Distin maintains impressive form

TEXAS A&M University student Lamara Distin’s impressive form in the high jump continued on last Saturday’s final day of competition for women at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Distin, who won the indoor title earlier in the season, cleared 1.95 metres to complete the NCAA double. The former Rusea’s High, Vere Technical and Hydel High athlete remains unbeaten in the event in 2022, and she won ahead of Abbigail Kwarteng of Mid Tennessee State University, with a personal best 1.92m, and Rachel Glen of South Carolina, 1.86m.

Former Mount Alvernia High sprinter Kemba Nelson and 400m runner Charokee Young, a Hydel past student, had second-place finishes in their events.

Competing at home for the University of Oregon, the diminutive Nelson ran a blinder to finish a close second in the women’s 100m in 11.02 , the same time awarded to winner Julien Alfred of the University of of Texas, Austin. The St Lucian, who had a stint in Jamaica representing St Catherine High, was the overwhelming favourite going into the final, after being unbeaten in the event all season. Despite an excellent start, she had to stave off the fast-finishing Nelson, as it took the photo finish camera to separate them. Abby Steiner of the University of Kentucky was third in 11.08. Alfred’s teammate, Jamaican Kevona Davis, ended seventh in 11.22.

Davis had a better result in the 200m as she took fifth in 22.50 seconds. Steiner raced to victory in 21.80, a personal best, college lead, college and championship record and world leading time.

Young, representing Texas A&M University, clocked 50.65 seconds to finish behind indoor champion Talitha Diggs of the University of Florida, who won in a personal best 49.99. Former St Elizabeth Technical standout, Stacy Ann Williams of the University of Texas, Austin, ended fifth in 51.50.

Former Vere Technical sprint hurdler, Demisha Roswell, was seventh in the 100m hurdles in 12.94 seconds. The Texas Technical University student, who has a season’s best of 12.44, never recovered from an average start, as Louisiana State University’s Allia Armstrong won in 12.57.

Following her eighth-place finish in the women’s long jump, former Edwin Allen High jumper Ackelia Smith, of the University of Texas, Austin improved in the triple jump finals with a fourth-place finish. Her best was 13.59 metres. Jasmine Moore of Florida State University won with a college leading 14.32m.