Long jumper McLeod registers 8.26m to take NCAA title

IN A major upset former Kingston College jumper (KC) Carey McLeod, representing the University of Arkansas, turned the tables on his teammate Wayne Pinnock, also a former KC jumper standout, to capture the long jump title at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday night in Austin, Texas.

McLeod registered a season’s best 8.26 metres on his first attempt to complete the collegiate double after winning the indoor title earlier in the year. Pinnock, the defending champion who had been unbeaten during the outdoor season, was second with 8.15m. Former Calabar High jumper Jordan Taylor of the University of Kentucky made it a sweep of the top three places by Jamaican athletes after finishing third with 8.13m.

Overall there were mixed results for Jamaican athletes on the opening day of competition where only male athletes competed. Former St Jago High thrower Roje Stona of the University of Arkansas could only manage 14th in the shot put final with 19.47m while former Petersfield High thrower Courtney Lawrence, now representing Kennesaw State University, was 15th 19.40m.

In semi-finals action on the track both Phillip Lemonious and Jevaughn Powell advanced to today’s finals of their events.

Lemonius, a former Jamaica College student now competing for the University of Arkansas, advanced to the final of the 110 metres hurdles with the fastest time. He clocked 13.28 seconds as the top six finishers in his heat posted personal best times.

Powell, the former Edwin Allen High quarter-miler now competing for the University of Florida, finished third in his 400m semi-final in 45.02 seconds to qualify seventh overall.

On today’s final day of competition for the males all eyes will be on 18 year-old Jaydon Hibbert of the University of Arkansas who will contest the triple jump final at 8:10 p.m. The former KC star will be looking to close out the double after winning the indoor title. He is the world leader in the event with 17.87m and could better James Beckford’s National Senior record of 17.92m. McLeod and former Cornwall College jumper Owayne Owens of the University of Virginia will also contest the event.

Other Jamaicans down to compete today are Romaine Beckford, Zaine Palomino , Stona and Ralford Mullings. High jumper Beckford of the University of South Florida will be hoping for the double after copping the indoor title earlier this year. The men’s high jump final starts at 7:30 p.m. He will be joined by Palomino who is representing the University of Southern Mississippi.

Stona will be hoping to make up for his disappointment in the shot put when he contests the discus final at 7:35 p.m. He will be joined by his teammate Ralford Mullings.