KINGSTON, Jamaica — World Championships silver medallist Wayne Pinnock will forego his final year of eligibility in the NCAA after signing a professional contract with giant German sporting goods manufacturer Puma, it was announced Saturday.

A release from the University of Arkansas, where Pinnock attended the last two years, said Pinnock, who will defend his title at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association championships at the National Stadium on Saturday, said “I’d like to thank the University of Arkansas, the coaches, trainers, academic advisors, and the entire support staff for an amazing career as a Razorback, I couldn’t have asked for a better environment.”

Pinnock, who also holds the Jamaican national Under 20 record of 8.05m is quoted to have said, “My family supporting me all these years has also meant the world to me. I couldn’t do this without them. With that I’m excited for this new opportunity and this next chapter of life as a professional athlete. I’m confident I’ve been prepared well and look forward to repping the Puma brand in the coming years.”

Pinnock, who was just edged out of the gold medal at the World Championships in the final round by Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece, has a personal best of 8.54m which he set in the qualifying at the World Championships and is ranked number three all time on the Jamaican list behind Tajay Gayle and James Beckford.

After transferring from the University of Tennessee where he won his first NCAA title, Pinnock has contributed 41conference and 27 national points towards Arkansas’ four SEC Championships, a 2023 NCAA Indoor team title, along with a pair of NCAA runner-up team finishes, the release said.

— Paul A Reid