Caribbean sprinters made a powerful statement in Thursday’s opening round of the women’s 100m at the NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville, Florida, as Leah Bertrand, Shenese Walker, and Joella Lloyd all secured top-ten qualifying spots to move on to Saturday’s quarterfinals.
The team of Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Brandy Hall and Tia Clayton were flawless in speeding to a new meet record 43.18, smashing their own 43.62 which they set in 2019.
Hydel (Alana Reid, Brianna Lyston, Kerrica Hill and Oneka Wilson) ran 43.69 for second while St. Jago (Makada Linton, Shenese Walker, Abigail Martin and Breanna Clarke) ran 46.09 for third.
Lyston and Hill then returned to help Hydel take the win in the Championship of America 4x400m alongside Alliah Baker and Onieka McAnuff.
The quartet ran a new record 3:32.77 to eclipse their own mark of 3:39.99 set back in 2017.
Edwin Allen with Amoya Jamieson, Tonyan Beckford, Kacian Powell and Natasha Fox were second in 3:39.76 while Bullis School from Maryland were third in 3:40.88.
Edwin Allen got their second win of the day in the Championship of America 4x800m with Rickeisha Simms, Leanna Lewis, Rushana Dwyer and Jessica McLean combining to run 8:54.58 for victory.
Cuthbertson High School from North Carolina was a distant second in 9:04.67 while Union Catholic Regional High School from New Jersey was third in 9:06.14.
The strength of Jamaica’s female sprinters was on display as five of the island’s top collegiate athletes—Brianna Lyston, Shenese Walker, Oneka Wilson, Neisha Burgher, and Dejeanea Oakley—secured spots in the finals of their respective events at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Virginia Beach.
Olympic champion Steven Gardiner and British Virgin Islands standout Djimon Gumbs were among the Caribbean athletes who secured impressive victories at the 2025 LSU Alumni Gold meet on Saturday in Baton Rouge.
Jamaican Florida State junior Shenese Walker and Trinidadian Ohio State senior Leah Bertrand both dipped below 11 seconds to advance through the quarterfinals of the 100m on Saturday’s fourth and final day of the NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville, Florida.
Palomino entered the competition with a first-time clearance of 2.05m before clearing 2.10m on his second attempt.
He then needed three attempts to clear 2.14m before eventually clearing 2.17m, his winning height, on his second attempt. Palomino then had three unsuccessful efforts to clear 2.20m, his personal best which he did to win at the Sun Belt Indoor Championships on February 20.
Corvell Todd and Jacob Patten both cleared 2.10m for second and third.
Barton County Community College sophomore Christopher Young was also a winner on Saturday, producing 18.57m for top spot in the men’s shot put.
Memphis sophomore Sascha Schmidt threw 18.43m in second while Southern Miss sophomore Piers Cameron threw 17.95m for third.
On the track, Florida State sophomore Shenese Walker won the women’s 200m in 23.20 ahead of teammate Kaniya Johnson (23.62) and Southern Miss senior Kenia Seals (23.65).
Lyston, a sophomore at Louisiana State University, marked her 20th birthday on Friday with a standout performance, winning her 100m heat in a swift 10.99 seconds. She continued her impressive form by qualifying for the 200m with a time of 22.82 in her heat, securing her place at the national championships.
Joining Lyston is fellow Jamaican Shenese Walker from Florida State University, who clocked a personal best of 11.09 to finish third in the same 100m heat.
Antigua's Joella Lloyd also shone brightly, advancing to the national championships by finishing third in her 100m heat with a time of 11.06. Lloyd's qualification highlights the growing presence of Caribbean athletes in top-tier collegiate track and field competitions.
Clemson University’s Oneka Wilson delivered a personal best of 12.79 to win her 100m hurdles heat, showcasing her exceptional hurdling skills and securing her spot in the national championships.
Additionally, Onieka McAnuff of the University of Kentucky set a lifetime best of 51.70 in the 400m to qualify for nationals, demonstrating remarkable endurance and speed.
In the field events, Roschell Clayton of Villanova cleared 1.84 meters in the high jump, earning her place at the nationals with a strong performance.
These athletes will now compete at the NCAA Division I Outdoor National Track and Field Championships, set to be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8, 2024. Their outstanding performances at the NCAA East Regionals highlight the Caribbean's rich track and field legacy and promise thrilling competition at the national championships.
Dejeana Oakley of Jamaica and Michelle Smith of the U.S. Virgin Islands delivered inspired performances on Saturday’s final day of the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, helping Georgia clinch their first-ever women’s team title. But while the two Caribbean standouts celebrated podium finishes and a historic team triumph, several of their regional compatriots endured a more bittersweet end to their collegiate seasons.
Clemson’s Oneka Wilson etched her name into Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history on Monday, becoming the first woman to win the 60m hurdles title three years in a row at the ACC Indoor Championships. Meanwhile, Florida State’s Shenese Walker delivered a stellar performance in the 60m dash, storming to victory in 7.21 seconds.
Fresh off a statement-making performance at the ACC Outdoor Championships, Florida State University’s Shenese Walker is no longer just a name to watch—she’s part of a new wave of Jamaican female sprinters poised to carry the nation’s legacy forward. But Walker isn’t just content to be one of many. She wants to lead the pack.
Florida State University sprinter Shenese Walker is still processing her triple-gold performance at the ACC Outdoor Championships this past weekend, where she claimed titles in the 100m, 200m, and as part of the 4x100m relay team. The 22-year-old Jamaican also walked away with the Championship MVP, capping a breakout weekend that further underscored her steady development during her collegiate career.
Florida State junior Shenese Walker was named Most Valuable Performer at the 2025 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships after storming to a brilliant sprint double on Saturday, claiming victory in both the 100m and 200m to headline a strong showing by Jamaican athletes.