Hibbert among seven Jamaican winners in US

FORMER Kingston College (KC) athlete Jaydon Hibbert, a triple jump gold medallist at last year’s World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, continued his fine form indoors at the weekend.

Hibbert, who now attends the University of Arkansas, was one of seven Jamaican winners at NCAA Conference meets in the United States.

Competing at the South Eastern Conference/SEC/Championships in Fayetteville, Hibbert captured the men’s triple jump with a best of 17.10 metres. Former Jamaica College jumper Apolos Edwards, competing for Louisiana State University, was third with 16.84m.

Hibbert was pleased with his win.

“Honestly, I am really happy to have won. It is early in the season, and I am already going over 17 metres consistently, which is phenomenal. I used a shorter run up than I am used to, so that means there is more to come,” said Hibbert.

At the same meet, Wayne Pinnock and Carey McLeod, former teammates at KC, had top-three finishes in the men’s long jump for the University of Arkansas. Pinnock took second with 8.31m while McLeod finished third with 8.19m.

There were five wins by Jamaican athletes at the Atlantic Coast Conference in Kentucky. Kiara Grant, Ockera Myrie, Oneka Wilson, Owayne Owens, and Tarees Rhoden all won their events in the colours of Clemson University.

Grant, formerly of the Convent of Mercy Academy, took the women’s 60 metres in 7.19 seconds, the same time awarded to second-place finisher Dajaz Defrand of Florida State University. Grant later finished fifth in the 200m in 23.43 seconds, where former Petersfield High athlete Myrie won in 23.08 seconds.

Former Hydel High hurdler Oneka Wilson won the women’s 60m hurdles in 8.12 seconds.

Tarees Rhoden, another former KC athlete, romped to victory in the men’s 800m in one minute 46.61 seconds. Former Cornwall College jumper Owens captured the men’s triple jump. Competing for Virginia Technical University Owens won with 15.79m.

At the Big 12 meet in Lubbock, Texas there was a win for former Vere Technical sprint hurdler Demisha Roswell. Roswell, competing for Texas Technical University, won the women’s 60m hurdles in 8.04 seconds.

There was also double success for St Lucia’s Julien Alfred. Alfred, a former St Catherine High student, who is the fastest collegiate athlete in the 60m, won the short sprint in 6.97 seconds then returned to take the 200m in 22.26. Former Edwin Allen High sprinter Kevona Davis, representing the University of Texas, Austin, was fourth in 22.76.