Anderson breaks 45-year-old Newman national record
Published:Sunday | June 12, 2022 | 12:12 AMRaymond Graham - Gleaner Writer
LED BY Navasky Anderson’s second-place finish in the men’s 800 metres final, a new personal best 1:45.02 seconds and new national record, Jamaica’s males had three top-three finishes on Friday’s final day of competition for men at the NCAA Division One Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Ralford Mullings and Apalos Edwards took third in their respective events.
After winning his semi-final heat two days earlier in 1:45.94 to qualify as the quickest over the distance, Anderson, the former St Jago High athlete, competing for Mississippi State University, was at his best in Friday’s final.
Erasing former Olympian Seymour Newman’s 45-year-old national record of 1:45.21, done in Heksinki in 1977, Navasky finished second in 1:45.02s, behind winner Moad Zahafi of Texas Technical University, who clocked 1:44.49 for the win.
QUALIFYING A STANDARD
Anderson, who was guided by coach Andrew Kidd at St Jago High School, and who also spent two years at Essex University in New Jersey, has now attained the Qualifying A standard of 1:45.20 in the event for next month’s World Athletics Senior Championships, which will be held at the same venue.
Following up on Wayne Pinnock win in the men’s long jump final on Wednesday’s first day of competition, former Kingston College athlete Mullings threw 42.46 metres to finish third in the discus.
The discus proved disappointing for Clemson Univiersity’s Roje Stona, who was expected to challenge for a top spot. The former St Jago athlete only managing 57.85 metres for ninth place.
Edwards, the former Jamaica College jumper, competing for Louisianna State Universty, produced 16.39 metres in the triple jump for his third-place finish.