By Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer
University of Technology's Asafa Powell winning the men's 100m in a fast 9.9 seconds, ahead of team-mate Winston Smith (left), 10.1, and Carl Bennett (Knox), 10.3 on last Saturday's final day of the Inter-Collegiate Track and Field Championships at G.C. Foster College. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
G.C. Foster College's Omar Wiggan (right) holding off his rivals to win the men's 1500 metres at the Inter-Collegiate Track and Field Meet at G.C. Foster College last Saturday. Wiggan clocked 3:59.7 to win from Kevin Campbell (Knox, left) 3:59.9 and Jermaine Grant (G.C. Foster, second right) 4:00.4. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
OVERSEAS-BASED Jamaican athletes started the NCAA outdoor athletics season on a high note with several victories at the weekend.
Leading the way was former St. Jago High school athlete Andrea Bliss now running for Florida University. Bliss who did well during the indoor season over 60m hurdles hit top form at the Florida Relays posting the fastest time by a Collegiate athlete over the 100m hurdles winning the event in a career-best 13.18 seconds. She returned later to join former Ferncourt athlete, Novlene Williams in the 1600m Sprint Relay as their team won the event in 3:47.70.
At the same meet former Vere Technical athlete Aileen Bailey, competing for the University of South Carolina captured the women's 100m in 11.28. She also ran on her team's victorious 4x100m (43.49) and 4x200m (1:30.73) teams.
Former national junior representative Sashanie Simpson, competing for Miami University, had to settle for third in the 400m in 54.24 where Miki Barber of USC won in 52.43.
On the male side, NCAA indoors 60m champion Julian Dunkley captured the 100m. Dunkley of East Carolina University who represented Jamaica at the World Championships in Edmonton, Canada two years ago, captured the men's 100m in 10.18.
Former Jamaica College athlete Sekou Clarke was a member of Florida University 4x400m relay team which finished second in 3:05.81.
Former G.C. Foster College athlete Marsha Dawkins, a finalist in the NCAA Indoors 400m for Oral Roberts University, started her outdoor campaign on a successful note at the Texas Arlington Invitational as she won the 400 metres in 54.04. Former St. Jago High athlete, Theresa McLaughlin, competing for Southern Christian Junior College finished third in 57.85.
At the Texas Technical Invitational Meet, former junior representative Suzanne Dickenson competing unattached captured the women's 100m hurdles in 13.56.
Patricia Hall, Aneita Denton, Kasia Williams and Steve Mullings were all victorious at the Emporia Vortex Spring Twilight Meet. Hall, the former Vere Technical star, now at Barton Junior College took the women's 400m in 54.8, the same time done by team-mate Karen Gayle, a former Holmwood Technical star. Denton took the 800m in 2:20.3.
Williams who competed for Jamaica at last year's World Junior Championships captured the 100m hurdles in 13.8.
Following his excellent indoor form, former Vere Technical standout, Steve Mullings competing for Barton, running against a minus 1.5 wind captured the men's 100m in 10.1.
Former Munro High school athlete Franz Bernard scored a 400m victory at the Spec Town Meet at the University of Georgia. Competing for Mississippi University he won the event in 47.65.
In the female section, former Meadowbrook High athlete Judyth Kitson, competing for Alabama University, captured the women's 100m in 11.36 as former St. Jago High athlete, Daniele Browning of Auburn University finished fifth in 11.51. Browning turned the tables on her rivals in the 200m winning in 23.50 as Kitson had to settle for second in 23.67. Senior representative Trecia Smith won the women's triple jump at the Adidas Raleigh Relays Invitational in North Carolina with a leap of 13.44m.
At the same meet, former St. Jago High athlete Melaine Walker had mixed results. After finishing third over the 400m hurdles in 58.67 the Essex County College athlete was disqualified in the final of the 100m hurdles for a false start.
Former Vere Technical athlete Soyini Thompson and St. Andrew Technical's Natalie Dawkins closed off the successful weekend for Jamaicans as competing for Gardener Webb University Thompson won the 400m in 55.90 seconds and Dawkins won the 100m hurdles in 14.42. Dawkins also finished second in the long jump with 5.62m.
