Lyston named NCAA athlete of the week
Jamaica’s Brianna Lyston of Louisiana State University (LSU) was on Tuesday named the NCAA national female track athlete of the week by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) after her lifetime best 7.07 seconds to win the women’s 60m at the Razorback Invitational at the University of Arkansas on Saturday.
The former Hydel High runner clocked the second-fastest season debut in collegiate history behind 2023 The Bowerman winner Julien Alfred’s 7.02 one year ago, according to the USTFCCCA.
Lyston lowered her previous best by 0.22 seconds over the course of the day and tied the LSU programme record set by Aleia Hobbs. Lyston’s effort was the fastest in the United States so far this year, number three in the world and fourth best ever in NCAA history.
High jumper Romaine Beckford of the University of Arkansas and Warren Barrett of Liberty University were also recognised by their respective conferences after outstanding performances last weekend.
Beckford was named the South-eastern Conference (SEC) Men’s Field Athlete of the week after his NCAA leading 2.27m to win the men’s high jump at the Razorback meet, improving his indoor personal best.
The height saw Beckford move up to number four all time at Arkansas and is sixth in the world so far.
Barrett, who was winning his second Conference USA Male Field Athlete of the Week, threw 19.35m for second in the men’s shot put at the Penn State National Open.
Barrett’s mark sees him ranked number seven nationally.
Also at the Penn State meet, Roschell Clayton broke the Villanova school record when she won the women’s high jump with 1.85m, two weeks after she had tied the previous record of 1.84m.
Her teammate Malaika Cunningham was fifth with 1.73m, Abigail Mullings of West Virginia University cleared 1.70m and her teammate Annishka McDonald cleared 1.65m.
Omari McKenzie of Morgan State jumped a season best 14.48m in the men’s triple jump as Nayoka Clunis opened her season with a personal best 22.62m in the women’s weight throw.
At the Arkansas meet, Kimar Farquharson ran 1:47.81 for the seventh best time ever in Texas A&M history, while Tyreese Reid ran a personal best 1:48.50 to be number five all time at Mississippi State.
Nickisha Pryce of the University of Arkansas ran 51.58 seconds for the women’s 400m, while Garriel Whyte of LSU clocked 53.16 and Aalliyah Francis of South Carolina ran 54.58.
World Championships relay medallist Jevaughn Powell of the University of Florida was third in the men’s 400m with 46.28 and his teammate Reheem Hayles finished fifth with 46.69.
Nia Robinson jumped to number two on the Arkansas all-time list when she placed third in the women’s long jump with 6.56m.
Tarees Rhoden ran 1:47.88 to win the men’s 800m at the Clemson Bob Pollack Invitational, the fourth best time ever at Clemson. Okera Myrie, also of Clemson, ran 23.43 for the women’s 200m, while World Champion in the 100m hurdles, Danielle Williams ran 23.46.
Courtney Lawrence threw a personal best 18.92m for the second in the men’s shot put while Danniel Thomas-Dodd, equalled the facility record when she won the women’s shot put with 18.40m, the same distance thrown by Cleopatra Borel-Brown in 2005.
Chanice Porter jumped 6.51m in the women’s long jump, while Brandon Pottinger of the University of Tennessee cleared 2.10m in the high jump.
