Lyston inspired by mom’s presence at NCAA Indoors

BRIANNA LYSTON produced two impressive performances in the women’s 60 metres on last Saturday’s final day of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston.

Lyston who qualified for the final with the joint third-fastest time of 7.07 seconds was absolutely brilliant in the showddown for the top prize. She left her opponents for dead in clocking a personal best and collegiate leading time of 7.03 for the win.

Her winning time was the second fastest in history at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Louisiana State University (LSU) Sophmore spoke about her win in a post-race interview.

“I am happy for the win as the hard work has paid off,” she said. Her mother was inside the stand to see her winning the event and this, she admitted, pushed her to lift her performance.

“I was truly motivated and inspired by my mother’s presence inside the stand. She was watching me competing for LSU for the first time,” said Lyston.

The former St Jago High and Hydel High star is hoping to transfer her good indoor form to outdoors.

“This win has given me a lot of confidence going into the outdoor season as I hope to improve my time in the 100m,” said Lyston who a few weeks earlier had also won the South East Conference (SEC) 60m title.

Two other Jamaicans, Romaine Beckford and Rivaldo Marshall, also picked up wins. Former Calabar High half-miler Marshall, competing for the University of Iowa, captured the 800m after clocking one minute 46.96 seconds. Former Kingston College team captain Tarees Rhoden, competing for Clemson University, was fifth in 1:47.79.

Competing for his new school, the University of Arkansas, former Buff Bay High high jumper Beckford had a win in his pet event. He cleared the bar at 2.27 metres to equal his personal best. His winning height was also a collegiate leading mark. Former St George’s College jumper Zayne Palomino of the University of Southern Mississippi was fifth with 2.18m.

Three other Jamaicans had second-place finishes on the final day. National 400m champion Nickeisha Pryce, competing for the University of Arkansas clocked 50.79 seconds in the one-lap event as her team swept the top-three places. She was also eighth in the 200m final in 23.18 seconds.

Roje Stona, formerly of St. Jago, and now competing for the University of Arkansas, took second in the shot put with a personal best heave of 20.45m.

Former Calabar jumper Luke Brown closed out a good night by the Jamaicans after his second-place finish in the triple jump. The University of Kentucky student produced a season’s best 16.73m.