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Tuesday,
June 13, 2006 Two Jamaican Winners at the NCAA Champs
Clora Williams and Jovanee Jarrett were Jamaican winners at the NCAA Division One Championships held June 8-10. Kerron Stewart and Ricardo Chambers were equally as impressive in finishing second in their events. Williams, the younger sister of national senior representative Novlene Williams, won the 400m in 51.11, which has placed her as the fourth fastest Jamaican this season. Former Vere student Patricia Hall now competing for Tennessee was fourth(51.45), beaten by Kineke Alexander of Iowa ( 51.35) and third place finisher Shana Cox of Penn State (51.39). In the men's event, Florida State's Chambers ran 44.71, the fourth fastest time in the world this year, but had to settle for second behind LSU's Xavier Carter (44.53). Former Jamaican junior Sekou Clarke of Florida (46.32), dropped out in semifinals.
Representing Auburn, Jovanee Jarrett, who finished third at last year's National Championships, leapt 6.46m to beat Patty Sylvester of Georgia (6.41m) for the gold. Kerron Stewart copped second in both sprints. Stewart, a Carifta Games 100m gold medallist, ran 11.36 seconds in the 100m to finish behind South Carolina's Amberly Nesbitt (11.34) and 22.65 behind Shalonda Solomon, also of South Carolina (22.62). Tamara Williams (23.49) was ninth in the event. Stewart, in an interview with JAAA website, expressed mixed feelings. "Right now I'm just feeling complete …… it was lots of hard work and frustration, but it paid off." The former St. Jago athlete was favoured to win the 100m, but said the starter let her down. "I think the starter didn't do a great job, but that's life and you just have to move on," explained Stewart, who is still celebrating her school's victory. Stewart, who suffered a groin injury two weekends ago, said she wasn't 100 per cent fit, but that did not matter much to her. "I am a competitor so no matter the circumstances, I am going to compete." On her doctor's advice, Stewart will now sit out the summer and focus on next season. "I have shin splints and it has shifted from my shin to my groin. I am going to use the summer to correct everything," she said. A third Jamaican victory was spoiled when Melaine Walker was controversially disqualified after winning the women's 400m hurdles in what would have been a championship record –– 53.84 seconds. "They (officials) said I put my trail leg around the hurdles and then they said it was my lead leg. There was no way I could do that. I could not believe it," a devastated Walker said. "I am heartbroken right now. I am devastated," she continued. "I can't even say how I feel because I worked so hard for this. It's my senior year, and I wanted to go out on a high with a title," the 23-year-old Walker said. Walker said they later informed her that it was a mistake to disqualify her. "They are saying it was a mistake, but they can't take it back. My coach (Bev Kearney) is mad, and she said she will not stop until I get my time back. She said she will do anything in her power for me to get my time." Walker's time would have placed her as the second fastest Jamaican woman over 400m hurdles, only behind Olympic gold medallist Deon Hemmings (52.82). "I hope the person who made the mistake will come out and say I made a mistake. They should have had real professionals." Camile Robinson (57.82) was sixth in the event. Walker ran a lifetime best, 12.75 seconds to finish third in the 100m hurdles, behind Southern California's Virginia Powell's world leading 12.48. Villanova's Monique Morgan, who represented Jamaica at the 2004 World Junior Championships, finished eighth in 13.18. In the men's 400m hurdles, Bryan Steele of Long Island (49.02) finished second while LSU's Isa Phillips, a former Jamaican junior, was sixth in 49.51. Jamaican junior record holder Zara Northover of Northeastern (15.44m) was eighth in the women's shot put. Jamaican National junior record holder Peaches Roach of Iowa (1.86m) and Michelle Williamson (1.77m) finished fourth and twelfth respectively in the high jump while her former St. Jago teammate Andrea Linton, now representing LSU, was fifth (13.53m) in the triple jump. Yadvendrasinhji for JAAA |
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