Austin , Texas, USA — Most of the Jamaican men participating at the NCAA Division One Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas had a hard time in the afternoon sun on Wednesday’s day one of the four-day championships.

Waseem Williams of Purdue clocked 10.06secs to claim the last spot in today’s final of the 100m, while Odaine Lewis of Texas Tech advanced to the Long Jump final but could only manage 7.78m (+2.1) for ninth spot.

JuVaughn Harrison of Louisiana State University (LSU), who has Jamaican parents, won the long jump with a personal best of 8.20m.

Raheem Chambers of the University of Miami, who was a heavy favourite to at least make the final of the 100m, ran in the same semi-final as Williams, but his 10.19secs was not enough to get him a lane.

Andre Ewers of Florida State University (FSU), who has had a good season leading into the championships, found the going tough in the 200m semi-finals with his 20.43secs not being anywhere near good enough to make the final.

Chantz Sawyers of FSU and Sean Bailey of University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP) struggled in the 400m. Sawyers clocked 45.54secs, while Bailey clocked 45.78secs as they both failed to advance.

Damion Thomas of LSU failed to show for the 110m hurdles semi-finals which was won by Daniel Roberts of Kentucky in a new record time of 13.06secs.

Roje Stona of Clemson University will take on the challenge in the discus, while Jordan Scott of Virginia and Clayton Brown of FSU, will battle in the triple jump today.

The current format of the championships sees the men compete on day one and day three, while the women compete on day two and day four.

—Dwayne Richards