Jamaican track and field talent continues to make waves in the US collegiate circuit as several athletes delivered standout performances across multiple indoor meets this weekend.
Cindy Rose, formerly of Holmwood Technical and now competing for Indian Hills Community College, secured her first collegiate victory by dominating the women’s 800m at the Iowa State University Holiday Invitational. The 2025 Carifta Games silver medalist clocked an impressive 2:16.84, currently the leading time in the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) indoor season. This triumph follows her third-place finish in the 1000m (3:02.01) at the Washburn Alumni Invite just one week prior.
Rose’s Indian Hills teammates equally demonstrated their athletic prowess. Hector Benjamin, an ex-Jamaica College sprinter, achieved second overall in the men’s 60m with a swift 6.83 seconds before claiming another silver in the 200m with a time of 21.70 seconds. Meanwhile, Jaquan Coke, previously of Kingston College, set a personal best of 2:26.43 in the men’s 1,000m to secure second place, significantly improving upon his previous mark of 2:27.98. Kemmario Bygrave, another Jamaica College alumnus, placed sixth in the competitive men’s 800m with a time of 1:51.41.
At the University of Iowa’s Jimmy Grant Invitational, former Edwin Allen High runner Leanna Lewis continued the trend of strong Jamaican performances by capturing second place in the women’s 600m with a time of 1:30.23 while representing Iowa.
Adding to the throwing events highlights, David Beadle of Hastings College, who previously attended Cornwall College, commenced his final eligible season at the UNK Pre-Holiday Classic. Beadle placed fourth in the men’s weight throw with a heave of 15.62 meters and registered 11.97 meters in the shot put competition.