Lamara Distin (left) and Romaine Backford.
file
Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford of Arkansas Razorbacks successfully defended his high jump crown at the NCAA Indoor Championships when he soared to a personal best-equalling 2.27m in Boston, on Saturday.
Beckford, who won with a height of 2.24m last year while competing for University of South Florida, has enjoyed good form this season, and he once again displayed with the winning leap, which not only equalled the Collegiate leading mark, but also bettered the Facilities Record of 2.26m set by India’s Tejaswin Shankar last year.
However, the winning leap came on his third attempt after he earlier had a failure at 2.21m. The 21-year-old, who is the first Arkansas winner of the event since 1998, also made an attempt at the Olympic qualifying mark of 2.33m.
Caleb Snowden (2.24m) of University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Kansas University’s Devin Loudermilk (2.21m) were the runners-up.
Former St George’s College standout Zayne Palomino of Southern Miss University was joint fifth at 2.18m.
Meanwhile, another in-form Jamaican Lamara Distin of Texas A&M University was beaten in the women’s event, clearing 1.97m.
She was bettered by Arkansas’ Rachel Glenn, who won with 2.00m, equalling Distin’s college record and also erasing the meet record of 1.98m, which was set by Destinee Hooker of Texas in 2009.
Elena Kulichenko (1.91m) of University of Georgia was third. Another Jamaican in the lineup, Roschell Clayton of Villanova, equalled her personal best 1.88m to finish sixth in her first NCAA finals event.
Edwin Allen second in Champions of America girls’ 4x800m as Union Catholic sets National Record
Edwin Allen had to settle for second position in the Championships of America high school girls’ 4x800m, as they were soundly beaten by New Jersey-based favourites Union Catholic in the final on day two of the 128th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.
Not only did Union Catholic defend their title, but the team of Jimmiea King, Peyton Hollis, Sophia Thompson, and Paige Sheppard did so in emphatic fashion, clocking a National Record of 8:41.20. They lowered the previous mark of 8:43.12 set in 2008 by Roosevelt.
Edwin Allen’s quartet of Tanesia Gardiner, Monique Stewart, Kevongaye Fowler, and Rickeisha Simms, gave a credible effort in second at 8:50.76, while Virginia-based South Lakes (8:50.8), were third.
The other Jamaican schools, Holmwood Technical (8:58.94) and Alphansus Davis (9:13.83), placed fifth and ninth respectively.
Hydel wins third Championship of America 4x400m title in a row at Penn Relays
Hydel High successfully defended their Championship of America 4x400m title on day two of the 128th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.
The quartet of Alliah Baker, Jody-Ann Daley, Nastassia Fletcher and Abigail Campbell combined to run 3:34.78 to win ahead of Bullis School (3:35.17) and Union Catholic (3:41.75).
Hydel captain Alliah Baker reacted to her second gold medal of the meet.
“I am not shocked but I’m very excited. This is my last year and I’m very happy to finish my last year with two gold medals,” she said.
Hydel have now won this event three straight times and five times in the last six years.
Hydel successfully defends High School Girls Championships of America 4x100m title
Hydel High successfully defended their High School Girls Championships of America 4x100m relay title, as Jamaican schools swept the podium on day two of the 128th Penn Relays at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Friday.
The team comprising Shemonique Hazel, Alliah Baker, Shania Myers and Jody-Ann Daley, clocked 44.71s in victory, as they fended off the challenge of Edwin Allen’s quartet Trezeguet Taylor, Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, Renecia Edwards and Jounee Armstrong of Edwin Allen, who clocked 44.96s. St Jago's team of Briana Campbell, Adora Campbell, Bryana Davidson and Quanna Walker, placed third in 45.14s.
Hydel’s captain Baker beamed with delight at the feat.
“We came out here to win and we executed we always say that we are one team, we are here for each other and so we just came out and delivered. We were confident, so we just told each other to stay calm and trust God,” she said shortly after the race.
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