KINGSTON, Jamaica — A contingent of twenty-two Jamaican track and field athletes is gearing up for individual competitions at this weekend’s NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 Indoor Championships, marking the conclusive event of the collegiate indoor season. The championships will unfold simultaneously across two venues from March 13-14.
Seventeen competitors will represent Jamaican athletics at the Division 1 meet, hosted at the University of Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Track Center. Simultaneously, five athletes will demonstrate their prowess at the Division 2 Championships in Virginia Beach.
Clemson’s Shantae Foreman, who currently leads the NCAA women’s triple jump rankings, and University of Oregon’s Kobe Lawrence, the second-ranked men’s shot putter nationally, headline Jamaica’s Division 1 participants. Foreman enters the competition with impressive momentum following her third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) title victory two weeks prior, where she is anticipated to face strong competition from Nebraska’s Rhianna Phipps.
Lawrence arrives with a season-best throw of 20.16 meters, having broken the University of Oregon’s program record multiple times this season. However, the athlete seeks redemption after a surprising sixth-place finish at the Big Ten Conference championships.
Florida State’s Shenese Walker, fresh from securing ACC double victories in both the 60m and 200m events, stands as Jamaica’s sole representative in the women’s 60m dash. The 200m event will feature Gabrielle Mathews (University of Florida) and Carleta Bernard (University of Texas).
University of Georgia teammates Dejanea Oakley and Shaquena Foote will compete in the women’s 400m, with Foote particularly motivated to overcome her recent disqualification at the South-eastern Conference championships.
Jamaican talent dominates the women’s 60m hurdles event with three strong contenders: Clemson’s Oneka Wilson, who made history as the first woman to win four consecutive ACC titles; Auburn’s Danae Nembhard; and Texas Tech’s Big 12 champion Tonie-Ann Forbes.
Texas A&M University’s Machaeda Linton will represent Jamaica in the women’s long jump competition.
In men’s events, Arkansas teammates Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor will compete in the 800m race, while fellow Razorbacks Jerome Campbell and Vashaun Vascianna join Baylor University’s Demario Prince in the men’s 60m hurdles.
At the Division 2 level, Onieka Brissett of Texas A&M University-Kingsville achieved qualification in both the 200m and 400m events. She will be joined by Patreece Clarke of New Mexico Highlands in the women’s 60m hurdles.
Lincoln University’s Brandon Harris enters the men’s 60m hurdles, while teammate Malik Drummond prepares for the triple jump competition. Tusculum University’s Lansford Cunningham arrives with the third-ranked position nationally in the men’s long jump.