Shenese Walker dips under 11 seconds in 100m at NCAA regionals
Shenese Walker of Florida State University ran a big personal best 10.98 seconds (1.4m/s) to lead the women’s 100m on Saturday’s final day of the NCAA East First Round at the University of Jacksonville in Florida.
Walker, who became the 25th Jamaican woman to run the 100m under 11.00 seconds, broke her previous best 11.02 seconds set on Thursday to secure her spot in the NCAA Division One championships to be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon next month.
She was one of 15 Jamaican women who punched their tickets on Saturday as both the East Regional and the West Regional, which were held at Texas A&M University, came to an end. The National Championships are scheduled for June 11-14.
Walker, who also won the sprint double at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Outdoor Championships, is the second fastest Jamaican woman so far this year, behind Tina Clayton, and is tied for fifth best.
Habiba Harris of the University of Florida and Shantae Foreman of Clemson were also winners at the East Regionals.
Harris, who has won eight of her 12 100m hurdles races so far this year, clocked 12.80 seconds (0.0m/s) to book her spot while Oneka Wilson of Clemson University was ninth in 13.04 seconds (-0.4m/s) and also progressed.
Foreman produced a personal best 14.01m (-2.0m/s) to win the women’s triple jump, beating her previous best 13.95m set last year.
Machaeda Linton of Louisiana State University also qualified for the nationals, placing fourth with a personal best 13.25m (1.5m/s).
Dejanae Oakley of the University of Georgia was second in the women’s 400m, running 50.70 seconds; Gabrielle Matthews of the University of Florida ran 22.87 seconds (0.7m/s) to qualify in the women’s 200m while Adrienne Adams of Auburn University was seventh in the women’s discus throw with 55.09m.
In the West First round, three Jamaicans advanced to the nationals in the women’s 400m hurdles. Calisha Taylor of Baylor University was second with 55.94 seconds, Safhia Hinds of Kansas State was fourth with 56.34 seconds and Dyandra Gray of the University of Minnesota was 10th with 56.86 seconds.
Marissa Simpson of the University of Texas-El Paso was fourth in the 100m hurdles with 12.98 seconds (0.6m/s) and Tonie-Ann Forbes of Texas Tech was ninth with 13.11 seconds (1.3m/s).
Shaquena Foote of San Diego State University was seventh in the women’s 400m with 51.58 seconds and Joanne Reid of the University of Arkansas was ninth with 51.65 seconds.
