Jamaicans Ackera Nugent of the University of Arkansas and Robin Black of the Academy of Art were this week recognised by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as National Athletes of the week in their respective divisions.

Nugent was named the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 women’s athlete of the week, while Black was recognised as the NCAA Division 2 Men’s Athlete of the Week after performances last week.

Nugent, the NCAA Division 1 60m hurdles champion, ran a season’s best 12.52 seconds (0.2m/s) to win the 100m hurdles at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Invitational in Baton Rogue, beating the reigning NCAA outdoors champion Alia Armstrong of LSU who clocked 12.56.

Nugent, who was also named the Southeast Conference (SEC) Female Runner of the Week, is number two in the NCAA so far this season and third best in the world.

Black, a former St Elizabeth Technical athlete who qualified in three events in the NCAA Division 2 indoor championships, “stockpiled points and meet records this past weekend” at the PacWest Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Azusa, California, a release from USTFCCCA said.

Black was named the PacWest Most Outstanding Men’s Track Athlete of the Meet after scoring 28.5 points and breaking two meet records. He ran the 100m in 10.30 (1.1m/s) and the 400m hurdles in 50.72 to lower long-standing meet records.

He was a part of the 4x100m team that won their final and was in the finals of the 110m hurdles and 200m events.

Jaydon Hibbert and Roje Stona, both of the University of Arkansas, received SEC recognition. Hibbert, who won the men’s triple jump at the LSU Invite with a NCAA leading 17.17m, was named SEC Freshman of the Week. Stona, who threw 67.02m to win the discus throw, was named men’s field events athlete of the week.