1.79 metres on my second attempt.

?It felt easy. I was shocked to get over it on the second try,? she said of eclipsing her old PB of 1.76.

However, she could not clear 1.82 metres and neither could Trinidad & Tobago?s Rhonda Watkins but the latter was awarded gold on countback, having fewer knockdowns than Darrell.

The two regional stars finished in the same order in the Under-20 division at this year?s Carifta Games in Tobago.

Now taking a brief respite in the off-season, Darrell, who also excels in the triple jump, has returned invigorated and fully intent on conquering higher heights.

?I really want to jump about 1.84 (metres). That?s what I?m aiming for,? she disclosed, adding that high jump will assume increasing priority over other athletic pursuits.