Short for Name, Image, and Likeness, an “NIL” refers to the way college athletes can receive compensation. “Using” an athlete’s NIL would involve a brand leveraging their name, image, and/or likeness through marketing and/or promotional endeavors.
The NCAA officially made it legal for athletes to profit off of their NILs on July 1, 2021. Since this initial passing, states have begun to pass their own laws detailing the rules for athletes that attend colleges in their state. Universities have also begun to produce rules and programs for their student-athletes.
Hibbert, still only 18-years-old, is currently a finalist for the 2023 Bowerman Award after a spectacular freshman season for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
He won the SEC Indoor and Outdoor titles as well as the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor crowns. To take the SEC Outdoor title, Hibbert produced a personal best, world leading and world Under-20 record 17.87m.
Lloyd, an 18-year-old sprinter from Antigua, a sophomore, created a bit of school history while setting a personal best 7.15 to win the 60m dash in what was her first final and first medal at the indoor championships. Meanwhile, McLeod, 21, a junior, set a personal best and collegiate-leading 17.17m to win triple-jump gold.
Lloyd, who lowered her personal best twice leading up to the start of the championships last Thursday, lowered her time even further while winning the 60m dash on Saturday. The Antiguan powered through the field to snatch victory over Jayda Baylark of Arkansas, who also set a personal best time of 7.18.
Semira Killebrew of Florida was third in 7.21, also a season-best performance.
It is understandable that she was quite elated.
“It feels great to be an SEC 60m champion and a Vol right now,” said Lloyd, whose time was also a new national record.
“Throughout the season, I’ve been improving on my technique and reaction to the gun and there’s still more work to be done.”
Going into the final, her focus was on lowering her personal best of 7.20 set at the Tiger Claw Invitational in mid-February and which was Antigua’s previous national record.
“I didn’t have a specific time in mind to run for the 60 but my goals were to lower my PB and establish a new school record,” she said, explaining that the win was a singular one that will give her confidence for the remainder of the season.
“This win was special because I didn’t make it to the finals last year and I made it this time setting history as the First Lady Vol to win the 60m at the SECs. I’m confident that I will finish the indoor season strong at NCAA championships and make the Olympic standard this outdoor season.”
Meanwhile, McLeod, who won the silver medal in the long jump with a personal best of 8.25m on Friday night, followed up Saturday with his personal best jump to win the triple jump.
His 17.17m, was more than a half-metre better than second-place Christian Edwards of Alabama (16.64m) and Sean Dixon-Bodie of LSU 16.45m.
Hodge was first up, competing in the first heat alongside Caribbean counterpart Kishawna Niles from Barbados.
As expected, Hodge cruised to 11.45, the fastest time in the heats, to win ahead of Niles who will also be in the semifinals after running 11.63 in second.
Reid, Jamaica’s national junior 100m record holder, was up next in the third heat.
The former Hydel High standout, who represented her country in the Women’s 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics recently, ran a comfortable 11.46 to win her heat.
Dominican Republic’s Liranyi Alonso (11.77) and Puerto Rico’s Frances Colon (11.83) also booked spots in the semi-finals.
On the Men’s side, Jamaica’s Gary Card and Deandre Daley secured safe passage through to the semifinals.
Card, who has a personal and season’s best of 10.07 which he did to defeat Daley at the JAAA National Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston in June, eased to a time of 10.40 to win the fifth heat.
Daley, a 10.08 performer at his best, recovered from a stumble at the start of his race to cruise home in 10.37 to win heat six.
Bahamian Carlos Brown Jr (10.48) also made it through to the semis scheduled for later on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Jamaica’s quartet of Demarco Bennett, Nastassia Fletcher, Marcinho Rose and Alliah Baker advanced to the final of the Mixed 4x400m relay with a time of 3:24.77 to finish second in their heat behind Germany who won in 3:24.10.
In the field, Jamaica’s Shaiquan Dunn threw 19.53m to advance to the final of the Men’s shot put.
In the triple jump, Jamaica’s Chavez Penn barely booked a spot in the final, jumping 15.32m to take the twelfth and final spot, finishing just two centimeters ahead of Colombia’s Santiago Theran.
Trinidad & Tobago's Janae De Gannes produced 6.03m to advance to the final of the women's long jump.
The Anguilla-born Hughes, who currently trains under legendary coach Glen Mills at the Racers Track Club in Jamaica, recovered after being left at the start by Jamaica’s Akeem Blake and the USA’s Christian Coleman to obliterate his previous personal best of 9.91 done five years ago in Jamaica. Blake ran 9.93 for second while Coleman was third in 10.02.
Hughes, a former Class 1 100m record holder at the ISSA Boys & Girls Championships where he competed for Kingston College in 2014, broke the previous British record of 9.87, set by Jamaican-born Olympic and World Champion, Linford Christie, back in 1993.
In the Women’s equivalent, Aleia Hobbs was the only athlete to break 11 seconds, running 10.98 for victory.
Jamaica’s Briana Williams got her customary bullet start and was able to maintain her form and composure to run a season’s best equaling 11.04 in second while defending US champion, Melissa Jefferson, ran a season’s best 11.06 for third.
Jamaica’s Zandrion Barnes ran 45.05 to take the win in the Men’s 400m ahead of Matthew Boling (45.58) and Trevor Stewart (45.85).
The women’s equivalent was won by American 400m hurdles world record holder, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, in a personal best 49.51 ahead of teammate Gabby Thomas (50.29) and Jamaica’s Charokee Young (51.02).
2015 World Champion Danielle Williams was third in the 100m hurdles. In a race aided by a 2.8 m/s wind, American former world record holder, Kendra Harrison, ran 12.29 for victory finishing narrowly ahead of Alaysha Johnson (12.30) and Williams (12.33). Olympic bronze medallist, Megan Tapper, was fifth in 12.68.
18-year-old Surinamese phenom, Issam Assinga, ran 20.25 for second in the Men’s 200m behind World Champion, Noah Lyles, who ran 19.83 for the win. The USA’s Elijah Morrow ran 20.30 for third. With that time, Lyles has now tied double sprint world record holder, Usain Bolt, for the most sub-20 times in the 200m with 34.
In the field, Dominican Commonwealth Games silver medalist, Thea Lafond, produced 14.47m to win the Women’s triple jump ahead of the USA’s Kenturah Orji (14.30m) and Canada’s Caroline Erhardt (13.80m).
Traves Smikle threw 65.36m to take the discus crown ahead of Samoa’s Alex Rose (64.63m) and Jamaica’s Kai Chang (63.17m).
2019 World Championship silver medalist, Danniel Thomas-Dodd, threw 19.38m for second in the Women’s shot put behind American world leader Maggie Ewen (19.68m). Chase Ealey threw 19.25m for third.
Jamaica’s Kimberly Williamson cleared 1.83m for second in the Women’s high jump behind the USA’s Vashti Cunningham (1.95m). Jelena Rowe cleared 1.79m for third.
Hydel produced a sizzling 44.96 to win heat 14 and advance fastest ahead of heat 17 winners Bullis School (46.05) and heat six winners, Edwin Allen (46.64).
Nassau’s St. Augustine’s finished second in heat 17 in 46.80 to advance while St. Jago ran the same time to win heat five. Wolmer’s Girls advanced eighth fastest with 47.35 to finish second in heat 15, won by McDonough School (46.95).
The field is completed by Heritage (47.23) and South County (47.37).
The race is set for Saturday.
The qualifiers for the High School Girls International final, also set for Saturday, are Jamaica’s St. Catherine High (47.53), Holmwood Technical (47.61), St. Mary High (47.78), Manchester High (47.82), Excelsior High (48.00), Mount Alvernia (48.83) and Holy Childhood (49.00) as well as the Bahamas’ Queens College (48.32) and Puerto Rico’s Academia Interamericana (48.76).
Edwin Allen will be the Caribbean’s lone representative in the High School Girls Championship of America 4x800m final after running 9:17.28 to win their heat.
In the field, Jamaica secured the top three spots in the High School Girls discus. Holmwood’s Cedricka Williams took first with 57.32m ahead of St. Jago’s Abigail Martin (54.54m) and Camperdown’s Britannie Johnson (47.33).
Camperdown’s Britannia Johnson, twin sister of Britannie, took the shot put in 14.04m. Livingston’s Jessica Oji was second with 13.86m while Edwin Allen’s Rochele Solomon was third with 13.57m.
Mount Alvernia’s Aaliyah Foster jumped 5.78m for third in the long jump behind James River’s Lilly Ver Beek (5.92m) and Friend’s Central’s Avery Lewis (6.21m).
St. Jago’s Jade-Ann Dawkins produced 13.02m for victory in the triple jump ahead of Ocean City’s Sophia Curtis (12.45m) and Western Branch’s Llyric Driscoll (12.38m).
Three girls cleared 1.70m in the high jump with Howell’s Samantha Strydesky winning ahead of Shanniqua Williams of Wolmer’s Girls and Edwin Allen’s Deijanae Bruce.
First, Jamaica’s quartet Breana Brown, Jody-Ann Daley, Rosalee Gallimore and Rhianna Lewis comfortably won the Under-17 Girls section in 3:43.43. More than seven seconds behind in second were Barbados (3:50.94) while the Bahamas were third in 3:51.60.
The team of Demarco Bennett, Nickecoy Bramwell, Deandre Gayle, Kenrick Sharpe combined to run 3:19.04 to win the Under-17 Boys section ahead of the Bahamas (3:20.47) and Trinidad & Tobago (3:23.74).
Tonyan Beckford, Rickiann Russell, Kacian Powell, Abigail Campbell combined to absolutely dominate the Under-20 Girls section in 3:33.35. Trinidad & Tobago finished a distant second in 3:44.19 while the Bahamas were third in 3:47.68.
Jasauna Dennis, Roshawn Clarke, Delano Kennedy and Malique Smith-Band combined to run 3:07.68 for victory in the Under-20 Boys section ahead of Trinidad & Tobago (3:09.97) and Grenada (3:10.59).
Individually, Trinidad & Tobago’s Tafari Waldron took gold in the Under-20 Boys 5000m in 15:33.38 ahead of Bermuda’s Kahzi Sealey (15:37.56) and Jake Brislane (15.45.84).
In the field, Jamaican World Under-20 record holder Jaydon Hibbert jumped 16.11m to retain his Under-20 triple jump title ahead of the Bahamas’ Laquan Ellis (14.92m) and Guyana’s Trevon Hamer (14.89m).
Under-20 400m hurdles winner, Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke, who became only the second man to run under 50 seconds at CARIFTA, was named the Austin Sealy Award winner as the meet’s most outstanding athlete.
Ricketts produced a season’s best 14.89m to finish second behind Venezuelan world record holder Yulimar Rojas who produced a world leading 15.47 to win her third world title. Tori Franklin of the USA jumped 14.72m for bronze.
Ricketts, who had a slow start to the season because a knee injury that hampered her preparation, managed to get it together in time to produce her best performance when it mattered most.
She produced jumps of 14.89m, 14.86m, 14.37m, 14.40m, 14.62m and 14.80m for one of her best series of her career.
On the track, Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards advanced to the semi-finals of the 200m after running 20.35 to win heat 2. Richards won bronze at the 2017 London World Championships and won 400m gold at the World Indoor Championships earlier this season.
Mixed Relay gold medallist for the Dominican Republic Alexander Ogando was one of the most impressive qualifiers to the semis, easing down to a national record-equalling 20.01 to win heat 4.
100m semi-finalist and 2011 world champion Yohan Blake ran 20.35 to finish fourth in heat 5 and advance as one of the non-automatic qualifiers.
Finally, Rasheed Dwyer ran a season’s best 20.29 to finish second in the seventh and final heat to progress to the next round.
For the women, the usual suspects all booked their spots in the semi-finals.
Shericka Jackson, who became the third fastest woman in history with a personal best 21.55 to win at the Jamaican Championships in June, was impressive to easily win heat 1 in 22.33.
Heat 2 saw 100m bronze medallist and double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah cruise to 22.41 to finish second behind Namibia’s Beatrice Maslingi (22.27). Antigua’s Joella Lloyd ran 22.99 to finish fourth and advance as a fastest loser.
100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was also in cruise control in heat 3 running 22.26 for second behind Niger’s Aminatou Seyni who ran a national record 21.98.
Bahamian Tynia Gaither rebounded from the disappointment of being disqualified from her 100m semi-final on Sunday to finish third in heat 4 in 22.61 to advance.
Young added to her gold medal in the U-17 Girls shot put on Saturday with gold in the discus throw on Monday.
Young’s winning distance was 36.80m. Bahamian Terrell McCoy, who took bronze in the shot put, finished one better this time around with 36.09m while Martinique’s Lea Retardato-Samot threw 35.73m for bronze.
Elsewhere, Jamaica’s Jaeda Robinson produced two record-breaking jumps on her way to gold in the U-17 Girls triple jump.
Robinson first broke the record of 12.61m set all the way back in 2009 by Rochelle Farqharson with a 12.66m effort with her very first attempt.
Her second attempt then saw her set another record with 12.69m, which ended up being her best jump of the evening.
Guadeloupe’s Tessa Clamy jumped 12.09m for second while Robinson’s teammate Zavien Bernard was third with 11.63m.
Powell, who took third in the 400m at both the NCAA Championships and Jamaican National Championships in June, completed his final preparation for Paris with a 20.21 clocking for second in the 200m on Friday.
American Erriyon Knighton ran 19.92 to win while another American, Robert Gregory, ran 20.33 in third.
Bertrand, fresh off her second national 100m title in June, ran 11.18 for third behind American Candice Hill and Nigerian Favour Ofili. Hill and Ofili both ran the same time of 11.07.
The upcoming Olympic Games in Paris will be the first for the 21-year-old Ohio State Junior.
Bertrand's countrywoman, Tyra Gittens, was second in the long jump with a best mark of 6.37m in the sixth and final round. The event was won by American Tionna Tobias with a massive personal best of 6.94m while countrywoman Jasmine Todd was third with 6.17m.
Bahamian Charisma Taylor, who will be competing in the 100m hurdles in Paris, finished third in the triple jump on Friday with 13.63m.
American’s Kenturah Orji and Jasmine Moore finished first and second with 14.08m and 14.06m, respectively.
Jamaica’s Skyler Franklin ran 51.01 for third in the women’s 400m behind Americans Aaliyah Butler (50.14) and Bailey Lear (50.51).
James, who finished second behind Hill at the Jamaican National Junior Championships in June in 13.13, sped to a new personal best 13.04 to win heat five and advance at the fastest qualifier.
Hill, who ran a spectacular 12.98 to win that Jamaican junior title, ran a comfortable 13.30 to win heat one and progress.
In the 200m, favourite Brianna Lyston of Jamaica cruised to 23.56 to win heat two and comfortably advance.
Lyston’s teammate Alana Reid is also safely through after running 23.47 to win heat three.
The Dominican Republic’s Lirangi Alonzo Tejada ran a personal best 23.76 for second in heat four to also progress.
Heat six saw Cuba’s Yarima Garcia run a personal best 23.46 to win and advance.
In the 800m, Jamaica’s J’Voughnn Blake successfully advanced to the semi-finals after a 1:48.97 effort to finish fourth in heat six.
In the field, Bahamian Keyshawn Strachan threw 78.87m to lead all qualifiers to the final of the Men’s javelin.
Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert jumped out to 16.37m to advance to the final of the Men’s triple jump.
The 17-year-old Hibbert, who is headed to the University of Arkansas in the Fall, produced a winning jump of 17.27m to improve upon the silver medal he won in Nairobi, Kenya in 2021.
He broke the record of 17.15m set in 2018 by Cuba’s Jordan Diaz Fortun. It also moved the Jamaican to number two all-time at the U20 level behind Fortun’s 17.41m and was only two centimetres shy of fellow Jamaican’s James Beckford national U20 record of 17.29m set in 1994.
India’s Selva P. Thirumaran copped the silver medal with his best jump of 16.15m while Estonia’s Viktor Morozov leapt out to 16.13m to claim the bronze medal.
Hibbert would have also won the competition with his second jump of 16.82m.
Jamaica also claimed gold in the high jump as Brandon Pottinger cleared 2.14m to win the high jump over Brian Raats of South Africa and Bulgaria's Bozhidar Saraboyukov, who each cleared 2.10m.
Meanwhile, Roshawn Clarke was denied a possible gold medal in the 400m hurdles but finished third.
Battling down the home stretch with eventual winner Ismail Nezir of Turkey, Clarke hit the ninth hurdle and lost his momentum as Nezir surged past him on his way to victory in a national U20 record of 48.84.
Clarke’s mishap also allowed Matic Ian Gucek to get by him to claim silver in 48.91, also a national U20 record. The Jamaican finished in 49.62.
At the end of competition on Friday, Jamaica have won 12 medals – five gold, four silver and three bronze. Only the USA, with 13 medals (five gold, four silver and four bronze), has more.
The world U20 record-holder continued to impress with a jump of 17.01m (+3.4) in the third round, showcasing his consistency and form. Competing for the first time since the Budapest World Championships in 2023, Hibbert opted to forego the fourth and fifth rounds, having achieved his desired performance.
Hibbert topped the field ahead of Bermuda's Jah-Nhai Perinchief, who reached 17.13m, and fellow Jamaican Jordan Scott, who secured third place with a jump of 17.05m.
Reflecting on his strategy and performance, Hibbert expressed satisfaction with his approach, stating, "I wanted to ease back into the jumps, so I started with an eight-step run-up today to reinforce muscle memory. I've been aiming for this personal record, especially after my last eight-step jump indoors at 16.7m last year. Now, I'm excited and looking forward to the rest of the season."
Fans can anticipate seeing Hibbert in action next at the highly anticipated Jamaica Invitational on May 11 and the Racers Grand Prix on June 1, where he aims to continue his impressive form.
The half-metre enhancement in his standing triple jump could be a foreshadowing of greater achievements for the Jamaican athlete in this crucial Olympic year. With his world-leading and personal best mark standing at 17.87m, the question looms whether this remarkable training feat could indicate a trend toward surpassing his own records and possibly Johnathan Edwards' world record of 18.29m.
The year 2023 marked a milestone for Hibbert, securing NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles with record-breaking jumps of 17.54m and 17.87m, respectively—both ratified as World U20 records. Despite these triumphs, his World Athletics Championships campaign in Budapest was marred by a hamstring injury during the final, cutting his participation short after an impressive preliminary round performance.
Capping off an outstanding year, Hibbert clinched the prestigious Bowerman Award in December, becoming the first Jamaican and the youngest collegiate athlete ever to receive this accolade.
While the Jamaican athlete's recent training feat raises expectations for the upcoming season, Coach Travis Geopfert remains cautious about making predictions. Geopfert acknowledged Hibbert's improvement, stating, “It's almost, I think exactly half-a-metre farther... I think it's a direct correlation to his power more than anything else."
Geopfert emphasized Hibbert's commitment to strength training, noting a substantial increase in his performance, revealing that the Razorback sophomore has added 30lbs to his power clean. However, he remained guarded about predicting specific improvements in Hibbert's full jump, stating, "As far as how it equates to the full jump, it's all relative. Being stronger with the same body weight as last year and he's faster, those are two those are two positive things (but) to give you an exact indicator of how much farther you can jump, that, I don't know.”
The coach hinted at the possibility of surpassing last season's 17.87m personal best but underscored the team's strategic approach to Hibbert's training this year. "He's in better shape than last year, but we're also taking things a little bit slower, putting a little bit more emphasis on strength a little bit longer into the season because last year ended late. So we gave him a rest and started a little bit later this year."
As Jaydon Hibbert prepares for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, the athletics world eagerly anticipates whether this training benchmark is a precursor to more record-breaking feats in the triple jump arena.
The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games is witnessing the continued growth and development of the field sports which augurs very well for the future.
JOA President, Christopher Samuda, in acknowledging the advancement of the field sports stated: "Shanieka Ricketts' admirable performance in accomplishing that gold in the triple jump - her first major title - and in so doing writing her name indelibly in the history book of the Commonwealth Games demonstrates that our footprints go deep and are well established in the sand."
Travis Smikle, a seasoned campaigner, hurled the discus in Birmingham in securing the bronze medal in the men's event which is well decorated with Fedrick Dacres, our national record holder and former Olympic Solidarity Scholarship recipient, and Chad Wright. O'Dayne Richards, a JOA Scholarship awardee who placed sixth in the finals of the men's shot put in Birmingham, is an experienced soldier with gold medals in his cabinet.
"We are proud of our women and men in the field events who continue to be an inspiration to generations of youth who aspire to emulate them and who the JOA salute with the greatest of respect" JOA Secretary General/CEO, Ryan Foster, said with evident pride.
The golden leap of Lamara Distin in the women's high jump and the bronze achievement of Kimberly Williamson in that event are crowning moments for independence. "At a time when we are celebrating independence it is uplifting to know that landmark achievements in various sports are being established as we, in the JOA, pursue our mandate 'sport for all, all for sport" Foster said.
Kimberly Williams, a celebrated medalist, and a Ackelia Smith, who leapt to a personal best at the games, both represented our nation well in the finals of the triple jump and "exemplify the character and mettle of our national ambassadors who are establishing milestones and creating legacies in sport" Samuda remarked.
Hibbert uncorked a personal best and world junior leading mark of 16.66m to win gold ahead of the Jamaica College pair of Rajaun Ricketts (15.06m) and Stafon Roach (14.92m).
The 2021 silver medalist at the World Junior Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, erased former O'Brien Wasome’s Class I record of 16.39 done in 2016.
On the track, Edwin Allen, St. Catherine High, Dinthill Technical, Alphansus Davis High, Holmwood Technical, The Queen’s School, Maggotty High and Excelsior all advanced to the final of the Girls 1600m Sprint Medley.
STETHS, Jamaica College, Kingston College, Calabar, Vere Technical, William Knibb, Excelsior and Petersfield advanced to the Boys 1600m Sprint Medley final.
Holmwood Technical, Hydel, Excelsior, St. Jago, Edwin Allen, St. Mary High, St. Catherine High and Manchester High will contest the final of the Girls 4x400m Relay.
Jamaica College, Calabar, St. Jago, Edwin Allen, Kingston College, Excelsior, STETHS and Manchester High all advanced to the final of the Boys 4x400m Relay.
Coach Kerrylee Ricketts, the guiding force behind Shanieka’s journey, reflected on the meticulous preparation and decades of experience that culminated in this historic achievement. “Both of us are really happy, elated to be on the podium, first Olympic medal. We are so happy and over the moon,” he expressed, capturing the joy and fulfillment of their shared success.
Like all elite coaches, Kerrylee’s coaching philosophy centres on peaking at the right moment. “In terms of getting her ready, the programme is always written for her to peak at major championships. For the most part, we target whichever major championship, so we train through most of our competitions,” he explained.
With 20 years of coaching experience, Kerrylee has honed his craft through trial and error, learning valuable lessons along the way. “This year is my 20th anniversary of coaching jumps, and I have had time to practice, to get things right. I’ve made mistakes and learned from them both at the senior and junior levels," he recalled. "I’ve coached at St Elizabeth Technical High School, which is where I am back at the moment, having returned from England after living there for more than a decade.”
His foundational years at the high school level, particularly at St Elizabeth Technical High School and Manchester High School, provided him with the insights needed to succeed. “One of the things I learned at the high school level was to get it right for Champs. Champs is basically the level where I first got it right, got the knowledge and understanding of how to get it right when I want to get it right for the athletes.”
Transitioning to coaching professionals, Kerrylee applied his tried-and-tested methods to Shanieka’s training regimen. “When I started coaching pros with Shanieka, I basically had a programme structure already in place, a formula of how to get this done", he said. "And I have learned along the way as well even with Shanieka because sometimes it hasn’t been perfect all the way, but what I have learned is how and when to tweak the programme or when to prepare her to get her best at these major championships.”
Despite facing less-than-ideal weather conditions in Paris, Kerrylee maintained focus on their goal. “This year was no different. We were targeting her to get a season-best, a personal best, or whichever came at the Olympics. Sadly, the weather wasn’t conducive. We are grateful for the silver medal. It was our first Olympic medal, Jamaica’s first female field events medal as well, so we appreciate the fact that we did that and that she contributed to the overall medal tally for Jamaica.”
The emotional victory brought tears to both Shanieka and Kerrylee, who have been married for the past eight years. “Shanieka is happy, she is elated. Both of us cried. A lot of people counted us out, but we never counted ourselves out because we knew what we were doing and what the plan was. Medals are never won in May but major championships are always in August or September, and that is when we peak,” he said.
Kerrylee highlighted their disciplined approach, focusing on their own performance rather than early-season results from competitors. “We never want to look at who is jumping big early. We stay in our zone and keep our eyes on the target," he said. "Last year (at the World Championships in Budapest), it wasn’t a good World Championships for us when she was fourth, even though she really had some good jumps. She had a season-best there, she had jumps that could have seen her on the podium, but she was giving up too much (distance) on the board.”
In Paris, despite facing a challenging negative breeze during the competition, Shanieka’s preparation paid off. “That was something we tried to fix (Saturday), but we had a lot of negative breeze in our faces, and that restricted us from getting some good jumps, but it was a good night. We are happy. We came here for a medal, and we got a medal, and we are grateful for that.”
LaFond produced 14.37m in the fifth round to win ahead of Jamaican two-time World Championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts (14.36m) and American Tori Franklin (13.87m).
LaFond made history in March when she became the first Dominican to win gold at a World Athletics Championships. She produced a national record 15.01m to take top spot at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
Elsewhere on Saturday, reigning World 400m champion Marileidy Paulino remained unbeaten this season with 50.27 to win ahead of World 800m champion Mary Moraa (50.56) and American Alexis Holmes (50.73).
2011 World champion Kirani James was second in the men's equivalent in a season's best 44.85 behind American 2022 World champion Michael Norman Jr who won in 44.53. Vernon Norwood was third in 44.86.
World Championship finalist and world U-20 record holder Roshawn Clarke opened his season in the 400m hurdles with a respectable 48.11 to finish second behind American Rai Benjamin who ran a world leading 46.64. World Championship silver medallist Kyron McMaster was third in 48.51.
Andrenette Knight ran a season’s best 54.69 for second in the women’s equivalent behind American Anna Cockrell who ran a season’s best of her own with 53.75. Cassandra Tate was third in 55.02.
On Friday's day one, Jamaica's Roje Stona threw 66.93m to win the men's discus ahead of Chile's Claudio Romero (64.12m) and the USA's Brian Williams (63.36m).
It was heartbreak for the Caribbean which ended outside of the medals in a scintillating women’s triple jump competition that was worth savouring at the World Athletic Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Friday.
While Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas (15.08m) secured a fourth-consecutive World title ahead of Ukraine’s Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (15.00m) and Cuban Leyanis Perez Hernandez (14.96m), Jamaica's duo of Shaneika Ricketts and Kimberly Williams, as well as Dominican Thea Lafond, were left empty handed.
Ricketts (14.92m) and Lafond (14.90m), in particular, would have felt hard done, as their marks which were a season’s best and National Record, respectively, were not good enough on the day. Williams was seventh with a best jump of 14.38m.
There was an electrifying start to the event with the first four jumpers setting the tone for what was to come for the remainder of the event.
Ricketts opened at an initial season’s best 14.86m and Ukraine’s Bekh-Romanchuk, also opened at a season’s best 15.00m, while Cuba’s Perez Hernandez opened at 14.96m and Lafond rewriting Dominica’s National Record with a 14.71m leap to start.
That bettered the 14.62m Lafond achieved in qualifying.
As the competition progressed, the medal places continually switched hands with the women laying down marker after marker, with the Dominican and Jamaican going even further on their initial efforts.
However, it was Rojas, like a true champion that shook off a shaky start to her series to cut the sand at the winning mark on her very last attempt.
Texas A&M’s Distin, who has yet to lose indoors this season, jumped 1.97m to win ahead of teammate Bara Sajdokova who produced 1.87m while Georgia’s Elena Kulichenko jumped 1.84m for third.
Distin’s mark equals her own outdoor national record which she did on her way to winning gold at the NCAA Championships.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist has now achieved winning clearances this season of 1.90m at the Razorback Classic on January 27, 1.94m at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic on February 3 and 1.97m on Saturday.
Elsewhere, 2019 World Championships shot put silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.74m to comfortably win the event ahead of Hannah Hall who threw 16.71m and Ana da Silva who threw 16.60m for third.
Jamaicans also occupied the top two spots in the Men’s triple jump as Virginia’s Owayne Owens produced 16.59m for victory ahead of Kentucky’s Luke Brown who produced 16.43m. Ohio State’s Clarence Foote-Talley was third with 15.88m.
Lyston, who earlier this season claimed both the SEC and NCAA Indoor 60m titles, produced her first sub-11 time to finish in a close second behind Favour Ofili of Tiger Olympians who won in 10.85.
McKenzie Long of Ole Miss was third in 10.89.
Interestingly, this was Lyston's first 100m race since the Class One final at the 2022 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships.
Elsewhere, LSU’s Jahiem Stern ran 13.43 for third in the men’s 110m hurdles behind the Texas A&M pair Jaqualon Scott (13.34) and Connor Schulman (13.42).
Mississippi State’s Tyrese Reid ran a personal best 1:45.76 for second in the men’s 800m won by Texas A&M’s Sam Whitmarsh in 1:44.46.
Marcus Dropik of Ole Miss ran 1:47.82 in third.
In the field, Kentucky’s Luke Brown produced 16.40m to take the win in the men’s triple jump ahead of Ole Miss’s Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley (15.25m) and Georgia’s Zavien Wolfe (14.84m).
