The Arkansas men’s track and field team completed its stacked 2017 signing class this week with the addition of Kingston College (KC) jump prodigy Carey McLeod of Kingston, Jamaica.
McLeod (no relation to former Hog Omar McLeod) is the latest of a long lineage of KC athletes to come to Arkansas – a storied list, which includes Olympians and World championships competitors Alain Bailey, Tarik Batchelor Omar McLeod and Clive Pullen. The talent-ridden group boasts an Olympic gold medalist, world championship gold medalist, a combined 11 SEC titles, 19 first team All-America performances and seven NCAA titles.
“Carey McLeod is one of the best young talents in the world,” head coach Chris Bucknam said. “He has proven himself as a triple threat between the long jump, triple jump and his sprinting ability. He’s a humble and motivated young man that comes from a fantastic program at Kingston College high school. The entire KC program and jumps coach Jeremy Delisser continue to develop quality student-athletes year after year. We’re excited to continue our strong tradition in the jumps with the addition of Carey McLeod to a phenomenal 2017 Razorback track and field signing class.”
Carey on Why Arkansas
“Ever since I started at Kingston College I had always wanted to go to Arkansas. It has always been in my heart and I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of such a great track and field family.”
Changing of the Guard
While at Kingston College, Carey McLeod broke former KC student-athlete, Clive Pullen’s triple jump program records. Carey McLeod has PR in the event of 15.86m/52-0 1/2. A strong competitor in both horizontal jumps, Carey McLeod earned a pair of gold medals as the 2017 CARIFTA Games U20 long and triple jump champion.
His addition will mark 11-consecutive years of a KC student-athlete presence on the Razorback squad.
Kingston, Fayetteville Pipeline
· Alain Bailey – Arkansas, 2009 | NCAA Indoor Champion, Four-time All-American, Six-time SEC Champion
· Tarik Batchelor – Arkansas, 2013 | Five-time All-American, Two-time SEC Champion
· Omar McLeod – Arkansas, 2017 | Olympic Champion, NCAA Record-Holder, Four-time NCAA Champions, Seven-time All-American, Two-time SEC Champion
· Clive Pullen – Arkansas, 2017 | Olympian, Two-time NCAA Champion, Six-time All-American, Two-time SEC Champion