Raymond Graham, Freelance Reporter

Nickeisha Wilson - Anthony Foster photo

FOLLOWING a hectic Indoor track and field season, several Jamaicans made good starts to their outdoor campaign at several meets in the United States on the weekend.

On the heels of Leford Green's excellent 400 metres opening last Friday at the Raleigh Relays where he posted a personal best of 45.56 seconds, there were victories at other venues for Nickeisha Wilson, Natasha Ruddock, Kimberly Laing, Dwight Mullings and Allodin Fothergill.

Wilson, who is eyeing a spot on Jamaica Olympic team this year following her fourth place finish at the World Championships in the 400 metres hurdles last year, started off her outdoor season with a good win in the women's 100 metres hurdles at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tiger Relays.

LSU tiger relays results

Competing for LSU, Wilson posted 13.19 seconds to capture the event. She was also a member of the team which won the 4x400 metres relay as they posted 3:30.83 seconds.

At the Maryland Invitational meet in Maryland, Natasha Ruddock, who also had an excellent Indoor season, started her outdoor campaign on a victorious note.

Competing for Essex County College, the former St Jago star captured the 100 metres hurdles in 13.45 seconds.

At this same meet Dwight Mullings, also competing for Essex County College, copped the men's 400 metres in 47.98 seconds.

Former Immaculate Conception student Kimberly Laing, who showed so much promise in high school, is finally getting there as competing for Alabama A & M University at the Alabama Relays, she scored a victory by capturing the 100 metres hurdles in 13.51 seconds.

Following his victory last week in the 200 metres, former G.C. Foster College star, Fothergill, scored another win in the half-lap event on Saturday. Competing under rainy and cold conditions at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina at the University of Maryland, the Eastern Shore athlete posted 21.45 seconds for victory.

At this same meet there were second-place finishes for Shermaine Williams and Celia Whyte. Williams, competing for Johnson C. Smith, lost in a photo finish in the 100 metres hurdles as the former Alpha Academy star was credited with 13.87 seconds for silver, with the winner, Jackie Walton of Michigan State, won in 13.86 seconds.

Settle for silver

Whyte, out of the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, had to settle for silver in the 800 metres in 2:11.43, just edging out her team-mate, Merrecia James, who finished third in 2:11.87. Former G.C. Foster College athlete, Sherona Brown, competing for St Augustine University, finished fourth in 2:12.97.

Former national senior 400 metres champion, Nadia Davy, is making a comeback as competing at the Florida States Relays she finished second in her pet event, the 400 metres, in 53.04 seconds. There was also a second-place finish for former Edwin Allen star, Lorain McKenzie, as competing for Florida University she copped the silver in the 1500 metres in 4:30.57, which is an automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Championship.

Although not competing in an individual event, World outdoor 4x100 metres silver medallist, Simone Facey, played an important role on Texas A & M's 4x100 metres relay team as they took the event in a world leading 43.18 seconds.