Riley hurdles to NCAA gold

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Former Calabar High hurdler, Andrew Riley, produced the first Jamaican win at this staging of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division One Track and Field Championships, in Eugene, Oregon.

Riley created a major upset in the men's 110 metres hurdles final, by winning gold in a personal best of 13.45 seconds on Saturday's final day of competition.

A sophmore at the University of Illinois, Riley, the Big 10 champion, ran a strong race to pull off the biggest win so far in his career.

"I am very surprised that I won the event and I would like to give God thanks, along with my family and coach. I am just happy but I knew that I had the speed and I am very powerful out of the blocks," said Riley.

Louisiana State University's Nugent Barrett (13.49) took the silver, as defending champion Ronnie Ash of the University of Oklahoma, who won the title for Bethune Cookman University last year, finished third in 13.51.

Former Kingston College hurdler, Kieron Stewart, now representing University of Texas, finished a disappointing seventh in 13.97.

Women's 100 metres

In two other individual finals involving Jamaicans yesterday, Kimberly Laing finished seventh in the women's 100 metres hurdles and Samantha Henry eighth in the women's 200m.

Representing the University of Alabama, Laing clocked 13.20, while Louisiana State's Henry clocked 23.80.

Texas A and M University's head coach, Pat Henry, created history, becoming the first coach to register back-to-back double team victories. His women's team totalled 72 points, while the men's team earned 65 to successfully defend their respective team titles.