Former KC jumpers book spots at NCAA Division 1 meet

FORMER KINGSTON College jumpers Jaydon Hibbert and Wayne Pinnock will be two of 16 Jamaican men who will compete in individual events at the June 7-10 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division 1 Championships to be held in Austin, Texas.

Hibbert and Pinnock of the University of Arkansas were regional winners in their respective events two weeks ago and followed that up with victories at the West preliminary round meet in Sacramento, California, where five other Jamaicans from the region will join them.

Hibbert, the leading collegiate and World number one male triple jumper this season, won with a distance of 16.81m. He will be joined by teammate Carey McLeod, who was fifth with 15.88m.

Pinnock, the collegiate leader in the long jump, was the best in the event with a mark of 8.05m. McLeod also advanced after a fourth-place finish with 7.80m.

Former St Jago High thrower Roje Stona will be involved in two events at the championships. Stona, who also attends the University of Arkansas, was second in the discus with 65.54m and fifth in the shot put with 19.89m. Stona’s teammate, Ralford Mullings, will join him after a fourth-place finish in the discus with 61.74m.

Only two Jamaicans from the region will be involved in track events. Phillip Lemonious of the University of Arkansas and Demar Francis of Baylor University are through in the 110m hurdles and 200m, respectively. Lemonious was third best with 13.45 seconds while Francis was seventh best in the 200m in 20 57 seconds.

At the East preliminary round competition in Jacksonville, Florida, nine Jamaicans have advanced. Like in the West, field events athletes dominate and six are through .

Owayne Evans and Apalos Edwards have advanced in the triple jump. Competing for the University of Virginia, Owens was fourth with 16.25m, and Edwards of Louisiana State University’s was ninth with 15.83m.

Jordan Turner and Kevin Nedrick both ended sixth in their respective events. Competing for the University of Kentucky, Turner did 7.70m in the long jump while Nedrick of Liberty University had a throw of 57.23m in the discus. Romaine Beckford of the University of South Florida was seventh in the high jump after clearing 2.14 metres.

Navasky Anderson is one of three Jamaicans who will compete on the track. Anderson, a Mississippi State University student, was a third-place finisher in the 800m in one minute 49.43 seconds. Tarees Rhoden, representing Clemson University, will join him after finishing fourth overall in 1:49.70.

Jevaughn Powell will be the other Jamaican competing in a track event. The University of Florida athlete will contest the 400m after he was ninth overall in 46.68.