Distin set to top high jump at NCAA finals

Former Rusea’s High School, Vere Technical High School and Hydel High School past student Lamara Distin is set to win the women’s high jump on today’s final day of competition of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Outdoor Division 1 Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Competing for Texas A&M University, Distin is the top collegiate athlete in the event with a personal best of 1.97 metres. The height puts her at number two in the world this year, behind Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh with 2.00m. Distin is unbeaten in both at indoor and outdoor competitions this season and, following her NCAA indoor title earlier in the season, she is a cinch to go all the way in the event today. Former St Jago High School jumper Daniella Anglin of South Dakota University, who qualified with 1.81m, will be the other Jamaican in the final.

Ackelia Smith, a former Edwin Allen High student, will compete in the triple jump final and she will be hoping to make up for her eighth-place finish in the long jump on Thursday where she did 6.30m. The University of Texas, Austin freshman, with a season’s best 14.08m, is the third ranked athlete in the event.

Following semi-final action on the track on Thursday, six Jamaicans, led by 400m runners Stacy Ann Williams of the University of Texas, Austin, and Charokee Young of Texas A&M University, have booked their spots in today’s finals. Williams was second in her heat in 50.18 seconds, the second fastest time from the semi-finals. Young, who has gone sub 50 seconds this season, won her heat in 50.46 and is the fourth-fastest qualifier. Talitha Diggs of Florida State is the fastest with 50.08. Kavia Francis of Baylor University is also in the final after a fourth-place finish in her heat in 51.17.

Both Kemba Nelson and Kevona Davis will be involved in the sprint finals today. Nelson, competing at home for the University of Oregon, won her 100m semi-final in 10.97.

Davis, the former Edwin Allen High star, will be in two finals today. In the 100m, the University of Texas, Austin sophomore booked the ninth and final spot after finishing third in her heat in 11.11. In the 200m, she is fifth best after a second-place finish in her heat in 22.38.

Sprint hurdler Demisha Roswell of Texas Technical University is another Jamaican in the finals today. Roswell is the World number two athlete this season in the 100m hurdles, with 12.44 seconds. She was second in her semi-final in 12.93 and has the seventh best time heading into the final.