Nickeisha Wilson. - Photo by Anthony Foster

Jamaica's World Championships finalist, Nickeisha Wilson, was on fire at last weekend's 2008 Purple Tiger Indoor meet which was held at the Loiusiana State University (LSU) Field House, Baton Rouge.

Wilson, a fourth-place finisher in the 400m hurdles at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, shone brightly with an 8.12-second win in the 60m hurdles, an automatic NCAA qualifying time for LSU.

The time made Wilson, who finished ahead of her teammate Jessica Ohanaja (8.27), the fastest Jamaican this season and 11th fastest in the world.

At the same meet, former national junior representative, Samantha Henry, also secured an automatic qualifying mark of 7.26 seconds, while placing second in the women's 60m dash behind her LSU teammate, Juanita Broaddus (7.26).

Crossed the line

Kayann Thompson, formerly of Edwin Allen and Jamaica Junior, was a member of LSU 'A's winning 4x400m relay team, which crossed the line in 3:42.91 ahead of LSU 'B' (3:45.94).

Andrea Linton, also of LSU and formerly of St. Jago, leapt 12.94m, a provisional mark in the women's triple jump, for third place. Kesha Spencer of Tiger Olympians won with a leap of 13.15m.

At the NYC Gotham Cup in New York, Jamaica's World Youth silver medallist Natasha Ruddock was in record breaking form for Essex County College.

In the 60m hurdles, Ruddock ran 8.31 seconds to break the school's record, that was previously held by her one-time St. Jago teammate Melaine Walker, who attended Essex between 2002 and 2004. She beat Janica Austin of Lafayette (8.78) into second place.

Ruddock returned to run 7.62 in the 60m dash for third. Melocia Clarke, running unattached, won the event in 7.51 seconds.

Former St. Jago athlete Dwight Mullings, who now attends Essex, won the men's equivalent in 47.65 seconds ahead of his teammate, Demetrius Pinder (47.95).

At the Texas Tech Invitational, former Edwin Allen athlete, Kimberly Smith, was impressive in the 55m dash, winning in 6.97 seconds ahead of Rachel Runnels of North Texas (7.22).

In the 55m hurdles, Latoya Greaves, running for Oklahoma, won the event in 7.86 ahead Julianne Kennedy from Texas Tech University (8.00).

Captured event

Sheldon Leith of Oklahoma (7.44) was third in the men's 55m dash, which was won by Shawon Harris of Texas Tech University (7.33).

At the Kansas Indoor Invitational, former Carifta Games Under-20 200m champion, Nickeisha Anderson, captured the women's 60m dash in 7.43 seconds ahead of her teammate Victoria Howard (7.66) and Jennifer Snyder of Wichita State (7.84).

In the 600 yards, former Edwin Allen athlete Maresia Pencil, also of Kansas, took the event in 1:24.68 seconds ahead of April Montgomery of Tulsa (1:25.69) and Layne Moore of Missouri (1:26.01).

In Nebraska, Sheryl Morgan of Nebraska (54.63) was second in the women's 400m behind Pinar Saka of Nebomaha (53.94).

- A. Foster