Nia Robinson, Shaquena Foote set personal best in indoor meets
KINGSTON, Jamaica— Jamaicans Nia Robinson and Shaquena Foote produced personal best performances, both finishing in the top 10 in the world, at indoor track and field meets in the United States on Friday.
Robinson jumped a personal best of 6.82 m for third in the women’s long jump championships at the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas, tying for fifth best in the world, while Foote lowered her best in the women’s 400 m, winning the event at the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson University with 51.27 seconds, ninth in the world.
Robinson, formerly of Rusea’s High and who attended Barton County, the University of South Florida and Arkansas, surpassed her previous best of 6.67 m and had the same mark as second-placed Sophia Beckmon, with American Jasmine Moore winning with 6.86 m.
Aaliyah Foster of Kansas State was fourth in the women’s college long jump with a season’s best of 6.33 m.
World and Olympic medallist Tajay Gayle was fourth in the men’s event with 8.13 meters, and Jordan Turner of Louisiana State was seventh with 8.11 meters.
Shaquena Foote
At the Clemson event, Foote of the University of Georgia won the women’s 400 m in a new lifetime best of 51.27 seconds (PB), beating her previous best of 51.48 seconds set in March last year.
Her time is joint seventh best by a Jamaican with Leah Anderson, fourth in the NCAA so far this year, fifth best in Georgia history and ninth in the world.
DeJanea Oakley, also of the University of Georgia, was third overall in 51.62 seconds, while Shanque Williams of Clemson ran a season’s best 53.13 seconds.
Also at the Tiger Paw event, Brittania Johnson of the University of Purdue threw a personal best of 20.96 m to win the women’s weight throw.
Johnson broke her previous best of 20.42 m set last year and moved up to fourth all-time at Purdue.
Also at the Tyson Invitational, Gabrielle Matthews of the University of Florida won the college women’s 60m, running a personal best of 7.19 seconds, fifth all-time for the Gators.
Abigail Wolfe of the University of Texas was fifth in 7.36 seconds, her lifetime best.
Jaheim Stern of LSU was second in the men’s 60m hurdles in a season’s best 7.67 seconds.
Salieci Myles of LSU was also second in the women’s 60m hurdles, running a personal best of 8.14 seconds, while Asharria Ulett of Barton County was seventh in 8.29 seconds, equalling her personal best.
Brianna Lyston was third in the Women’s 60 m Championships, running 7.07 seconds, as St Lucia’s Julien Alfred broke the meet record with 6.99 seconds, with Jacious Sear second in 7.03 seconds.
-Paul A Reid