Commonwealth Games finalist Romaine Beckford was named the men’s field events athlete of the week for the American Athletic Conference after he set a University of South Florida indoors men’s high jump record of 2.21m last weekend.

Beckford was one of two Jamaicans named conference athletes of the week after former St Andrew High jumper Jo-Anna Pinnock of Colorado State got the nod in the Mountain West Conference.

Beckford, the former Buff Bay High jumper, won the men’s high jump at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational held by the Gainesville Sports Commission, the second-best performance so far in the indoor season.

Pinnock was named Women’s Freshman Athlete of the Week for the Mountain West Conference after she won the triple jump at the Potts Invitational with a mark of 12.08m, seventh best in the conference so far this season.

Meanwhile, former Rusea’s High jumper Nia Robinson opened her career at the University of South Florida with two podium finishes last weekend.

The former Carifta Games long jump silver medallist and Junior College All-American at Barton Community College was third in the high jump with 1.70m, tying for 10th all time at South Florida. She finished behind teammate and former Edwin Allen athlete Annia Ashley who cleared 1.75m.

Robinson was second in the triple jump with 12.13m, seventh all time on the South Florida list.

— Paul A Reid