Hibbert leads top Jamaican feats at US collegiate events

Led by a world-leading mark of 17.87 metres by former Kingston College (KC) jumper Jaydon Hibbert to win the men's triple jump for the University of Arkansas on Saturday at the South East Conference Collegiate Outdoor Championships in Baton Rouge, Jamaican athletes had excellent performances in field events at various conference meets.

Hibbert, the NCAA indoor champion in the event, put himself atop the list among collegiate athletes, where his mark was also a meet record and world under-20 record.

Former Jamaica College (JC) jumper Apalos Edwards, competing for Louisiana State University, was fifth with 16.01 metres, while Hibbert's teammate, Wayne Pinnock, also formerly of KC, ended sixth with 15.92 metres.

A day earlier, Pinnock produced a lifetime best and collegiate leading mark of 8.37 metres to capture the men's long jump, ahead of teammate and former KC jumper Carey McLeod with 8.14 metres, as former Calabar High jumper Jordan Turner, competing for the University of Kentucky, was sixth with 7.79 metres.

Another former KC athlete, Roje Stona, competing for the University of Arkansas, was also successful at the meet as he produced a personal best of 68.64 metres to win the men's discus, ahead of teammate Ralford Mullings as the former St Jago High thrower took second with a distance of 62.00 metres.

Not to be left out, it was also success for Commonwealth Games' champion, Lamara Distin, in her pet event, as she won the women's high jump for Texas A and M University after soaring to 1.91 metres.

On the track, former JC and Excelsior High sprint hurdlers Phillip Lemonious and Ackera Nugent had the best results as both competing for the University of Arkansas had second-place finishes.

Lemonious was timed in 13.63 seconds in the men's 110 metres hurdles final, while Nugent, the former World Under-20 Championships girls' 100 metres hurdles winner, had a season-best of 12.43 seconds to get the better of world leader Masai Russell of the University of Kentucky, who was third in 12.47.

Former St Jago High hurdler, Rosealee Cooper, representing Mississippi State University, finished fifth in 13.00 seconds. Alia Armstrong of Louisiana State University won in 12.49 seconds. Nugent was also fourth in the women's 100 metres final in 11.13 seconds.

BIG 12

At the Big 12 Conference in Norman, Oklahoma, there were wins for Demisha Roswell and Ackelia Smith.

Roswell, formerly of Vere Technical and competing for Texas Technical University, won the women's 100 metres hurdles in 13.02 seconds.

Smith, the former Edwin Allen high jumper, competing for the University of Texas, Austin, won the women's triple jump with 13.75 metres.

Former Edwin Allen High sprinter, Kevona Davis, continued her good form this season for the University of Texas, as she finished second in the women's 100 metres in 11.04 seconds, behind teammate Julien Alfred as the St Lucian clocked a fast 10.84 seconds for the win.

Davis was also second in the 200 metres in 22.28 seconds as Alfred won in 22.01 seconds. Davis then teamed with Alfred on the 4x100 metres relay, where she ran the anchor leg to pilot their win in a collegiate leading time of 41.89 seconds.

Former KC half-miler, Terees Rhoden, competing at the Atlantic Coast Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, for Clemson University, rushed to a personal best of 45.60 seconds to win the men's 400 metres final.