Good showing for J’can athletes at the weekend
Published:Tuesday | January 26, 2021 | 12:11 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
Former Excelsior High School athlete Ackera Nugent produced another fine showing at the Aggie Invitational Meet at College Station, Texas A&M University, at the weekend. Nugent’s recent exploits follow her winning start to her collegiate career earlier this month at the Corky Classics, where she won the 60m hurdles in 8.22 seconds.
A freshman at Baylor University, Nugent stopped the clock at 8.08s to win the women’s 60m hurdles, and in the process, went atop the standing of the NCAA Division 1 list, being the fastest collegiate female so far in the event. Nugent’s time was just one hundredth of a second off the meet record of 8.07s. She finished ahead of seniors Kaylah Robinson (8.26s) of Texas A&M University and Naomi Taylor (8.29s) of the University of Houston.
Former Vere Technical High School jumper Lamara Distin, competing at home at the same meet, finished second in the women’s high jump after clearing 1.71m.
World Athletics Championships shot put silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd was also a winner at the weekend. Competing at the Hokie Invitational Meet at Virginia Technical Academy, she won the shot put event with a heave of 18.59m. Latavia Maines (16.18m) of the University of Tennessee and Janese Lynch (14.58m) of Wake Forest University ended second and third, respectively.
Former Holmwood Technical High School quarter-miler Nicolee Foster, competing for Clemson University, took second in the women’s 400m in 55.38s.
Former St Jago High School sprinter Kayla Bonnick, representing the University of Virginia, finished third in the women’s 200m in 24.72s. Kingston College old boys Carey McLeod and Zico Campbell finished third in their events. McLeod, competing for the University of Tennessee, clocked 6.78s in the 60m while Campbell, of Clemson, had a heave of 17.66m in the men’s shot put.