Reyare Thomas and Durrel Busby struck gold for their schools in the US Collegiate action over the weekend. Thomas (Iowa Central) blazed to gold in the women's 55m finals while Busby (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) took the men's 60m hurdles. Thomas, the 2009 CAC Championships 200m bronze medallist was first to the line in 6.92 at the National Junior College Athletic Conference Region XI Championships in Iowa on Friday and Saturday to retain the short sprint title she won in 2011 (60m dash).
Thomas also bagged silver in the 400m in 58.43 to improve on her fourth place finish last year. Busby was on fire once again sped to a new personal best and school record in the men's 60m hurdles for the third straight week at the UWM Panther Tune Up, Wisconsin. The Signal Hill Secondary graduate clocked 7.79 seconds to win from his school mates Dexter Schelis in second (8.05) and Alex Delveaux (8.13).
Akeela Bravo won silver in the women's shot put finals at the 2012 Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Johnson City, Tennessee yesterday. Bravo had a best throw of 13.26m to finish behind the winner Gwennetta Jones of Kennesaw State (13.47). In the weight throw finals Bravo was fifth with 15.51. The St. Francois Girls College student improved on her fourth place finish in the shot put and 11th in the weight throw in the 2011 edition of the championships.
Kiersten LaRoache copped bronze in the women's pentathlon at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships with 3,269 points. The Temple University first year student was beaten for gold by Mariss Norman (Rhode Island) 3,504 and Hilary Lang (Dayton) 3,418. La Roache was fifth in the long jump with a leap of 5.51m.
On the final day of the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Shot put title on the final day of the Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on yesterday Emmanuel Stewart (Morgan State/T&T) missed out on a medal in the men's shot put taking fourth (15.73) as his school mate Jefferson Butler took the bronze with 15.76. In 2011 Stewart was sixth in the event (15.32). The former Scarborough Secondary failed in his bid for a second title after he captured the weight throw on Friday in a championship record of 18.01m.
Results
NJCAA Regional XI Championships
Iowa
Women's 55m
1 Reyare Thomas Iowa Central 6.92
Women's 400m
2 Reyare Thomas Iowa Central 58.43
UWM Panther Tune Up Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Men's 60m hurdles
1 Durel Busby Wisconsin-Wilwaukee 7.79 (School record)
Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships
Memorial Centre, Johnson City, Tennessee.
Women's Shot put
1 Gwennetta Jones Kennesaw State 13.47
2 Akeela Bravo Jacksonville 13.26 (12.62, 12.86, f, 12.75, 13.26, 12.47)
Women's Weight throw
5 Akeela Bravo Jacksonville 15.51 (f, 15.16, 15.22, 15.51, f, 15.28)
Atlantic 10 Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships
URI Mackal Field House, Kingston, Rhode Island.
Women's Pentathlon
1 Marissa Norman Rhode Island 3504
2 Hilary Lang Dayton 3418
3 Kiersten LaRoche Temple 3269
(60m-9th/9.59, High Jump-3rd/1.55, Shot put-3rd/10.03, Long Jump-2nd-5.37, 800m-15th/2:37:12)
Women's Long Jump
5 LaRoche 5.51m
Mid East Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships
Prince George S&L Complex, Landover, Mary Land
Men's Shot put
1 Dillon Simon Maryland East/Dominica 16.64
4 Emmanuel Stewart Morgan State T&T 15.73