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FORMER St Elizabeth Technical High School female sprint hurdler Habibah Harris was the top Jamaican qualifier for today’s finals of the Women’s NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, following semifinal action on Thursday at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon.
A Freshman at the University of Florida, Harris remained unbeaten this season in the 100m hurdles after winning her heat in 12.84 seconds to advance as the third-fastest qualifier. She will run out of lane four in today’s final.
Oneika Wilson, formerly of Hydel High, will be the other Jamaican in the final. Competing for Clemson University, she ended third in her heat in 12.95 seconds, the eighth fastest overall, and will run out of lane nine in the final.
It was tough luck for former Clarendon College hurdler Marissa Simpson, now representing the University of Texas, El Paso, who finished sixth in her heat in 12.97 and 20th overall, failing to advance.
Quarter-miler Dejanea Oakley was an impressive qualifier in the women’s 400m. Competing for the University of Georgia and currently the second fastest Jamaican female this season over the one-lap event, she stopped the clock at a personal best 50.18 seconds to win her heat and advanced as the second-fastest qualifier. She will start in lane seven in the final.
Two other Jamaicans – Shaquane Foote of San Diego State University, formerly of Petersfield High, and Joanne Reid of the University of Arkansas, formerly of St Jago High – failed to advance after finishing fifth and eighth in their respective heats.
In the meantime, Shanise Walker of Florida State University and Gabrielle Matthews of the University of Florida advanced to the finals of their respective events.
Walker, the joint second-fastest Jamaican female in the 100m this season with 10.98 seconds (tied with Tia Clayton), ended third in her heat in 11.06 seconds for Florida State University.
Matthews, formerly of The Queen’s School, ran a personal best of 22.59 seconds to finish third in her heat – the ninth and final qualifying spot overall – for the University of Florida.
Three Jamaicans will be in action in today’s field events finals, led by Shantae Foreman of Clemson University. The former Excelsior and St Jago High jumper will contest the women’s triple jump final as the top seed, with a qualifying distance of 14.01 metres. She will be joined by Macheada Linton of Louisiana State University, who has a qualifying mark of 13.25m.
Adrienne Adams of Auburn University will compete in the discus throw final at 2:30 p.m. Jamaica time.
English (US) ·