FORMER Mannings High ace athlete, Allison Beckford continued her impressive record at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships by winning the 400 metres event in a personal best of 50.83 seconds on Saturday's final day.
Competing for Rice University, Beckford had mixed fortune as she failed to defend her title in the 400m hurdles event where she fell and finished eighth the previous day. She however made up for her misfortune by turning back a very strong field as defending champion Melissa Barber of University of South Carolina had to settle for second in 51.87. Former Camperdown High athlete Ronetta Davis, competing for Louisianna State University, finished fifth in a personal best of 51.62 seconds.
Former Dinthill Technical High standout, Elva Goulbourme was also victorious as she successfully defended her title in the long jump.
Representing Auburn University, the 2000 Olympic finalist, despite having four fouls was still able to win with 6.82m as National Junior record holder Noelle Graham, competing for Seton Hall University could only manage fifth with 6.26m.
Goulbourne was a fifth place finisher in the women's 100m in 11.60 seconds as Angella Williams of University of Southern California captured her fourth successive 100m title by winning in 11.29. In this event former Vere Technical athlete Aleen Bailey was disqualified after false starting.
Bailey, representing University of South Carolina made up for this however in the 200 metres as she took the silver in the 200m in 22.99. Bail ley was in a no nonsense mood in the 4x100m relay as she anchored her team to victory in 43.12 seconds.
Former St. Jago High athlete Keasha Downer was a member of University of Texas women's mile relay team which finished second in 3:27.05.
However one of the highlights of the Meet was the run of Lashina Demus in the 400m hurdles. Demus became the fastest junior when she smashed the World Junior record in the 400m hurdles, winning in 54.85 as her team-mate Tiffany Rose, also a junior, finished second in a fast 55.22 to be the two fastest over this event going into next month's World Junior Champiomnships.
Dwight Thomas had to play second fiddle to double sprint champion Justin Gatlin of Tennessee. Gatlin won the 100 and 200m in 10.22 and 20.18 respectively. Thomas, formerly of Calabar, now competing for Clemson University, took the silver in both events in 10.29 and 20.60. Former Wolmer's High athlete Michael Frater, competing for Texas Christian University finished fourth in the 100 metres in 10.40.
Former Munro High athlete Pete Cole, competing for LSU finished third in the Men's 400metres in 45.07 with Sanjay Ayre out of Auburn University finishing fourth in 45.10.
