Jamaican collegiate athletes delivered an impressive performance during the inaugural day of the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Indoor Championships in Topeka, Kansas on Friday. The competition witnessed exceptional achievements from Caribbean competitors across multiple track and field disciplines.
Chavez Penn from Barton County College emerged victorious in the men’s high jump competition, clearing an indoor personal best of 2.15 meters. This triumph followed his ninth-place finish in the long jump event earlier in the day, where he recorded a leap of 7.25 meters.
In the throwing arena, Rajay Hemmings of Iowa Western Junior College demonstrated consistency with three legal marks in the shot put, topping at 17.78 meters. Hemmings entered the championships with momentum from his NJCAA Region 11 title win, where he achieved an indoor best of 18.06 meters.
Jamaican female athletes equally distinguished themselves. Natassia Burrell, formerly of Hydel High and now competing for Cloud County, secured second position in the women’s shot put with a throw of 15.34 meters. Kahllah Bailey of South Plains College claimed third with a mark of 14.14 meters.
Barton County’s Celine Riddle earned silver medal honors in the women’s long jump with a best effort of 5.95 meters.
Numerous Jamaican competitors advanced to Saturday’s finals through outstanding preliminary performances. Mickayla Gardener of Central Arizona College established an NJCAA-leading time of 7.28 seconds in the women’s 60 meters, setting a personal best. The men’s 60 meters will feature Jayval Wright and Raheem Pinnock from Hinds Community College, who clocked 6.64 and 6.65 seconds respectively.
Hurdles events saw strong Jamaican representation with Shaquane Gordon (Odessa College) leading men’s 60m hurdles qualifying at 7.83 seconds. Barton County teammates Asharria Ulett (8.41 seconds) and Camoy Binger (8.44 seconds) dominated women’s hurdles qualifying.
Raheem Scott, former ISSA Championships gold medalist from Rusea’s High now at New Mexico Junior College, posted the third-fastest men’s 400 meters qualifying time (46.90 seconds personal best). Cindy Rose of Indian Hills College advanced to the women’s 800 meters final with the third-best qualifying time of 2:17.28 minutes.