Caribbean athletes had an excellent first two days at the South Eastern Conference (SEC) Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas on Thursday and Friday.
Thursday’s action saw LSU sophomore Jaiden Reid and Florida senior Wanya McCoy advance to the final of the men’s 200m with stellar performances.
The Bahamas’ McCoy ran a personal best 20.25 to advance as the second-fastest qualifier to Saturday’s final while Reid, a Cayman Islands native, produced a personal best of his own with 20.46 to advance fourth-fastest.
In the field on Thursday, Jamaican Oklahoma senior Nikaoli Williams produced 7.89m for second in the men’s long jump behind Georgia freshman Jayden Keys who won with a best jump of 7.92m. Texas A&M junior Khybah Dawson was third with the same distance as Williams.
Moving onto Friday where Reid also booked a spot in the final of the men’s 60m with a personal best of 6.58, the third-fastest time in the prelims.
The women’s equivalent saw defending SEC and NCAA champion Brianna Lyston run 7.17 in her heat to advance with the joint-fastest time.
Joining her in the final will be Bahamian Florida junior Anthaya Charlton who ran a personal best 7.24 to finish second in Lyston’s heat.
Jamaican Texas sophomore Carleta Bernard also made it to Saturday’s final with 7.32 to win her heat.
The Caribbean will also be represented in the men’s 400m final through South Carolina sophomore Jasauna Dennis who ran a personal best 46.32 to win his heat and advance.
Jamaican Georgia junior Dejanea Oakley won her heat in 52.20 to advance to the women’s final alongside Bahamian Tennessee junior Javonya Valcourt who ran 51.73 to also win her heat.
Jamaican Arkansas senior Rivaldo Marshall advanced to the final of the men’s 800m with 1:48.95 to win his heat.
Jamaican Arkansas junior Vashaun Vascianna had, perhaps, the most impressive performance on Friday with a personal best and facility record 7.52 to advance fastest to the final of the men’s 60m hurdles.
That time also makes Vascianna the fifth-fastest Jamaican in history in the event.
Joining him in the final will be his countryman, LSU junior Jaheim Stern, who was second in Vascianna’s heat in 7.62.
Photo courtesy of LSU Track & Field.