Levy bags four gold medals at National Junior College Athletic Association Champs

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

FORMER Vere Technical sprinter, Jura Levy, bagged four gold medals at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championships which ended on the campus of Hutchinson Community College in Kansas on Saturday.

Competing in her first year for South Plains Junior College, Levy, who was a member of Jamaica's team which won a silver medal in the sprint relay at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Bydgo-scyz, Poland, was in blazing form as she collected the sprint double.

With a strong wind pushing her on both occasions, she first took the 100 metres in 11.15 seconds with a positive wind-reading of 5.9 metres per second, then returned to take the 200 metres in 22.95 seconds with a positive wind reading of 3.4 metres per second. In the 100 metres, Levy's teammate, Shawna Anderson, formerly of Edwin Allen High, was fourth in 11.49.

impressive victory

Levy, who was also joined by Anderson in the 4x100m, took the team to an impressive victory in 44.80 seconds. New Mexico Junior College, with former Holmwood Technical athlete, Trudyann McLean in their line-up, were second in 46.13 seconds.

Levy closed the meet on a high when she teamed up with another former Edwin Allen High athlete, Shakeeri Cole, for another impressive win in the 4x400m in 3:38.61. New Mexico were again the runners-up in 3:46.12. Their team included former Holmwood Technical 400m runner Keno Heaven and McLean.

It was also a good meet for Cole in her final season for South Plains.

Cole, who will move to the University of Oklahoma in September, added an individual win following her two gold medals in the 4x400 and 4x800m. She clocked 2:08.50 for the win as Heaven had to settle for fourth in 2:14.81.

Following her win in the women's hammer throw on Thursday's opening day of the three-day meet, former Vere Technical thrower, Keneisha Throughsing, competing for Central Arizona, added another medal as she took the bronze in the javelin event with a throw of 41.53m.

Among the males, the only other Jamaican who finished among the medals was former Kingston College 400 metres hurdler Andre Peart. Competing for Barton County College, Peart had a second-place finish in his pet event in a moderate 53.07 seconds.