Alexander second in US college 100m

EDWARDSVILLE, Illinois: Bahamian Shandria Brown and Nikkisha Maynard, of Barbados, produced double wins at the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division Two track & field championship this past weekend.

Brown posted convincing victories to land the sprint double, while Maynard won the heptathlon and 100-metre hurdles titles, both helping Lincoln University win the women’s team title. Trinidad and Tobago’s Niconnor Alexander and Barbadians Kevin Bartlett and Wilan Louis also secured medals at the two-day championship at the Korte Stadium. Brown, the CARIFTA Games double sprint champion at home in the Bahamas last year, copped the 100 metres in 11.59 seconds, defeating Carmelita Jeters (11.79). In the 200 metres, she stopped the clock at 23.32 seconds, to edge Libiab Rodriquez (23.37). Brown also helped Lincoln win the 4X100-metre relay in 45.08 seconds.

Maynard gathered 5,378 points for a clear win over Danielle Ayers-Stamper (5,120) in the heptathlon, and she won the sprint hurdles in 13.72 seconds, narrowly topping Lynnae Samuels (13.73). Maynard also posted 5.90 metres for silver in the long jump that was won by Carlene Cummings at 6.03 metres. Alexander (10.28) was runner-up to Olan Coleman (10.23) in the men’s 100 metres, in which Jamaican Lerone Clarke was fifth in 10.44 and Bartlett seventh in 10.48. Coleman also won the 200 in 20.57, with Alexander (21.10) fourth, Clarke (21.27) seventh, and Louis eighth in 21.68. Louis (46.68) got bronze and Jamaican Orville Taylor (47.62) was seventh in the men’s 400, won by Sterling Gray (46.44). Louis celebrated two relay gold medals with St. Augustine’s, helping them capture the 4X100 metres in 39.98 seconds, and the 4X400 in three minutes 08.71 seconds. Bartlett (7.45 metres) got third in the men’s long jump behind winner Jeff Billing (7.61).