Oakley sets World Indoor lead in Arkansas

WORLD Championships 4x400 metres relay silver medallist Dejanea Oakley continued her terrific winter season form over the weekend. Competing at the Arkansas Razorback Invitational for the University of Georgia, she stormed to a world indoor leading time of 51.11 seconds to win the women's 400 metres.

The former Clarendon College quartermiler displaced American Zaya Akins from the top spot, whose 51.15 seconds had previously ruled the roost.

Another Jamaican in the event, Shaquane Foote, also of Georgia, finished third. The former Petersfield High School athlete clocked 51.55 seconds.

It was also an excellent meet for former St Jago and Hydel High athlete Shanece Walker. Competing for Florida State University, Walker clocked a collegiate-leading time and personal best of 7.09 seconds in the semi-finals of the women's 60 metres. Her time was also an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) best and fifth on the world top list in the event.

Walker also secured a second-place overall finish in the women's 200 metres after winning her heat in 22.96 seconds. British Virgin Islands athlete Adejah Hodge, competing for the University of Georgia, was the overall winner after posting 22.53 seconds to win her heat.

There was also a second-place finish at the meet for Nia Robinson in the women's long jump, with a distance of 6.67 metres.

Former Calabar High long jumper Jordan Turner was also a winner at the meet. Competing for Louisiana State University, he finished first in his pet event with a jump of 7.80 metres.

Two other Jamaican males also had top-three finishes. Representing the University of Arkansas, Jerome Campbell was third in the men's 60 metres hurdles in 7.57 seconds, behind winner Trey Cunningham of the United States, who clocked 7.42 seconds. There was also a third-place finish for Kobe Lawrence in the men's shot put. Representing the University of Oregon, he produced a heave of 19.47 metres.

Meanwhile, former St Jago High sprinter and hurdler Briana Campbell produced the fastest 200 metres by a Jamaican female athlete this season. In what could be her final indoor meet of the season, Campbell, who is expected to undergo surgery on her hand, sprinted to 23.04 seconds to win the event at the Bob Johnson Terrier Classics. The time is also the fourth fastest ever by a Clemson University female athlete.