Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Former Vere Technical star Kimberly Williams continued her awesome form on the collegiate circuit when she won the women's long jump on Thursday evening's second day of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) outdoor track and field championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Ranked number four going into the event, the Florida State University student pulled off a major upset, winning with a best of 6.54 metres. Williams, who on the eve of the championships was named Female South Region Field Event Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), actually had the same mark as two other athletes. Caroline Kehlur of San Diego State and Jamesha Youngblood of Oregan all leaped 6.54 metres but Williams took the gold medal on a countback.

Williams, who joined countrywomen Elva Goulbourne and Jovanee Jarrett in winning this event, is aiming to become the first Jamaican to take a jumping double at these championships. She is also competing in the triple jump. She is the top seed going into the championships and has been unbeaten all season.

Men's long jump

In the men's long jump, former Calabar High long jumper Nicholas Gordon of Nebraska was third. Gordon, who won the indoor title in March, did 7.99 metres. Jamaicans Alain Bailey of Arkansas University and Julian Reid of Texas A&M, who were the top two seeds coming into the championships, finished out of the medals. Reid, formerly of Wolmer's Boys (7.96m), was fourth while Bailey, a Kingston College graduate, had to settle for seventh place with 7.91 metres. Defending champion, Ngonidzasha Makusha of Florida State University who represented Zimbabwe at the Beijing Olympics, retained his title by winning with 8.11 metres.

Former St Hugh's High School thrower Nadia Alexander, competing for Louisiana Technical University, could only mange 10th in the women's shot put final as she had a mark of 16.00 metres.

There were several other Jamaicans in action on Thursday with Samantha Henry leading the way. Henry, formerly of The Queen's School and representing Louisiana State University, was second in one semi-final of the women's 200 metres and is through to today's final as the fourth-fastest qualifier. Henry was down to compete in last night 100 metres final as on the opening day she clocked 11.44 seconds for third place in her semi-final.

Failed to advance

Olympian Nickeisha Anderson of Kansas University failed to advance to the 200 metres final as her fifth-place 23.27 seconds was not good enough. Henry's teammate Kayann Thompson also failed to move on in the 800 metres as the former Edwin Allen runner clocked 2:03.99 for a fifth-place finish in the semi-finals of the 800 metres.

Following his third-place finish in his flight, former Manning's School thrower Hickel Woolery, competing for Texas A&M, qualified for today's discus final. His throw of 58.89 metres is the fifth best going into the final. Also advancing on Thursday was former Calabar hurdler Andrew Riley from Illinois University who moved on to last night's semi-final in the 110 metres hurdles after clocking 13.88 seconds as the runner-up in his heat.

Two other Jamaicans, Dwight Mullings and Allodin Fothergill, were expected to compete in last night's 400 metres semi-finals as they were hoping to book places in today's final. Mullings, Jamaica only sub-45 seconds quarter miler this year, won his heat for Mississippi States in 45.91 while Fothergill, formerly of University of Maryland Eastern Shores (UMES), finished third in his heat in 46.01 to advance.

The four-day championships will see all finals today with the men's discus throw starting at 10 a.m and the first track event, the women's 400 metres, going off at 12:15 p.m.