EUGENE, Oregon — In a showcase of resilience and raw speed, Jamaica’s NCAA contingent capped the Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a series of head-turning performances at Hayward Field on Friday night.
- Rivaldo Marshall (Arkansas) – Racing in his final collegiate 800 metres, the former Iowa Hawkeye dug deep over the final 120 metres to clinch bronze in 1:46.71. One year removed from his indoor crown, Marshall’s trademark late surge proved decisive yet again, sealing a podium finish and underscoring a career defined by fearless front-running.
- Tyrice Taylor (Arkansas) – Marshall’s training partner battled through a crowded field to secure eighth in 1:47.44, adding valuable team points for the Razorbacks.
- Luke Brown (Kentucky) – The Kingston native soared to 16.18 metres (0.5 m/s) to finish just shy of the podium in the triple jump, locking up fourth and reinforcing Kentucky’s jumps tradition.
- Safin Wills (Oregon) – After a frustrating trio of fouls in the long jump prelims, Wills regrouped impressively, leaping 16.07 metres (0.5 m/s) for seventh in the triple jump on his home runway.
- Demario Prince (Baylor) – Cutting through a mild 0.1 m/s breeze, Prince stormed to fifth in the 110 metre hurdles in 13.44 seconds, while Jaheim Stern (LSU) clocked 13.57 seconds for seventh, completing a Jamaican double-strike in the sprint hurdles final.
Collectively, the performances highlighted Jamaica’s growing influence across middle-distance, hurdles, and horizontal jumps at the U.S. collegiate level. With Paris qualification now firmly on the horizon, Friday’s results suggest that the island’s next wave of talent is more than ready for the global stage.
