Five J'cans win on US collegiate circuit

There were five Jamaican wins at two separate college indoor track and field championships in the United States over the weekend . Sean Bailey, Shian Hyde, and Sanjay Lawrence all triumphed at the Junior College Championships in Lubbock, Texas, while in Pittsburg, Kansas, Telisa Brisco and Shadae Hylton took gold at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Championships. In addition, both meets saw Jamaicans helping their teams to relay glory.

Bailey defended his 2017 400m title in 46.08 seconds, and the St Jago High School graduate later anchored Western Texas College to victory in the 4x400m. Rayon Butler, who won the 800m for St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) at the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships last year, ran the second leg after a runner-up finish over 600m.

Butler, who attended Holmwood High before moving to STETHS, saw one of his former schoolmates reach the podium too. That was Nicolee Foster, who raced to second in the 600m for Central Arizona.With the Jamaican and ex-STETHS pair of Satanya Wright and Kimisha Chambers aboard, Western Texas won the women's 4x400m as well. Chambers had earlier been second in the 60m hurdles. Lawrence also repeated a 2017 win with a shot put throw of 18.17m to hold his Barton County Junior College teammate and former Petersfield High colleague, Kevin Nedrick, 17.90m, at bay. The event was a Jamaica 1-2-3, as Vashon McCartney was third for Cloud County.

The third Jamaican victory at the Junior College Nationals came from former St Catherine High School sprinter Shian Hyde, who took the 200m in 23.68 seconds.

Brisco and Hylton starred at the NAIA meet, with wins in the 60m hurdles and the 400m respectively. Brisco, noted during her days at Edwin Allen Comprehensive High School, took the hurdles title in 8.38 seconds for Wayland Baptist University. Hylton led a Southern University - New Orleans (SUNO) 1-2 finish win with Xuxa Peart.

That ex-Holmwood Technical High School duo then powered the SUNO team to a big

4x400m win.