BOSTON, USA— Romaine Beckford of the University of Arkansas,  retained the men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) indoor high jump title, after clearing a personal best and college leading 2.27m at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday.

Beckford, who made one attempt at the Olympic qualifying mark of 2.33m, had won the event last year while competing for the University of South Florida.

He was the first Arkansas winner of the event since 1998 and had one failure at 2.21m and only cleared 2.27m on the third attempt.

Former St George’s College football player Zayne Palomino of Southern Miss University was tied for fifth with 2.18m.

Lamara Distin of Texas A&M University was beaten in the women’s event, clearing 1.97m as Arkansas’ Rachel Glenn won with 2.00m, equalling the Jamaican college record and setting the meet record 1.98m, which was set by Destinee Hooker of Texas in 2009.

Roschell Clayton of Villanova, equalled her personal best 1.88m to finish sixth in her first NCAA finals event.

-Paul A Reid