Saint Lucian athletes Joy Edward and Jenneil Jacobie competed in national collegiate indoor track and field championships over the weekend, and whilst neither emerged with a medal, they both produced unprecedented and laudable performances. Edward improved her national record, whilst Jacobie was the first athlete from her school to compete at the Division I level.
Hailing from Talvern, Babonneau, Edward raised her national record in women’s shot put by nearly half a metre at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. Representing the University of Charleston Golden Eagles, Edward produced the biggest throw of her career, 15.48m, to finish eighth and earn First Team All-American honours.
The senior transfer from Troy University had entered Saturday’s competition seeded 14th in the nation. With her fourth attempt at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, the Leon Hess Comprehensive alumna climbed the rankings with her first throw ever of at least 50 feet, also extending her own school record in the process.
Jacobie, meanwhile, was 16th in women’s high jump at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships. Competing for the East Texas A&M University Lions, the junior from Grande Riviere, Gros Islet, cleared 1.74m at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The first-ever ETAMU student to compete at a Division I event, the Corinth Secondary graduate was one of just two Southland Conference competitors across all events to qualify for this year’s Indoor National Championships.
Jacobie cleared the height on her second attempt, but was unable to negotiate the next height, 1.80m. Texas Tech’s Temitope Adeshina was crowned the national champion, clearing 1.97m.
Both athletes will now prepare for the outdoor season, where Edward is expected to be a redshirt, meaning that she will not compete under the school banner.
Other Saint Lucian Results:
| Narlia Albert | 13.85 (12th, 100m) | Lloyd Sigler Spring Meet |
| Maiya Landers | 2:26.14 (10th, 800m) | Grizzly Relays |
| Maiya Landers | 59.74 (8th, 400m) | Grizzly Relays |
| Raelyn Cyril | 56.83 (1st, 400m) | Grizzly Relays |
| Shamael Durand | 12.96m (3rd, shot put) | UTA Invitational |
| Shamael Durand | 43.88m (6th, discus throw) | UTA Invitational |
| Naya Jules | 3.04m (3rd, pole vault) | Dean Pryor Invitational |
| Naya Jules | 36.48m (3rd, javelin throw) | Dean Pryor Invitational |
