National records for Clifford, Jules in US school athletics

Two new national marks and a school record were set by Saint Lucian athletes this past weekend, as college teams in the United States got their outdoor track and field seasons underway. 

Lauralyn Clifford and Naya Jules were the standout performers on the first weekend of North American spring.

Clifford, a senior transfer from Coastal Carolina University, got her University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners career off to a brilliant start, with a third-place finish in the women’s hammer throw at the UTSA Invitational on Friday, March 20. It was one of five medals for UTSA across the opening 10 events at the Park West Athletics Complex.

In the fifth round of competition, Clifford spun to a career-best 58.11m (190-8.00) toss for bronze. The mark is the No. 2 all-time performance in UTSA history and would have secured second in last year’s American Conference standings. The season-opening mark also topped Clifford’s Saint Lucia national record of 56.55m from 2024.

Jules also rewrote the record book at the West Texas Relays in Canyon, Texas, clearing 3.20m in the women’s pole vault on Saturday, March 21. The 2024 CARIFTA champion in that event, and a silver medallist last year, Jules was fourth overall in Texas. She also surpassed her previous national and school records of 3.05m set earlier this year.

Jules has been very busy with the Broncbusters, and she competed in four events over the weekend. She took second place in the javelin throw with a 41.33m (135-7.00) performance, which broke a 23-year-old school record and hit the NJCAA national qualifying standard. The Babonneau native also made her collegiate debut in the 100m hurdles with a time of 17.53 and a 26.96 in the 200 metres, 11th and 13th in those events. 

OTHER RESULTS

Khailan Vitalis 14.08 (3rd) men’s 60m hurdles UCF Black & Gold Challenge 

Narlia Albert  13.52 (18th) women’s 100m Purple and Gold Invitational 

Malaika George 13.37 (15th) women’s 100m Marty Pushkin Invitational 

Malaika George  1:02.78 (15th) women’s 400m Marty Pushkin Invitational 

Natalie Albert 52.35m (2nd) women’s hammer Rhodes Invitational 

Shamael Durand 40.36m (17th) men’s discus TCU Alumni Invitational

Julianie Gonzague 8.46 (44th) women’s 60m Adidas Indoor National

Julianie Gonzague 27.31 (35th) women’s 200m Adidas Indoor National

Synai Glover 11.03m (4th) women’s shot Adidas Indoor National

Zayn Phillip 29.06 (1st) men’s 200m  USATF Youth Indoors

Zayn Phillip 8.15 (1st) men’s 55m  USATF Youth Indoors    

Miguel Charlery 49.67 (5th) men’s 400m Keystone Challenge

Miguel Charlery 22.98 (15th) men’s 200m Keystone Challenge

Maiya Landers 1:00.05 (5th) women’s 400m Ruben Jordan Classic 

Rayshawn Harris 2:04.40 (36th) men’s 400m Fred Hardy Invitational

Asa Francis 4:04.81 (33rd) men’s 1500m Fred Hardy Invitational