Jamaica athletes star on indoor college circuit

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

World Youth Championships silver medallist Natasha Ruddock, Carifta Games Under-20 gold medallist Nickesha Anderson, Sasha-Kay Matthias and Melony McKay were winners at various indoor track and field meets across the United States last weekend.

At the Seton Hall Games, Ruddock, a World Youth Championships 100m hurdles silver medallist, won the 60m hurdles in 8.53 seconds. She had earlier clocked 8.45 in the preliminary round.

The St. Jago past student, who just two weeks ago missed breaking the Essex Junior College 60m hurdles record, defeated Seton Hall's pair of Imani Gilliam (8.91) and Barbados-born Janielle Brathwaite (8.94). Brathwaite finished second in the 400m in 57.64.

Ruddock, a three-time Carifta Games Under-17 100m hurdles winner, was also a finalist in the 60m dash. She finished sixth in 7.99 seconds, beaten by United Stars' Amandi Rhett (7.60).

Ruddock's former teammate at St. Jago, Matthias, was fifth in 7.97, running for Essex.

Matthias returned to win the women's triple jump with a leap of 11.72 metres. Suelyn Pilliner, who is also a past student of St. Jago, took the high jump title after clearing 1.57m.

McKay, a former Queen's athlete, won the women's 500m in 1:15.89 seconds. In the time final event, she defeated Zoey Russell of Bronx Tigers (1:16.68), who also completed in the same heat one.

At Kansas State All Comers meet, Anderson, a former Jamaican junior, won the women's 400m in 56.78 seconds ahead of Kansas' pair of Victoria Howard (58.56) and Sha'Ray Butler (59.90).

In the 600 yards, Maresia Pencil, a former Edwin Allen athlete, now representing Kansas, was second in 1:23.68 seconds behind Alison Erzinger, who completed unattached (1:23.29).

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