Collegiate athletes hunt for final places

Several of the country's top collegiate athletes in the United States will be hoping to book tickets for next month's National Outdoor Track and Field Championships when the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division One East and West Preliminary round competitions get under way today with the men in action.

The University of Kentucky in Lexington will host the East Preliminary, while the West Preliminary will take place in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Twenty-four athletes, 12 from each region, will advance to the NCAA Championships scheduled for Eugene, Oregon, from June 10-13.

The men will compete today and Friday, while the women will be in action on Thursday and Saturday.

Jamaicans will be well represented in the men's discus in the East, led by Florida State's Shamar Reid, who enters with a best throw of 65.87 metres. Also ranked inside the top 10 are Trevor Gunzell of Arkansas, second with 62.57m; Chad Hendricks of LSU, eighth with 60.30m; and Christopher Young of Alabama, 10th with 59.86m. LSU's Jordan Turner is ranked fourth in the men's long jump with a best of 8.08 metres.

In the West, Oklahoma's Ralford Mullings is the best-placed Jamaican in the men's discus, ranked second with a best of 65.97m, while Racquil Brodrieck of South Carolina sits third with 62.87m. Oregon's Kobe Lawrence is ranked seventh in the men's shot put with 19.74 metres, while Apalos Edwards of Kansas State is ninth in the men's triple jump with 16.53m.

Rivaldo Marshall of Arkansas is the best-placed Jamaican on the track among the men with his impressive 1:44.15 clocking in the men's 800 metres. His teammate, Tyrice Taylor, is ranked fourth with 1:45.05.

In other track events, Demario Prince of Baylor is ranked third in the men's 110m hurdles with 13.14 seconds, while Arkansas' Jerome Campbell is sixth with a best of 13.33.

In the East, Sharvis Simmonds of Clemson is the best-placed Jamaican, ranked ninth in the men's 110m hurdles with a best of 13.37.

With several Jamaicans carrying strong rankings and impressive performances into the preliminary rounds, expectations will be high for another outstanding showing as they chase places at the NCAA Championships and continue their preparations for the national championships next month.