FORMER Edwin Allen High School ISSA Champs gold medal winner Christopher Young threw a massive personal best of 18.70m to win the men’s weight throw on Saturday’s final day of the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) National Championships at Alachua County Sports & Events Center, Gainesville, Florida.

One day after he lost his shot put title to former Edwin Allen teammate Trevor Gunzell of Coffeyville Community College, Young of Barton County College improved on his previous best of 17.40m and broke into the Barton all-time top 10 and number seven all time.

After fouling his first two attempts Young, who finished 13th at last year’s indoor championships, threw 18.68m to take over the lead in the fourth round and then improved his best to 18.70m.

On Friday, Gunzell, who was second to Young in the shot put last year, threw an indoor personal best and programme record 18.59m in the final round to pass Young and take the title.

Young has signed a commitment letter to attend University of Alabama, starting in August. He led with 18.22m from the second round and had three marks over 18.00m but was passed by Gunzell in the final round.

Meanwhile, Gunzell, who had a previous best of 18.51m, and Young, both broke the facility record of 17.65m set earlier this year by former Calabar thrower Kai Chang of University of Florida.

There were six Jamaicans in the final, with Yekini Bowen of Iowa Western finishing third with 17.07m and his teammate Denzs Simmonds fourth with 16.77m; Ricardo Hayles of Barton County was sixth with 16.49m and Shamar Reid of South Plains was eighth with 15.98m.

Kay Lagay Clarke of Barton County had two third-place finishes, jumping 12.11m in the triple jump and running 8.63 seconds in the 60m hurdles.

Tanique Taylor of Iowa Western was fourth in the hurdles in 8.72 seconds.

Tyrice Taylor of Indian Hills was second in the men’s 800m in 1:50.62 seconds, Nicholas Power of Cloud Community College was third in 1:51.70 seconds, and Fabian Campbell of Ft Scott was fifth in 1:53.05 seconds.

Jodi Ann Mitchell of New Mexico Junior College was second in the women’s 600m in 1:32.02 seconds and Adrian Nethersole of Western Texas placed seventh in the men’s 600m in 1:18.41 seconds.

Dejona Simpson of New Mexico JC was second in the women’s 400m in 55.71 seconds and Kaylia Kelly of Iowa Western placed fifth in 56.00 seconds.

Rushana Dwyer of South Plains was fourth in the women’s 800m, running 2:12.75 seconds, while Cedricka Williams of Barton was sixth in the women’s weight throw with 16.02m.