Davis, the Edwin Allen star sprinter, said she was confident she would have broken the 11-second barrier had she been able to go up against her similarly talented rival Ashanti Moore of Hydel High in the Class-One Girls (16-19) 100m finals.
Tongues began to wag from as early as March 2019 when Davis, the running in what has turned out to be her final year at Champs, won the Girls 14-16 years 100 metres in a personal best 11.16s.
Meanwhile, Moore also won impressively in the Girls 16-19 100m, in a personal best of 11.19.
Davis, who turned 18 late last year, would have matriculated to Moore’s class for the 2020 season setting up a potentially epic battle at Champs 2020.
Alas, it was not to be.
Speaking on Sportsnation Live on Nationwide Radio in Kingston on Saturday, May 2, a disappointed Davis said she believed the clash would have lived up to the hype.
“I think it would have been under 11 seconds. I think both of us would have gone under 11 seconds,” Davis said of the clash that was not to be.
“Both of us are great athletes. I was not doubting her and I don’t see why she would doubt me. The two of us, we train hard. I think that would have been a photo finish.
Davis said the disappointment of not having that race was compounded by the fact that this was perhaps the healthiest she had been since she suffered an injury in the 100m final at the 2017 World U18 Championships in Kenya.
Then 16, Davis won a bronze medal at the World U18 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya in 2017 but it came at a heavy price.
Late in the 100m final that she was heavily favoured to win, she suffered a hamstring injury that cost her the gold medal and more importantly, the integrity of a hamstring muscle. The injury, she said, was made worse by her decision to finish that race.
“It was probably about 15 or 20 metres from the (finish) line; it felt like when you burst an elastic band. I said to myself I am almost at the finish line so it doesn’t make any sense to stop now and I don’t get a medal,” she said.
“I was able to finish the race and when I went to the doctor he asked me why didn’t I stop? I asked him how could I stop when I was going so fast and I was almost at the finish line anyway. He said if you had stopped then the injury would have been less severe.”
The injury, she revealed, has been the bane of her existence since then but coming into the 2020 season, she benefitted from changes made to her programme and race schedule.
“We kind of changed the plan a bit from previous years so the same things don’t occur again. So, (Coach Michael Dyke) tried to limit the amount of races that I ran, I visited the doctor regularly for check-ups to see if everything is fine and I just did what I had to do to stay healthy.”
The 21-year-old had jumps of 6.74m and 6.61m in the first two rounds before jumping out to her massive new personal best and world leading jump in the third. She subsequently passed on her next three jumps.
Oklahoma’s Pippi Lotta Enok produced 6.65m for second while Kansas State’s Shalom Olotu jumped 6.41 for third.
On the track, St. Lucians had an excellent day. First, Kansas’s Michael Joseph ran a personal best 44.77 to advance fastest into the men’s 400m final. Texas’s Jonathan Jones also advanced to the final with 45.70.
Then, Texas’s 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Julien Alfred, produced 10.74, albeit with a 3.4m/s wind, to advance fastest to the women’s 100m final.
Texas also had the second and third fastest qualifiers to the women’s 100m final through Kevona Davis (10.93) and Ezinne Abba (10.93).
Bahamian Terrence Jones ran 10.35 to advance third fastest in the men’s equivalent.
The 100m hurdles saw Jamaican Texas Tech senior Demisha Roswell advance fastest with 12.92.
Roswell’s Bahamian Texas Tech teammate, Antoine Andrews, ran 13.57 to advance in the men’s 110m hurdles.
Nugent, a freshman at Baylor University, clocked 8.08s to turn the tables on Texas A&M’s Kaylah Robinson who had beat her in the preliminaries. She qualified for the finals with a then-season best 8.22 before running away from the field in the finals with the time that ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and Big 12.
"I thought Ackera was definitely the highlight," said head coach Todd Harbour. "That's the number two time in the nation right now, so that was outstanding for her."
Robinson clocked 8.26 while Naomi Taylor of Houston was third in 8.29.
Nugent’s winning time was within 0.01s or the meet record of 8.07 set by Kendell Williams in 2017. It also makes the former Excelsior High School standout, the third-fastest Jamaican junior behind Brittany Anderson (8.02) and Shermaine Williams (8.07). It was also tied for the fourth-fastest time in the world this year.
Nugent’s performance capped another weekend of standout performances from Jamaican athletes on the US Collegiate circuit as Damion Thomas was a convincing winner in the 60m hurdles at the Wooopig Classic in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The 2018 U20 world champion, a senior at Louisiana State University clocked 7.71 to blow away the field winning by 0.16 over Carl Elliott of Arkansas who clocked 7.87 for the silver medal. Tai Brown of the University of Kentucky ran 7.94 for third.
Meanwhile, in the 200m for women, Kevona Davis rebounded from her false start at the Corky Classic at Texas Tech, a week ago, to run 23.26 to win her section and finish second-place finish overall behind her Texas teammate Kynnedy Flannel, who won her section in 23.09.
Over at the Hokie Invitational in Virginia, Carey McLeod ram 6.78s for third in the 60m dash won by Sterling Warner of Louisville in 6.69s. Cole Beck of Virginia Tech was second in 6.71.
Alfred, the University of Texas senior, who dominated the NCAA Indoor season and was named USTFCCA Indoor Athlete of the Year, has taken her outstanding form outdoors, running 10.95 to win the blue-ribbon dash over Texas teammate Kevona Davis who edged Ashanti Moore by 0.004 to take second. Both women were credited with 11.14.
American Gabby Thomas, the Tokyo Olympics 200m bronze medallist demonstrated her strength in the 400m which she won in a personal best 49.68.
Lynna Irby-Jackson finished second in 50.40 while first-year pro Charokee Young was third in 50.64.
Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles silver medallist Shiann Salmon was fifth in 51.99.
Texas senior Johnathan Jones was third in the 400m clocking 46.50 while finishing behind Texas State’s Dominic Yancy who ran 46.39 and winner Brian Herron of Texas, who crossed the line in 46.14.
Wasome, meanwhile, was winning the triple jump with a jump of 16.80m.
Jeremiah Davies of Florida State University’s 16.01m gave him second while Jemuel Allen of the University of Texas at San Antonio jumped 15.50m for third.
Alfred, the Texas Longhorn senior who ran a NCAA record 22.01, the second fastest time ever indoors to win the NCAA Indoor Nationals last month, also established a new national record in the event that was contested over two heats.
Lenae Thomas also of Texas was second overall in a wind-aided 22.30 (+3.1m/s) that won the second heat.
MacKenzie Long of Ole Miss, second in Alfred’s heat, was third overall in 22.31. Kevona Davis, who was third in Alfred’s heat ran 22.47 for fifth overall.
In the Women Olympic Development 200m, World Championship 100m bronze medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah, running her first 200m of the season, finished in second place in her heat in 23.23, a time good enough for second overall.
Melissa Jefferson of the USA, who won Thompson-Herah’s heat, was the fastest with a time of 23.02.
Alfred, the 2023 NCAA Indoor 60m and 200m champion and record holder, ran the opening leg for the Longhorns before passing to Ezinne Abba who then passed to Lanae Thomas before Davis anchored the team to a time of 42.00, breaking the previous collegiate record 42.05 set by LSU in 2018.
Earlier in the day, Alfred, Davis and Thomas combined with Rhasidat Adeleke to set a new collegiate record 1:28.05 in the 4x200.
On Friday, Alfred was also a part of the quartet that set a collegiate record in the sprint medley.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist split 22.4 in the first 200m leg of the relay and combined with Rhasidat Adeleke, Kennedy Simon and Valery Tobias to run 3:36.10 and break the previous record 3:38.93 set at last year’s Texas relays by Texas A&M.
Individually, Jamaican Ashanti Moore ran 11.23 for second in the Women’s Invitational 100m behind Olympic 200m bronze medallist Gabby Thomas (11.09) while Lynna Irby-Jackson was third in 11.31.
Alfred, the St Lucian sophomore at the University of Texas, ran a wind-assisted 10.80 to win the 100m. The 20-year-old Alfred, who ran 10.81, the second fastest time in the world this year, in her preliminary round heat on Saturday, showed it was no fluke with another blazing performance, holding off teammate Kevona Davis of Jamaica, who clocked 10.83 for second place.
Rosemary Chukwuma of Texas Tech was third in 10.88 in the race aided by a wind of 2.4 m/s.
Texas' Kynnedy Flannel won the 200m in a meet record 22.23 over Davis, who ran a personal-best 22.26 for second place. Chukwuma was third in 22.34 while Alfred ran 22.64 for fourth place.
In what could be considered a mild upset, Roswell, a junior at Texas Tech ran a meet record of 12.44 to defeat Baylor sophomore Ackera Nugent (12.45) in a blanket finish. Third place went to Baylor senior, Alexis Duncan who crossed the finish line in 12.93.
Stacey-Ann Williams won the women’s 400m in 50.21 as Texas runners finished 1-2-3. Kennedy Simon was second in 50.68 with Rhasidat Adekele third in 50.70. Baylor’s Kavia Francis finished fourth in 51.15.
Jones, from Barbados, set a new meet record in the men’s event. The Barbadian, who is a junior at Texas clocked 44.43 to win in dominant fashion over Richard Kuykendoll of Oklahoma, who took the silver in 45.25. Not far behind in third was Willington Wright of Texas who clocked 45.34.
The girls all produced record runs as Edwin Allen scored 375.50 points to hold off a stern challenge from Hydel High (336.5) and St. Jago (325).
Holmwood Technical (273) and Vere Technical (124) rounded out the top-five girls' schools at the championships.
Davis was among several athletes who set meet records when she stormed to a convincing victory in the Girls’ 16-18 200m in 23.30 seconds.
She finished almost a second ahead of Holmwood Technical’s Kishawna Wallace who claimed the silver medal in 24.24s while Kayla Bonnick St Jago High was third in 24.36s.
In the Girls 15-16, Tina Clayton also secured an impressive win in 23.57s, well ahead of Shenese Walker of Hydel who crossed the line in 24.04 and Dejeana Oakley of Clarendon who was third but credited with the same time as Walker.
Quaycian Davis of St Jago also established a new championship record in the 400m when she won in 53.59s. Alliah Baker of Hydel took the silver medal in 53.65 while Anne-Lie Waite of Spaldings High won the bronze medal in 55.41.
A new championship record was also set in the Girls 15-16 400m when Oneika McAnnuff of Hydel High raced across the line in 53.40s. Holmwood Technical’s Rickiann Russell was second on 54.18 and Edwin Allen’s Kacian Powell was third in 55-flat.
Kavia Francis of Holmwood Technical was not able to establish a new record in the Girls 16-18 event but still won in impressive fashion taking the event in 53.38s. She was more than 0.5 clear of silver-medalist Garriel White of Hydel High who was timed in 54.04s with Daniella Deer of Holmwood winning the bronze in 54.08.
One of the most impressive performances of the day came from Tia Clayton, the other half of the Clayton twins, who was astonishingly quick in the Girls 15-16 100m, which she won in 11.29s.
The depth of the sprinting talent was on full display as Brandy Hall won the silver was also fast in claiming the silver medal in 11.38s. Shashieka Steele of Holmwood Technical was third in 11.50.
All three girls were quicker than those in the 16-18 100m that was won by St. Jago’s Kayla Bonnick in 11.60. Shakeira Bowra of St Catherine was the silver medallist in 11.62 while Vere Technical’s Atena Rayson was third in a pedestrian 11.79.
Edwin Allen’s 15-16 Girls unleashed a stunning display of speed in the 4x100m relay scorching the track on their way to a 43.80s clocking that shattered the record of 45.02 set by St. Jago High in 2019.
Hydel was a distant second in 45.25 with Holmwood securing their spot on the podium with a third-place finish in 45.42.
Meanwhile, St. Jago took the 16-18 Girls title in 45.50s over St. Jago 46.41 and Edwin Allen 46.51.
Hydel won the Girls 13-14 relay in 45.34. Hydel was second in 46.88 and Holmwood Technical third in 47.14.
Holmwood would get the chance to cover themselves with some glory when they won the 4x400m relay in 3:39.45. Edwin Allen (3:41.11) had to settle for the silver medal. St. Jago (3:44.23) was third.
The time also eclipses the 7.81 set by Kendra Harrison at Clemson on January 14.
The 2015 100m hurdles world champion gave a preview of what was to come when she cruised to a 7.86 clocking to win her heat earlier in the day.
Paula Salmon of North Carolina A&T ran a fast 7.83 for second place, tying Williams’ previous best which was also the second-fastest time in the world this year.
Masai Russell of Kentucky also went below eight seconds, crossing the finish line in 7.93.
Meanwhile, St Lucia’s sprint queen and Texas Longhorn Julien Alfred won the 60m dash in 7.26 ahead of North Carolina A&T’s Symone Darius who was a close second in 7.27. Alfred’s teammate Kevona Davis took the third podium spot in 7.35.
Jamaica’s Kevona Davis and St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred were both members of a University of Texas quartet who were victorious in both the 4x100 and 4x200m relays. The Longhorns ran 42.83 to win the 4x100m ahead of LSU (42.97) and Texas Tech (43.11) then returned to run 1:29.03 to be the overall winners of the 4x200m ahead of Star Athletic (1:30.55) and Hurdle Mechanics (1:30.65).
Two former Class One 800m champions at Jamaica’s ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships, Kimar Farquharson formerly of Calabar High and Chevonne Hall formerly of Edwin Allen, were members of a victorious South Plains College team in the Men’s 4x800m. South Plains ran 7:20.31 to win ahead of Texas A&M (7:24.03) and Arkansas (7:26.84).
Former Excelsior High star Ackera Nugent was in fine form for Baylor University, running 12.72 to finish third in the Women’s 100m Hurdles.
2021 Jamaica Olympian and former STETHS student Stacey Ann Williams helped Texas run 3:22.94 to win the Women’s 4x400m to close out the meet.
The three 100m medalists from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics all looked extremely easy to win their semi-finals in 22.54, 22.68 and 22.85, respectively.
Jackson, who secured the 100m title on Friday, looked especially easy, completely shutting down in the last 100m of the race.
Natalliah Whyte (23.05), Ashanti Moore (23.21), Kevona Davis (23.33), Jodean Williams (23.21) and Dominique Clarke (23.29) will join them in the final.
Meanwhile, 100m Champion Yohan Blake led all qualifiers to the Men’s final with a season’s best 20.20 to win his semi-final ahead of Andrew Hudson (20.23).
2020 Olympic finalist Rasheed Dwyer will also contest Sunday’s final after producing 20.35 to win his semi-final ahead of Nigel Ellis (20.45).
Mario Heslop (20.52), Riquan Graham (20.66), Jazeel Murphy (20.67) and Antonio Watson (20.74) complete the line-up for the final.
NCAA Championships silver medalist Charokee Young (50.19), 2020 Olympic finalist Candice McLeod (50.85), Stacey-Ann Williams (50.87) and 2013 World Championship bronze medalist Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.67) led all qualifiers to the Women’s 400m final.
The men were led by Jevaughn Powell (45.38), Anthony Cox (45.43), Nathon Allen (45.52) and Akeem Bloomfield (45.59).
The qualifiers for the Women’s sprint hurdles final were led by Britany Anderson (12.45), Megan Tapper (12.61), 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams (12.59) and Demisha Roswell (12.84).
Reigning Olympic Champion Hansle Parchment (13.24), Orlando Bennett (13.27), Rasheed Broadbell (13.29) and 2016 Olympic and 2017 World Champion Omar McLeod (13.36) led the qualifiers to the Men’s 110m hurdles final.
In the field, 2019 World Championship silver medalist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.79m to win her seventh national title ahead of Lloydricia Cameron (16.96m) and Danielle Sloley (15.98m).
Wayne Pinnock added to his NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles earlier this season with a personal best 8.14m to win the Men’s long jump ahead of defending World Champion Tajay Gayle (7.97m) and Shawn-D Thompson (7.88m).
The fastest of the three, Shericka Jackson, threw down the gauntlet to the 100m champion, the USA’s Shacarri Richardson, with a confident run to win her semi-final heat. Jackson ‘jogged’ to a time of 22.00 to leave the American 100m champion behind in 22.20. Marie Jose Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast who was third in 22.26 is also qualifier in a non-automatic spot.
However, the fastest overall heading into the final is the USA’s Gabby Thomas, who won the opening semi-final heat in 21.96. Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith also made it through to the final when she finished second in 22.28. However, it was the end of the campaign for Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte who was third in 22.52.
Alfred of St Lucia had to briefly turn on the jets after Great Britain’s Daryll Neita who got out well in lane eight. However, the NCAA champion surged ahead down the home straight to win the heat in 22.17 with Neita close behind in 22.21. Strachan was third in 22.30 to take her place in the final.
Both Kayla White of the USA and Kevona Davis were fourth and fifth, respectively, in 22.34 and miss out on the final.
The 23-year-old Jones, competing for the University of Texas, ran a personal best and Barbadian national record 1:45.83 to win the Men’s Invitational 800m ahead of Moad Zahavi of Texas Tech (1:46.02) and his Texas teammate Crayton Carrozza (1:46.89).
Maloney won the Women’s equivalent in 2:04.59 ahead of Brooke Jaworski of Texas (2:04.90) and Grand Canyon’s Kelly Moodry (2:05.64).
On Friday, Jamaica’s Charokee Young was a member of the Texas A&M quartet that ran 3:38.93 to win the Women’s Sprint Medley. Former Edwin Allen star Kevona Davis ran a leg for Texas who finished second in 3:38.95 while Texas Tech finished third in 3:45.71.
STETHS alumni and 2021 Olympian Stacey Ann Williams helped Texas advance to the Women’s 4x400m final as the second fastest qualifiers. Their time of 3:32.60 was only bettered by Arkansas with 3:31.87. The final is scheduled for Saturday.
Alfred, the St. Lucian national record holder in the event, won her semi-final in 10.90 to be the joint-fastest qualifier to the final. Nelson also dipped below 11 seconds, running 10.97 to win her semi-final.
Jamaica’s Davis finished third in her semi-final with a time of 11.11 to advance while the Antiguan Lloyd finished second in her semi with 11.08. Davis and Lloyd also advanced in the 200m with times of 22.38 and 22.66, respectively.
The Jamaican pair of Stacey Ann Williams of Texas and Charokee Young of Texas A&M will both be in the 400m final. Williams ran 50.18 to finish second in her semi-final while Young won hers in a time of 50.46.
Texas Tech’s Jamaican junior Demisha Roswell ran 12.93 to finish second in her semi-final of the 100m hurdles and progress.
Texas senior and Trinidad and Tobago Olympian Tyra Gittens jumped 6.57m for third in the long jump behind Florida’s Jasmine Moore (6.72m) and Texas A&M’s Deborah Acquah (6.60m).
Alfred was part of a Texas 1-2-3 as Kevona Davis and Ezinne Abba were second and third, respectively in 11.04s. Davis, however, was clocked at 11.031 to Abba’s 11.035.
Aldred copped a second gold medal when she teamed up with Davis, Abba, and Rhasidat Adekele to win the 4x100m relay in 41.89. The time was a new collegiate, Big 12 and Facility record.
Baylor was a distant second in 43.75. They just managed to hold off Oklahoma that finished third in 43.84.
Bahamian Terrence Jones finished second in the men’s equivalent in a time of 10.08, the same time as his Texas Tech teammate of Courtney Lindsay. Lindsay clocked 10.076 to Jones’ 10.080.
Marcellus Moore of Texas ran 10.17 for third place.
Jones would later anchor Texas Tech to victory in the men’s 4x100m in a new Big 12 and facility record 38.24. It was also the fastest time in the NCAA this season. Texas and Baylor ran 38.89 and 39.12 for second and third, respectively.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s Demisha Roswell, successfully defended her 100m hurdles title but was not nearly as fast as she was last season when she ran 12.44 to hold off a game Ackera Nugent who was then at Baylor University.
Roswell, who is in her final year at Texas Tech, clocked 13.02 to end her collegiate career as Big 12 champion. Kaylyn Hall of Iowa State finished the race in 13.17 for second place while Roswell’s teammate Naomi Krebbs clocked 13.33 for third place.
Roswell was also a member of the Texas Tech sprint relay team that finished fourth in 43.85.
Tina, who turns 16 in August, holds age-group records in the 100m for 13-year-old girls; 11.54, run into a headwind of -1.2m/s in Douglasville, Georgia on May 27, 2018. She also holds the 100m age-group record for 14-year-old girls, 11.27s, set at the National Stadium in Kingston on March 17, 2019.
Her sister Tia is not far behind with her personal best of 11.29s set in February 2020.
It borders on the extraordinary how close their personal bests are over 200m – 23.44 for Tia to 23.46 for Tina. The times were set in the same race, the Class-Three Girls 200m finals at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships in 2019.
The sisters were also among a quartet of Edwin Allen Girls that ran a super-fast 43.62s in the 4x100m relay at Central Champs at the GC Foster College in St. Catherine, in February.
Based on this evidence, there can be little doubt about the potential for these twins to go on to greater things. Even their now former schoolmate Kevona Davis, who knows a little about speed, is in awe.
“I personally think that they have a God-given talent and they are using it to the best of their ability and the sky is the limit for both of them,” said Davis, who will be off to the University of Texas on scholarship in the new school year.
“If they continue on the path they are on, be disciplined, work hard they will reap a lot of success.”
Davis, who boasts a personal best of 11.16, believes the twins may end up being even faster than she is.
“I honestly think that they can,” she said. “If they maintain their level of discipline and all that they have.”
At Champs 2019, Tina won the Class 3 100m in 11.27, while her sister took silver in 11.60, a relatively pedestrian time by their lofty standards.
In 2018, Tia won the Class 3 Girls 100m at Champs, while Tina was beaten over 200m by Gabrielle Matthew of Hydel High. Matthew clocked 23.60 to Clayton’s 23.76.
In her first year from high school, out of Jamaica, the Texas Longhorn clocked 23.47 to finish behind LSU’s Symone Mason and Florida’s Talitha Diggs who crossed the line first in a personal best of 22.94.
Also in action was St Lucian, Julien Alfred, who also competes for the Longhorns. Alfred finished in second place after competing in heat 6 where she crossed the line in 23.53. The event was won by Arkansas's Jada Baylark who took top spot in 23.49. Stacy-Ann Williams took third place in 23.66. Jamaica’s Kemba Wilson of Oregon was also listed to compete in the heat but did not face the starter.
The fastest time of the event was clocked by Texas’s Kynnedy Flannel, who took heat 10 in a personal best 22.73, finishing behind her was Alabama’s Tamara Clarke, who was second in 22.89, a season’s best.
In men’s action, Oregon’s Xavier Nairne, another Jamaican, clocked a personal best 21.14 to win heat 4 of the men’s 200m. Nairne finished ahead of teammate Jacoby Mcnamara and Texas’ Caleb Hulbin. Philip Lemonius of Arkansas also took top spot after claiming heat 1.
In the preliminary round, it was Nugent who grabbed the headlines, after storming to an impressive 7.91 seconds, well clear of Brissett who took second in 8.06.
In the final, however, it was Brissett who set the track on fire after finishing first in 7.89 for a new meet record. Nugent finished second in 7.98 with Texas’ Emelia Chatfield third in 8.05.
In the women’s 60m, another Jamaican Kevona Davis was narrowly edged out for the top spot after finishing just behind Texas teammate Kynnedy Flannel. Flannel clocked 7.25 for first place, Davis clocked the same time with the two separated by milliseconds. Monae Nichols was third in 7.46. In the women’s 200m the finishing order for the Texas teammates was the same, with Flannel taking top spot in 22.55 and Davis second in 22.87. Baylor University’s Aria Minor was third in 23.03.
At the SEC Indoor Championships, there was a top spot finish for Jamaica and LSU sprint hurdler Damion Thomas, who took top spot in 7.60, a new personal best. LSU teammate Eric Edwards JR was second in 7.67, with Arkansas Tre’Bien Gilbert third in 7.70.
Nugent, a Sophomore at Baylor clocked a fast 7.91, a facility record, to take the sprint hurdles title ahead of Texas Longhorn Milan Young (8.08). Nugent’s Jamaican compatriot Demisha Roswell, a Junior at Texas Tech claimed the bronze medal in 8.20.
Roswell’s Texas Tech freshman teammate, Vashaun Vascianna, won the men’s title in 7.75. The former St Jago and Kingston College hurdler won his preliminary round heat in 7.70 on Friday.
For the Texas Longhorns, Julien Alfred, Tyra Gittens and Stacey-Ann Williams were all on the podium during the two-day championships.
The Longhorns swept the 400m dash, with Kennedy Simon's diving effort of 51.54 seconds to win her first 400m conference title. Jamaica’s Stacey Ann Williams finished just behind in second at 51.60 seconds, while sophomore Rhasidat Adeleke completed the sweep in third with a time of 52.33.
Texas also enjoyed another sweep in the 200m where St Lucia’s star sprinter Julien Alfred took the title with a time of 22.89 seconds. Kynnedy Flannel was second in 23.02 seconds, while Jamaica’s Kevona Davis finished third in 23.30 seconds.
Alfred was a second-place finisher in the 60m dash, clocking 7.17 seconds, losing by 0.02 to Texas Tech Sophomore Rosemary Chukwuma. Flannel added a third-place finish at 7.30 while Davis added a fifth-place finish at 7.33 seconds.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Tyra Gittens won the silver in the high jump, clearing 1.84m. She was fourth in the long jump competition.
Meanwhile, Baylor’s Women that featured Jamaica’s Kavia Francis would take the 4x400m title in 3:32.77 ahead of Texas Tech (3:35.06) and Oklahoma State (3:36.22).
Oakley, who was the fastest qualifier from Thursday’s heats with 23.00, won comfortably on Saturday with a personal best 22.60, bettering her previous mark of 22.73 done at the Texas Invitational on April 26 this year.
TCU’s Iyana Gray was second in 22.81 while Texas’s Kenondra Davis was third in 22.82, just ahead of teammate Kevona Davis who ran 22.84 in fourth.
Kevon Davis went one better in the 100m with 11.32 to finish behind TCU’s Gray (11.24) and Texas Tech’s Rosemary Chukwuma (11.12).
Jamaican Baylor University senior Demar Francis was also a standout performer on Saturday.
First, he ran 45.44 to win the 400m title ahead of Oklahoma’s Richard Johnson (45.45) and Texas’s Logan Popelka (45.62) before returning to get third in the 200m final with a personal best 20.38.
Houston’s Shaun Maswanganyi won that race in 20.10 followed by Texas’s Nolton Shelvin (20.22).
Francis was also a part of Baylor’s 4x400m quartet who ran 3:03.49 to finish as runners-up to Texas Tech (3:03.09). Jamaican Shaemar Uter was a member of Texas Tech’s winning team.
Jamaican Houston senior Kelly-Ann Beckford ran 2:01.33 for second in the women’s 800m behind Oklahoma State’s Gabija Galvydyte (2:00.42). Texas’s Olivia Howell was third in 2:02.23.
The men’s 110m hurdles saw Bahamian Texas Tech sophomore Antoine Andrews run 13.63 for second behind Houston’s De’Vion Wilson who did 13.35 to take top spot. Texas Tech’s DeVontae Ford ran 13.67 in third.
In the field, Texas junior and Jamaican World Championship representative Ackelia Smith produced 13.92m to win the women’s triple jump ahead of Texas Tech’s Anne-Suzanna Fosther-Katta (13.62m) and Baylor’s Koi Johnson (13.44m).
Texas’s Trinidadian junior Kelsey Daniel produced 16.04m for silver in the men’s triple jump behind Oklahoma’s Brandon Green Jr who did 16.52m. Texas Tech’s Stacy Brown Jr jumped 15.78m for third.
At the end of proceedings, Texas were crowned champions of both the men’s and women’s categories.
Texas scored 134 points in the men’s section, 19 ahead of Texas Tech in second and 54 ahead of Iowa State in third.
The women were more dominant, securing 150 points compared to 98 from BYU and 96.5 from Texas Tech.
