(from left) Romaine Beckford, Phillip Lemonious and Jaydon Hibbert
Such is the impressive form of triple jump sensation Jaydon Hibbert that he only required two attempts to win the event and end his freshman year of college undefeated.
In fact, it was on his very first jump that Hibbert cut the sand at the winning mark of 17.56m, in a negative 0.3 metres per second wind, on Friday's third and penultimate day of the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas.
Hibbert representing University of Arkansas followed that with another big leap of 17.38m, but later pulled out of his run up for a third and fourth attempts, as he suffered what appeared to be cramps or some discomfort in his right leg.
However, the damage was already done, as his initial mark which bettered the previous Facility Record of 17.13m and was just shy of the Meet Record of 17.57m, ensured that the former Kingston College stalwart added another accolade to his South-eastern Conference indoor and outdoor titles, as well as the NCAA indoor honours. The 18-year-old, also smashed a number of records, including the World Under-20 mark for indoor and outdoor, along the way.
Hibbert won ahead of University of Miami's Russell Robinson (16.94m) and Florida State senior, Jeremiah Davis (16.67m).
Owayne Owens (16.36m) of University of Virginia and Malik Cunningham (16.17m) of Villanova, were sixth and seventh, while Hibbert's Arkansas teammates Carey McLeod (15.99m), who won the long jump in a Jamaican sweep, and Ryan Brown (15.89m), finished 11th and 12th respectively. Apalos Edwards of Louisiana State, did not turn up.
On the track, Phillip Lemonious of Arkansas capped his college career in style with victory in the men’s 110m hurdles to claim his first individual national title and in the process became the first Arkansas athlete to win the event since 2006.
Lemonious, who clocked a personal best 13.28 seconds in qualifying, lowered that time when he stopped the clock in 13.24s, running in a positive 1.8m/s wind. He maintained his composure over the 10 obstacles from a good break in lane five, to stave off the late challenge of De'Vion Wilson (13.26s) of Houston and Jaheem Hayles (13.28s) of Syracuse.
Giano Roberts of Clemson was fifth in 13.31s.
It was sweet redemption for the 24-year-old Lemonious, who endured a rough patch last season.
"To be honest, I try so hard. Last year took a toll on me and coming back this year was also hard battling injuries, but I just had to trust my coach, who told me that this is my championship to win so I went out there and got it," Lemonious said shortly after the race.
University of South Florida junior, Romaine Beckford, also showed good form on the night to win the men’s high jump and successfully complete the double, adding this outdoor championship to his indoor title.
Beckford soared to a new personal best height of 2.27m on his way to victory, denying Oklahoma senior, Vernon Turner, who also cleared 2.27m, but had to settle for second on the count back. Roberto Vilches of Missouri was third with a season's best leap of 2.24m.
Former St George’s College student Zayne Palomino of Southern Mississippi finished down the pack after he only managed to clear 2.06m.
Elsewhere in the field, Roje Stona of the University of Arkansas, who placed 14th in the shot put, produced a stronger showing in the discus, placing second behind the vibrant Turner Washington of Arizona State.
Stona, launched the instrument to a big fourth round mark of 65.55m and seemed well on his way to the gold, before Washington snatched victory with his very last effort of 66.22m, a season’s best.
Former Petersfield standout Kevin Nedrick of Liberty University was fifth with a mark of 61.93m, while Stona's Arkansas teammate Ralford Mullings was 16th at 57.68m.
Meanwhile, Jevaughn Powell, finished seventh in the men’s 400m final in 45.32s, as his University of Florida teammates Emmanuel Bamidele and Ryan Willie both clocked personal best times of 44.24 and 44.25 in a close one-two finish. Emmanuel Bynum of Tennessee also clocked a personal best 44.49 for third.
Powell later joined forces with Bamidele, Jacory Patterson and Willie to clinch victory in the 4X400m relay, to retain the Men’s Team crown.
There were no signs of tired legs on display as all four athletes clocked blistering splits, with Powell on the third leg being clocked at 44.94s, passing to Willie, who closed in 44.28s to stop the clock in 2:57.74, a new Facility, Meet and Collegiate Record.
Arizona State (2:57.78) and UCLA (2:59.82) were second and third respectively.
The Mike Holloway-coached Gators tallied 57 points, four ahead of Arkansas, with Stanford (44 points) and Louisiana State University (43 points), placing third and fourth.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Jaydon Hibbert’s 17.66m ratified as World U20 triple jump record
World Athletics has officially ratified Jaydon Hibbert’s world U20 triple jump record of 17.66m, achieved on July 21, 2023, at the Herculis meet in Monaco. The Jamaican standout set the record at just 18 years old, surpassing his previous best of 17.54m set in Albuquerque earlier that year on March 11.
Notably, Hibbert's mark of 17.87m set at the SEC Championships in May 2023, was not the mark ratified by World Athletics.
Hibbert’s leap of 17.66m was one of three U20 world records recently ratified by World Athletics, alongside impressive marks in the women’s 5000m and javelin events. Medina Eisa of Ethiopia set the world U20 record in the 5000m with a time of 14:21.89 at the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 14, 2024, finishing second to Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet. Eisa’s time shattered the previous record of 14:30.88 held by Tirunesh Dibaba since 2004. Meanwhile, China’s Yan Ziyi set a world U20 javelin record of 64.41m, also on September 14, in Quzhou, improving on her earlier record of 64.28m from April.
Hibbert, a former youth star from Jamaica, has been steadily rising in the international athletics scene, with his performance in Monaco marking a breakthrough moment. His achievements have raised expectations for his potential as he continues to develop in the discipline.
Alongside these U20 achievements, World Athletics also ratified Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s world high jump record of 2.10m, achieved in Paris in July. The Ukrainian star surpassed one of the longest-standing records in the sport, set by Stefka Kostadinova in 1987. Mahuchikh’s historic jump of 2.10m was part of a spectacular season, as she went on to win Olympic gold in Paris in August.
Jaydon Hibbert undergoes surgery after battling through Olympics with torn meniscus
Jaydon Hibbert, one of the brightest young stars in track and field, has undergone minor surgery to repair a torn meniscus, an injury he sustained during the Jamaica National Championships. Despite the setback, Hibbert still managed to compete at the Paris Olympics, narrowly missing out on a medal while performing with the injury.
The torn meniscus occurred when Hibbert landed in an under-prepared pit during the Jamaica national championships, leading to an injury that required careful management in the lead-up to the Olympics. His coach, Travis Geopfert, who is now the Director of Track and Field and Cross Country at Kansas State University, expressed immense pride in Hibbert’s ability to battle through the pain and deliver a commendable performance in Paris.
"Yeah, we had to work through it, man. We had to modify things a little bit. I'm just really proud of him in his efforts, you know, because he was not 100 percent, but man, he battled. He put it out there. He tried, just off the medal, which is really good considering the circumstance," said Geopfert.
Hibbert's grit and determination were on full display despite being physically compromised, showcasing his potential as one of the sport's rising stars. Following the Olympics, Hibbert underwent surgery to clean up the meniscus, a procedure Geopfert described as "not major." The young jumper is expected to make a full recovery and will be "good to go" once rehabilitated.
Although Hibbert’s injury forced him to miss the recently concluded World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, Geopfert remains optimistic about his future.
Geopfert also praised his other jumpers who competed in Paris, including Wayne Pinnock, who won silver in the men’s long jump, Carey McLeod, who made the long jump final, and Romaine Beckford, a high jump finalist. Geopfert commended their perseverance in the face of adversity.
"I'm really proud of the group. Life is not perfect, and injuries are part of the sport. Managing the imperfections of the body is part of it too. What I'm most proud of is how these guys managed everything and fought through adversity. They competed extremely well at the Olympic Games," Geopfert said.
While Pinnock’s silver medal and the presence of multiple finalists were significant achievements, Geopfert emphasized that the high standards of the group always push them to aim higher. Despite injuries and other challenges, the coach was "nothing but proud" of how his athletes performed on the biggest stage in the sport.
Shashalee Forbes, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, and Orlando Bennett dominate at Palio Citta Meeting in Italy
Jamaican athletes Shashalee Forbes, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, and Orlando Bennett delivered standout performances, claiming victories in their respective events at the LX Palio Citta Della Quercia Meeting in Rovereto, Italy, on Tuesday.
Forbes, who was a semi-finalist in the 100m at the Paris Olympics, showcased her speed once again by winning the women’s 100m dash in 11.17 seconds. She edged out fellow Jamaican Natasha Morrison, who was a close second in 11.22 seconds. Morrison narrowly beat the USA’s Celera Barnes, who clocked 11.23 to take third place.
McPherson, a seasoned competitor nearing the end of her illustrious career, ran a season’s best of 50.65 seconds to triumph in the women’s 400m. In a thrilling race, McPherson held off a strong challenge from Barbados’ Olympic finalist Sada Williams, who finished just behind in 50.67. Another Caribbean athlete, Shafiqua Maloney, took third with a time of 50.75, completing an all-Caribbean podium. Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams finished fifth in 51.12.
Orlando Bennett emerged victorious in a closely contested men’s 110m hurdles, clocking 13.45 to narrowly beat the USA’s Cordell Tinch, who finished in 13.46. Roger Iribarne of Cuba rounded out the podium with a time of 13.54.
In other notable performances, Zandrian Barnes of Jamaica finished second in the men’s 400m, running a season’s best of 45.30. Brazil’s Mathesus Lima won the race in a time of 44.99, while Belgium’s Johnathan Sacoor took third in 45.33. Rusheen McDonald of Jamaica finished fourth in 45.62, while Wendell Miller of the Bahamas was sixth in 45.74.
In the field events, Jamaica's Romaine Beckford continued his strong post-Olympic form, finishing second in the high jump with a clearance of 2.26m. Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi took the win, clearing 2.29m. In the long jump, Jamaica's 2019 world champion Tajay Gayle also secured a second-place finish with a leap of 7.96m, just behind winner Anvar Anvarov, who jumped 7.99m. Gayle's compatriot Shawn-D Thompson also jumped 7.96m but finished third on countback.
The performances of the Jamaican athletes in Rovereto underscored their strength on the international stage, as they continue to make their mark late in the season.
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