KINGSTON, Jamaica— Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent looks well set for a second NCAA indoor title after she ran a national record, world leading and college leading 7.72 seconds to win her preliminary round women’s 60m hurdles race on Friday’s opening day of the NCAA Indoor championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Nugent, the World Under-20 indoor record holder and former World Under-20 champion, broke the 25-year-old Jamaican record of 7.74 seconds set in 1998 by Michelle Freeman in France.

Her previous best was 7.81 from 2023 SEC Indoor and was the joint fifth fastest of all times with American Lolo Jones and is also a championships’ record.

Demisha Roswell of Texas Tech also qualified for the finals and was fourth fastest with a personal best 7.92 seconds.

World Championships finalist Akelia Smith took the silver medal in the women’s long jump with a lifetime best 6.88m, the same mark as third placed Claire Bryant of the University of Florida, but edged her on a better second jump.

Smith beat her previous best of 6.73m set in December.

Nia Robinson of the University of South Florida finished 13th with a best of 6.03m.

Marie Forbes of Clemson took sixth in the women’s weight throw with 22.63m to improve on her personal best and school record.

Meanwhile, Kiara Grant also of Clemson, advanced to the finals of the women’s 60m after having the eighth best time of 7.14 seconds.

Former St Catherine High runner, St Lucian Julien Alfred of the University of Texas, ran a lifetime best 6.96 seconds to lead the qualifying and passed Jamaica’s Merlene Ottey as the fastest Caribbean woman over the distance.

Kevona Davis also of Texas was 13th in the qualifying with 7.24 seconds and also ran 22.90 seconds for 12th best in the 200m qualifying.

-Paul A Reid