Pinnock completes NCAA long jump double

FORMER Kingston College hurdler/long jumper Wayne Pinnock closed out a National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) long jump double for the University of Tennessee after winning the event on Wednesday’s opening day of competition for male athletes at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. His winning distance was 8.00 metres.

Pinnock had earlier this season won the indoor title in the event, and he was also the South East Conference outdoor champion. Like a true champion, Pinnock, who was in second place for most of the event, used his final attempt to score the win over previous leader Jeremiah Davis of Florida State University. Davis also had a personal best of 8.00m, but Pinnock edged out his opponent as his next best attempt was better. Pinnock’s teammate, Carey McLeod, finished fourth with 7.90m. McLeod is also a Kingston College past student.

Nine more Jamaicans will be going for glory today when competition among the males comes to an end. Three will be on the track and six in the field.

On Wednesday, Navasky Anderson, Jevaughn Powell and Lafranz Campbell advanced to the finals after semi-final action in their events.

Anderson, the former St Jago High School middle-distance athlete now competing for Mississippi State University, was the most impressive of the Jamaicans to advance after winning his 800m heat in one minute 45.94 seconds. He is the fastest qualifier among all athletes going into today’s final.

Powell, the former Edwin Allen High School and Kingston College 400m runner, who now competes for the University of Texas El Paso,v finished third in his heat in the one-lap event in 45.47 seconds to advance as the fourth-fastest qualifier.

Former Calabar High School sprint hurdler Campbell was the third Jamaican on the day to book an individual final berth. The Clemson University senior ended third in his heat of the 110 metres hurdles in 13.48 seconds to advance with the seventh-fastest time.

The six Jamaicans who will compete in field events finals today are discus throwers Kevin Nedrick of Liberty University, Ralford Mullings of Arizona State University and Roje Stona of Clemson; and triple jumpers Owayne Owens of Virginia University, Apolas Edwards of Louisiana State University and Safin Wills of Purdue University.