There were a number of local athletes who competed over the weekend and delivered superb performances both at the local and international level.
This included Northwestern State’s Diamanté Bryan Gumbs who set a new national record after winning at the Southland Conference in the Hammer Throw event, with a twirl of 19.57 meters.
His throw bettered Olympian Eldred Henry’s Weight Throw National Record of 19.56 meters.
Diamanté’s twin brother Djimon Gumbs placed 9th with a twirl of 15.06 meters.
Over at the Mountain West Conference, Utah State’s Xiomara “Gia” Malone, shattered her 1.66 meter National High Jump Record, to tie for 4th, with a leap of 1.72 meters.
Meanwhile, Indiana University’s Rikkoi Brathwaite, repeated as Big 10 Conference 60-meter champion, winning his race in 6.57 seconds.
At the Chapel Hill All Comers Invite Long Jump in Georgia, Adajeah Hodge disturbed the sand with 5.90-meter jump to win that event.
Local standouts
On the local scene at the 5th Dag Samuels Development Series, Top Notch Track Club’s Khybah Dawson, leaped 7.58 meters to qualify for his second CARIFTA Games.
Also qualifying for CARIFTA were Wanyaé Bell who snatched the 400 and 200-meter sprint double, with personal records of 48.48 seconds & 21.49 seconds respectively; Under 20 Jaleel Croal in the 100-meter with a time of 10.41; Kaelyaah Liburd in the 400 meter with a time of 54.76; Akrisa Eristee and Liburd in the 200 meter with 24.32 and 24.65 respectively; and Under 18 Jonathan Lynch in the 800 meter with a time 2:03.26 seconds.
Dawson, Liburd, Eristee and Croal also qualified for the World Junior Athletics Championships in Cali Columbia which is set for August this year.