Alabama stand out Remona Burchell, Kansas' pair Christoff Bryan and Kimberley Williamson turned in fine performances to lead Jamaica's charge at the Tyson Invitational held at Fayetteville, Arkansas over the weekend.
Burchell sped to a sizzling 7.14 seconds to win the women’s 60m finals. Burchell, formerly of Herbert Morrison Technical, now a senior student at Alabama defeated Juniors Morolake Akinosun of Texas and Shayla Sanders of Florida 7.21 and 7.24 respectively.
Burchell narrowly missed out on her personal best time of 7.11 done last year.
Christoff Bryan continues to build on his early season exploits with another indoor best when he successfully cleared 2.28m (7-53/4) to win the men high jump invitational. He in the process defeated Texas Tech’s Bradley Adkins 2.25 and Auburns DJ Smith 2.21.
Kimberly Williamson, former Edwin Allen and University of the West Indies High Jumper, was the 3rd Jamaican winner at the meet when she cleared 1.85m to get the better of Lindsay Vollmer of Kansas 1.82m and Leigha Brown of Arkansas 1.77m.
Chanice Porter’s effort 6.33m was only good enough for second in the Women Long Jump as Kenyattia Hackworth of Kentucky leaped 6.37m to take the event.
Chris Ann Gordon of South Plains opened her indoor season with a personal best in the 400m. Gordon, who was a part of Jamaica’s 4x800m team at the inaugural World Relays in 2014, ran 52.41 to win heat 1 and finished 5th overall as Texas Courtney Okolo won the event in 51.65.
Clemson’s Olivia James 53.24 and 800m standout Natoya Goule 53.45 was 11th and 14th overall in the women's 400m.
In other results, Jamaica’s Keniel Grant of Texas Tech leaped 7.50m for 3rd in the men's long Jump as TCU Ramone Bailey could only manage 7.34 for 9th.
Former Wolmers girl Jonielle Smith could only muster 24.31 to finnish 3rd in heat 11 and 44th overall in the women's 200m won in 22.81 by her team mate and Junior Kyra Jefferson.
