Photo: Chanice Porter representing Georgia University produced a new personal best and a new school record of 6.67m to secure the Women’s Long Jump at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships. (Getty Images)
The 2016 NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships, held in Eugene, Oregon from June 8-11 saw decent representation from the Jamaican athletes on show on days two and three respectively.
Best of all the Jamaicans on show was Chanice Porter representing Georgia University and formerly of Manchester High school who produced a new personal best and a new school record of 6.67m to secure the Women’s Long Jump Championship final.
She beat back the challenge of Alabama Quanah Burks who leapt 6.52m and Taliyah Brooks of Arkansas with 6.35m. Porter’s mark is 0.3m shy of the Olympic qualifying standard of 6.70m.
After an impressive 9.96 clocking in the heats, Former Munroe College and Edwin Allen athlete, Senoj- Jay Givans was beaten into third in the Men’s 100m in 10.25 seconds ( -2.3m/s).
The race was won by University of Arkansas Jarrion Lawson in 10.22 ahead of Tenessee Christian Coleman in 10.23 seconds.
Former Jamaica College and Great Britain athlete Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake JR who helped his LSU team to victory in the 4 x100m Championship title in the opening event on the night, appeared to have suffered an injury and jogged home in 12.05 seconds in that final.
Lawson returned to complete the triple with victory over 200m in 20.19 seconds (-0.2m/s). Colemam was once again runner up with 20.26 and third was Brendon Rodney of LIU Brooklyn in 20.39 seconds. Mitchell-Blake was unable to face the starter for that final.
Another former Jamaica College standout Fitzroy Dunkley representing Louisiana State University( LSU) took second spot in the Men’s 400m in 45.06 seconds behind winner Florida’s’ Arman Hall 44.82 seconds. Third was fellow LSU athlete Michael Cherry 45.11 seconds.
Dunkley rebounded with an Impressive 44.2 anchor leg to lead his LSU team to victory in 3:00.69 seconds in the championship 4x 400m final. Second went to Florida 3:01.12 seconds and Nebraska 3:03.39 seconds.
Former Wolmerian, Christoff Bryan secure second spot for Kansas State with a height of 2.22m. Randall Cunningham of University of South Carolina won with an mark of 2.25m.
In the Men’s Triple Jump finals, it was rough going for former Kingston college star and NCAA Indoor champion Cilve Pullen who finished way down in 23rd position with a less than impressive 15.01m. Latario Collie of Texas A&M secured victory with a jump of 16.97m.
On Saturday, for final day of competition the Jamaican ladies once again had much to celebrate competing for their respective schools.
The 2014 National Discus record of 61.34m setback in 2014, by one Kellion Knibb met its demise, as she propelled the implement out to 61.44m to snatch the silver medal in that event. The mark also was a new school record for her Florida State University and also an Olympic qualifying mark.
There was also great joy for Freshman and Kansas State athlete Shadae Lawrence who closed out a wonderful first collegiate year with a fourth place finish in the Women’s Discus final and also earned herself a new personal best and Olympic qualifying mark of 61.18m.
The event was won by champion Kelsey Card of Wisconsin with a mark of 63.52m. Third place went to Valarie Allman of Stanford University with a mark of 61.42m’
Quarter miler Chris-Ann Gordon was a creditable 5th place finisher in the Women’s 400m event in 51.72 seconds. The event went to teammate Courtney Okolo who won defended her 400 title in 50.36 seconds.
Gordon had some consolation after teaming up with Okolo and her other teammates to win the 4 ×400 championship final in 3:27.64 seconds.
Arkansas and University of Florida won the female and male titles respectively.
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