Nicholas Gordon

COLLEGE STATION, Texas: FORMER Calabar High school athlete Nicholas Gordon was in devastating form Friday night on day one of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at College Station in Texas as he produced a magnificent jump of 8.03 metres to win the long jump.

A sophomore at Nebraska University, Gordon, who went into the championships as the third-ranked athlete with a mark of 7.96m, saved his best for his final attempt. After taking the lead earlier, he was passed by Louisiana State University's (LSU) Jeremy Hicks on the penultimate jump.

With the LSU's large contingent celebrating early, Gordon, the former Carifta Under-20 champion, broke their hearts. Gordon gave it his all on the final attempt as Hicks had to settle for second with 8.01m.

Three other Jamaicans competed in the event. Former Wolmer's Boys athlete Julian Reid, competing for Texas A&M University, was fourth with 7.83 metres. Former Kingston College athletes Tarik Batchelor (7.54m) and Alain Bailey (7.38 metres) could only manage 10th and 14th, respectively. Both competed for Arkansas University.

other Jamaicans in action

Several other Jamaicans were in action on the opening night but they found the going very hard. Former Queen's High athlete Samantha Henry, competing for LSU, finished seventh overall in the women's 200 metres in 23.34 seconds. University of Miami's Muriele Ahore won in a world-leading time of 22.80. Henry was down to compete in last night's 60 metres final as she clocked 7.26 seconds to finish second in her heat. World Junior representative Trisha Hawthorne of Connecticut failed to advance after finishing at the back of the field in her heat in 7.44. She also finished at the back in the her 200 metres heat before being disqualified for running on the line. Former Edwin Allen middle-distance runner Kayon Thompson, a junior at LSU, also failed to advanced in the 800 metres as she finished at the back of the field in 2:11.30. Also former Holmwood Technical jumper Petagaye Beckford, competing for Arkansas University, could only manage 5.88 metres in the long jump.

Former Calabar athlete Andre Riley of Illinois University was down to compete in last night's 60 metres hurdles final as he finished third in his heat in 7.81. He was the eighth-fastest qualifier.