Ruddock ends on a high Published: Sunday | May 24, 2009 Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer Former St Jago High sprint hurdler, Natasha Ruddock, ended h

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Former St Jago High sprint hurdler, Natasha Ruddock, ended her junior college sojourn on a high by capturing the 100 metres hurdles final on yesterday's final day of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Track and Field Championships on the campus of Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

Competing in her final race for Essex County College and running in a negative 1.2 mps wind, Ruddock clocked 13.45 seconds to easily retain her title as Barbadian Kierre Beckles, the 2008 Austin Sealy Carifta awardee,competing for Central Arizona College, captured silver in 13.51.

Ruddock who will be attending Texas A&M University in August was very pleased with her victory.

"After running 13.15 in the heat I was expecting to go faster but the wind affected my time in the final but I am still happy with the win as this is my fourth title, two indoors and two outdoors", said Ruddock.

It was a good meet for Caribbean athletes as Sheniqua Ferguson of Bahamas scored a double while Jamaica's Shakeeri Cole and Sashakaye Matthias were all victorious at the three-day meet.

Sprint double

Ferguson, the 2008 World Junior 200 metres gold medallist, competing for Southern Mississippi College, clocked 11.48 and 23.54 seconds to win the sprint double. In the 100 metres, former Edwin Allen sprinter, Shawna Anderson, competing for South Plains College, ended second in 11.65. Tarika Williams, formerly of Queens High and now competing for Florisant Valley was fourth in 11.77.

In the 200 metres, former St Jago High athlete, Tanisha Baker, also of Southern Mississippi College, took third in 23.93 with Williams once again ending fourth in 23.98 and Anderson fifth in 24.00.

Former Edwin Allen High middle distance runner Shakeeri Cole, a freshman at South Plains, won the 800 metres in 2:11.98.

Matthias, another former St Jago High student who is also competing in her final meet for Essex County College, took the long jump with a leap of 6.16 metres.

Former Vere Technical athlete Julissa Grant, who pulled off a big surprise to capture the 400 metres indoor title for South Western Christian College, had to settle for second spot with a personal best of 53.77 in the outdoor event. There was also a medal for former Vere Technical thrower Keneisha Thoroughsing as, competing for Central Arizona, she finished third in the javelin with 40.13 metres.

Former St Jago High quarter-miler, Riker Hylton, competing for Essex County College, was third in the 400 metres in 45.92 as South Plains' Latoy Williams won in an impressive 44.73 to edge out Tabare Henry of Barton County, 44.77.