Caribbean athletes shine at NCAA Division I Indoor Championships - Day 2

Candice Scott of Trinidad
(Photo by James Davis)

by Gary Smith in Arkansas 
for Caribbean Net News

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

FAYETTEVILLE, USA:  On a day when Trinidad and Tobago-born Kerron Clement set a new World indoor record in the men's 400-metres, regional athletes continued their excellent performances on the second and final day at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships on Saturday.

Trinidadians Fana Ashby and Candice Scott, Jamaicans Maurice Smith and Aneita Denton and St. Kitts and Nevis' Tiandra Ponteen were all on the top podium. Every one of these winners was impressive, but Ponteen's victory in the women's 400-metres over Grenada's Hazel Regis was just awesome. 

The Olympic 400m semi-finallist attending Florida clocked 50.90 for a close victory and in the process set a new national record to capture her fourth All-American honour. Louisiana State University ’s Hazel Ann Regis who was nipped at the line ran 50.92 for second place. 

"I knew it was going to be a tough race," Ponteen said. "I am an aggressive runner and so is Hazel Ann, I was just able to edge her in the end. I wanted to win for my mom, coach Jones, and for my family."

Jamaica's Shevon Stoddart (52.92) representing South Carolina and St Vincent & the Grenadines World junior championships semi-finallist Kineke Alexander (54.06) racing for Iowa took fourth and sixth place respectively.

After her close second place finish in the 200m on Friday, Ashby set her second national record when she won the women's 60m in 7.18sec. Jamaica's Sheri-Ann Brooks competing for Florida International was 7th in 7.32.

"I felt great out there today," Ashby said. "I was focused on what I had to do and what I have been preparing for."

Candice Scott competing in her last collegiate meet, captured the weight throw for the fourth time this season. The defending champion who also won the title as a freshman in 2002 becoming the first athlete to win three NCAA titles in the event. 

"That's the way you want to go out," Scott said. "I had increased my weight lifting, so I was strong coming into the meet. On that first throw, I just let it all hang out." 

The Gators women's head coach Tom Jones was pleased with Scott's performance and hinted that she was probably the most unique athlete he's coached. 

"I'm very pleased," Jones said. Candice is probably the most phenomenal athlete I have ever coached at Florida." 

Aneita Denton of Jamaica also tasted victory on the final day. The Arkansas senior athlete won the 800m title in 2:03.65. Neisha Bernard-Thomas made it 1-2 for Caribbean athletes by taking second place in 2:03.93 competing for Louisiana State University (LSU).

On the men's side Auburn senior Maurice Smith cemented his dominance in this year's collegiate multi-event by winning the Heptathlon with a total of 6004 points.

"This was my last collegiate meet, I came in ranked No. 1 but I didn't come in with the attitude that it would be easy to win," Smith told the Tiger's sports site. 

Smith set a national record of 6035 points at the SEC championships a week ago.

Aburn's senior and T&T's runner Sherridan Kirk finished his collegiate career with third spot in the 800m. Kirk crossed the line in 1:47.64 to set both a personal best and his country's indoor record. Despite improving on his 1:49.25 in the first round, Aldwyn Sappleton of Jamaica/Oklahoma faded into 8th place with 1:48.37 timing.

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