She faced stiff competition from a large field of athletes from the United States, Canada, Central American countries and a number of Caribbean islands.

Shara jumped 6.02, which was well short of her personal best of 6.24 metres, which she jumped at the Carifta Games in Tobago this year.

Other Caribbean athletes also performed well in the long jump. Arantxa King of Bermuda won the goal medal with a jump of 6.21 metres; Gayle Hunter of the USA won the silver medal with a jump of 6.15 metres; Rhonda Watkins of Trinidad won the bronze medal with a jump of 6.05 metres and Tania Ferreira Da Silva of Brazil came fourth with a jump of 6.04 metres.

Shara plans to take a break from her training until later in the year. At that time she will begin preparation for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Australia in March and the World Juniors in China in July of next year.

The Pan American Junior Athletics Competition is a biennial track and field event. It brings together athletes from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. This was the 25th year of the championships. They were held in Windsor, Canada, from July 29 - 31.

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