Sparkle McKnight has been named the top-ranked 400-metres runner in the latest USA National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One rankings.
The Arkansas University student sped to the number-one spot in the women’s one lap event following her 52.17 victory at the Sun Angel Classic in Arizona on April 5.
The Chaguanas resident is also at number seven on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) women’s performance listing. The time is a new personal best for the London Olympic sprint relay team member.
McKnight improved on her previous best of 52.44 set in winning last year’s national women’s 400m title at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in June. The 2010 double Carifta silver medallist also got under the B standard of 52.35 for this year’s World Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Moscow, Russia.
In addition, the national indoor record holder (52.52) is at sixth in the 400m hurdles after she clocked another pb of 56.62 in copping the Texas Star Elite title in March 23. The former Carapichaima Secondary student is also eighth in the world in the one-lap hurdles event.
McKnight is also 66th in the 200m (23.91). Wayne Davis II is the only other T&T athlete in the top ten. Davis II (Texas A&M) is at sixth on the men’s 110m hurdles performance list with a 13.54 clocking, missing the World Champs B standard of 13.50. The Olympic semifinalist is also ninth on the World Rankings. Durel Busby (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) is at 65th position (14.26). Kai Selvon (Auburn), Shawn Fermin (Washington State) and Alena Brooks (Minnesota) are also in the top 20. Selvon lies at 16th in the women’s 200m (23.37) while Fermin and Brooks are at 17th in the women’s 400m (53.37) and 800m (2:05.82), respectively.
Brooks’ clocking is a new personal best for the Diego Martin Government Secondary graduate. Other athletes in the top 50 include Jamol James (Tennessee)-33rd/10.33w and Shermund Allsop (LSU)-45th-10.48w in the men’s 100m and in the women’s 100m is Geronne Black of Portland State, who is 44th (11.61w).
In the Junior College standings, Kernesha Spann (Western Texas) leads the way in the women’s 400m hurdles with her 1:00.27 posting in racing to victory at the Texas Tech Open on April 6. Spann is also ninth in the 400m flat rankings (56.11). Elton Walcott (South Plains) is third in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 15.82.