Jamaicans Shaquena Foote of San Diego State and Neisha Burgher of University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) were double winners at their respective NCAA Division 1 Conference Indoor Championships that ended on Saturday.

Foote, the former Petersfield High star, won the women’s 200m/400m double at Mountain West Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, setting personal bests in both events.

Burgher, formerly of Excelsior High, took the women’s 60m/200m double at the Conference USA Indoor Championships at Liberty University in Virginia.

Foote, who was named the Most Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet, broke her personal best and school record 52.42 seconds to retain her 400m title in 51.48. That effort also broke the championships record 51.73. She then clocked 22.89 in the 200m, less than an hour later to move into second place on the San Diego State ranking.

Foote told the Jamaica Observer that winning the double has lit a spark.

“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude after winning the double. Going into the championship, my focus was on executing my races to the best of my abilities. I knew that if I could do that, winning the double was a possibility.

“I’m definitely satisfied with my times, but I’m still so hungry for more. I’ve worked really hard in practice, and my hard work is finally paying off. I did the work and trusted God with the rest. My performance today is definitely a confidence booster for me, so I’m looking forward to lowering my times come indoor nationals,” she said.

Burgher ran a meet record 22.73 to take the women’s 200m title, breaking the 22.91 set in 2013 by Aurueyall Scott of the University of Central Florida and the facility record 22.96 set in 2025 by Dana Wilson. Marissa Simpson, also of UTEP, placed fifth in 24.16.

Burgher won the women’s 60m title in 7.31, while Simpson was seventh in 7.66 and Denae McFarlane, also of UTEP, was eighth.

Also on Saturday, Dejanae Oakley of the University of Georgia ran a massive personal best 50.90 to place fourth in the women’s 400m at the South East Conference Championships, the third fastest ever by a Jamaican woman.

Oakley’s stunning 50.90 during the SEC Indoors at Texas A&M University is well under her previous best of 51.75 seconds.

Only national record holder Stephenie Ann McPherson’s 50.79 set in 2022 and Nickisha Pryce’s 50.83 set last year are faster than Oakley’s time.

Brianna Lyston of Louisiana State University (LSU) failed to defend her SEC 60m title as she was beaten into second place in the final.

Lyston equalled her season’s best 7.13 to place second, while Carleta Bernard of Texas ran a personal best 7.25 seconds for fifth.

Luke Brown of the University of Kentucky set a new personal best and school record 16.87m as he was second in the men’s triple jump. Apalos Edwards of the University of Arkansas was fourth in a season’s best 16.61m.

Nia Robinson, also of Arkansas, was fifth in the women’s triple jump, equalling her personal best 13.41m.

Jaheim Stern of LSU was third in the men’s 60m hurdles in a new best of 7.57, while Vashaun Vascianna of Arkansas, who led after the preliminaries, was eighth.

Reigning NCAA champion Rivaldo Marshall of Arkansas was third in the men’s 800m in 1:48.31 minutes, and Kimar Farquharson of Texas A&M was seventh in 1:50.24.

Olympian Ralford Mullings of University of Oklahoma was third in the men’s shot put with 19.71m, while Trevor Gunzell of University of Alabama was sixth with 18.88m.