2 months ago
7
“This has been a long journey for me and I am very happy. It took me two years to achieve this feat, but it was all about being patient, as I was always confident that the opportunity would come, and I am very grateful,” said Ralford Mullings, following his achievement at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field, in Eugene, Oregon.
Mullings, a junior at the University of Oklahoma, won the men’s discus with a personal best of 69.31 metres, breaking a 33-year-old meet record.
It was the only win by a Jamaican male at the championships.
In doing so, the former Kingston College thrower claimed a major scalp, upsetting collegiate and world record holder Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania, who finished second with 66.73m while representing the University of California.
Another Jamaican in the event, Racquil Brodrieck of the University of South Carolina, finished fourth with a personal best of 63.31m.
RIGHT TIME
When asked if he was surprised by his outstanding achievement, the 22-year-old replied, “No, I knew this performance would come soon.
“It was hard work in my preparation, I saw it coming, and it came at the right time. I knew I had it in me to do something special,” said the former World Under-20 silver medallist and NACAC Under-23 champion in the event.
Mullings, who finished ninth in the event at the Paris Olympics last year, stated that this performance has given him a lot of confidence going forward.
“For me, it’s now back to the drawing board, as the next step is preparation for the National Senior Championships in two weeks. I will use this win as a stepping stone ahead of that and the World Athletics Championships to come later,” he said.
He also thanked those who contributed to his success.
“I would like to say a big thank you to my coach, wife, and family members who all played a major role in this success,” he said.
TOP-THREE FINISH
Meanwhile, former Calabar High School half-miler Rivaldo Marshall, representing the University of Arkansas, secured a top-three finish at the meet, placing third in 1:46.71. His teammate, Tyrice Taylor – formerly of Vere Technical – finished eighth in 1:47.44.
In another track final, freshman Demario Prince of Baylor was fifth in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.44 seconds, while Jahiem Stern of Louisiana State University finished seventh in 13.57.
Luke Brown of the University of Kentucky placed fourth in the men’s triple jump with 16.18m, while Safin Wills of the University of Oregon took seventh with 16.97m.
English (US) ·