Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

SEVERAL UNITED States-based Jamaican collegiate athletes will be hoping to end their outdoor season on a high note when the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) outdoor championships begin today at the South Plains University campus in Levelland, Texas.

The three-day meet could, however, be without sprint hurdles favourite and indoor 60m hurdles champion Natasha Ruddock. The Essex freshman, who had hit good form outdoors, suffered a mild hamstring injury four weeks ago at Morgan States University and, since then, she has not competed in her pet event, the 100m hurdles. In her absence, Bahamian Krystal Bodie, who attends South West Mississippi College and who is ranked number three in the world as a junior with 13.45 seconds, should win.

Following a good indoor season, Edwin Allen High graduate Andrea Sutherland is expected to do well. Sutherland, who now attends Barton County College, won the 600m indoors. She is ranked number three outdoors in the 800m, while she is the top-ranked athlete in the 400m hurdles with a time of 59.33.

Hoping for gold

After two second places indoors, former St Jago High athlete Sasha-Kaye Matthias, who now competes for Essex County College, will be hoping to mine gold at the meet. With a season best 6.04m in the long jump and 12.61m in the triple jump, she is ranked number two in both.

Former Manchester High athlete Stephanie Simpson, who is now at South Plains University, is ranked number two in both the 200m and 400m. In the former, her best is 23.66, while in the latter, it is 54.08.

Top-ranking girls

New Mexico freshman Shantal Thompson, formerly of Vere Technical High, is ranked number three in the triple jump with a mark of 12.35m, while she is at number seven in the long jump with 5.93m. Her teammate, Angella Graham, another Vere Technical graduate, has already gone up to 4,664 points and is ranked number two in the heptathlon.

Other Jamaicans ranked in the top eight are Essex County College's Suely Pilliner (1.65m), number seven in the high jump, and Taneisha Baker of South West Mississippi College, who is number eight in the 100m with 11.92.