Hydel past students dominate Ja athletes at NCAA meet

Former student-athletes from Hydel High dominate the athletes down to compete at this week's National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division 1 Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Forty-eight Jamaican athletes are down to compete with eight passing through the Hydel track and field system.

Brianna Lyston who will compete for Louisiana State University spent her earlier years at St Jago High before moving to Hydel and she will be hoping to continue her excellent form after capturing the 60 metres indoor title earlier this year. She is down to contest both the 100 and 200 metres.

A year ago, Oneika McAnuff helped to guide Hydel to their first team girls' title at the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships and the former captain will compete for the University of Kentucky in the 400 metres where she has a seeded time of 51.71 seconds.

Shenese Walker, Oneika Wilson and Gabrielle Matthews will also be in action on the track.

Walker will represent Florida State University in the 100m where she will be going in with a time of 11.09 seconds. Wilson will compete for Clemson in the 100m hurdles where she has a best of 12.79 seconds.

Matthews who spent most of her high school years at Hydel before moving to The Queen's School for her final two years, will compete for the University of Mississippi in the 400m hurdles where she is entering with 55.45 seconds.

In field events, Velecia Williams will compete for University of Nebraska in the long jump with her best being 6.56m. Rhiana Phipps, also representing Nebraska, will compete in the triple jump.

Lamara Distin who had stints at Rusea's and Vere Technical before spending her final year at Hydel will compete in the high jump where she is one of the leading contenders .She was one of several athletes to clear the automatic qualifying standard of 1.84 metres at the regional meet.

St Jago High will have four former athletes competing in the women's events.

Abigail Martin will compete for Texas A&M University in the discus where she has a best of 56.11m. Gabrielle Bailey will also compete in the discus for Kent State University where she has a best of 56.44m.

Sprint hurdler Rosealee Cooper will contest the 100m hurdles for Mississippi State University where she has a best of 12.95.

Shantae Foreman who attended Excelsior High before transferring to sixth form at St Jago will contest the triple jump for Clemson University where she will be going in with a best of 13.95m.