JAMAICA’S two-time World Championships representative Ackelia Smith returned to competition last weekend with wins in the women’s long jump and triple jump events at the Texas Invitational in Austin, about six weeks after suffering a leg injury while competing in the NCAA Indoor Nationals in Boston.

The Big12 Conference champion was a medal favourite at the NCAA after jumping 6.85m in early February but failed to make it past the first round, later admitting to suffering an injury during the competition.

On Friday the University of Texas junior jumped a wind-aided 7.10m (3.1m/s) to win the long jump, then returned a day later to jump 13.51m (4.3m/s) to take the triple jump title.

Freshman Aaliyah Foster, also of Texas, was fifth in the long jump with 6.27m (3.6m/s).

Meanwhile, on-fire discus thrower Ralford Mullings won the men’s discus throw with 69.21m at the Rock Chalk Classic in Kansas, the second time this year he has gone over 69.00m.

Mullings, who is ranked number two in the world with 69.67m, had three legal throws — the other two both over 67.00m — as Trevor Gunzel of Coffeyville Community College was fifth with 51.05m.

At the Texas meet O’Brien Wasome, the top Jamaican so far with a wind-legal 17.09m, won the men’s triple jump with 16.96m (4.2m/s); Rushelle Burton ran a wind-aided 12.90 seconds (3.3m/s) for the 100m hurdles; and Dejanae Oakley of University of Texas was second in the 200m in 22.73 seconds (1.7m/s).

At the Kansas meet Gunzell was fourth in the shot put with 17.29m.

Nikaoli Williams of Oklahoma won the men’s long jump with a wind-aided 7.60m (3.4m/s), while Aaliyah Lindsay of University of Kansas was third in the triple jump with 12.69m 3.2m/s).

Romaine Beckford of University of Arkansas opened his outdoor season with a win at the LSU (Louisiana State University) Invitational, clearing 2.23m, while his teammate Wayne Pinnock won the men’s long jump with a wind-aided 8.44m (5.8m/s) and Nia Robinson was second in the women’s long jump with 6.70m (5.4m/s).

Ackera Nugent ran 12.57 seconds (1.8m/s) to win the 100m hurdles while Nickisha Pryce of University of Arkansas was third in the women’s 400m in 51.35 seconds, Andrenette Knight clocked 53.23 seconds, Joanne Reid of Arkansas ran 53.65, and Garriel White of LSU ran 53.77 seconds.

Tyrice Taylor of Indian Hills Community College won the men’s 800m in 1:48.29 seconds; Reheem Hayles of University of Florida ran 45.31 seconds for third in the men’s 400m; Lashana Graham ran 58.16 seconds over the 400m hurdles; and Apalos Edwards of Arkansas jumped 16.43m (4.5m/s) in the men’s triple jump.

At the Desert Heat Classic hosted by University of Arizona, NCAA Indoor champion Rivaldo Marshall of University of Iowa was second in the men’s 800m in 1:46.38 seconds.

Marissa Simpson of University of Texas-El Paso was second in the 100m hurdles in 13.08 seconds (1.7m/s); Shaquena Foote of San Diego State University was second in the women’s 400m in 52.46 seconds; Alliyah McNeil of University of Minnesota recorded 6.40m (-1.0m/s) in the women’s long jump; and Demar Francis of Baylor University was sixth in the men’s 400m in 46.15 seconds.