Jamaican track and field athletes delivered exceptional performances at major indoor meets across the United States on Friday, with Nia Robinson and Shaquena Foote achieving world-class results that positioned them among the global elite in their respective events.
At the prestigious Tyson Invitational held at the University of Arkansas, Robinson soared to a remarkable personal best of 6.82 meters in the women’s long jump championship, securing third place overall. This impressive leap not only shattered her previous record of 6.67 meters but also tied her for the fifth-best jump globally this season. The competition saw American jumper Jasmine Moore claim victory with a mark of 6.86 meters, while Robinson shared an identical distance with second-place finisher Sophia Beckmon.
Simultaneously at Clemson University’s Tiger Paw Invitational, Shaquena Foote of the University of Georgia demonstrated exceptional speed in the women’s 400 meters, clocking a lifetime best of 51.27 seconds to win the event. Her performance ranks as the ninth-fastest in the world this season and represents the seventh-best time ever recorded by a Jamaican woman, matching Leah Anderson’s achievement. Foote’s teammate, DeJanea Oakley, complemented this success with a third-place finish in 51.62 seconds.
The meets showcased additional standout performances from Caribbean and American athletes. World and Olympic medalist Tajay Gayle placed fourth in the men’s long jump with 8.13 meters, while Louisiana State’s Jordan Turner finished seventh at 8.11 meters. In field events, Purdue University’s Brittania Johnson won the women’s weight throw with a personal best of 20.96 meters.
Sprint events featured notable achievements including University of Florida’s Gabrielle Matthews winning the college women’s 60m in a personal best 7.19 seconds, and St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred setting a meet record of 6.99 seconds in the Women’s 60m Championships, where Jamaica’s Brianna Lyston claimed third with 7.07 seconds.