Mullings

Former St Jago High athlete, Dwight Mullings, became Jamaica's top performer in the 400 metres this year as he clocked an excellent, personal best of 44.98 seconds, to finish a close second in the men's event at the SEC Outdoor Championships in Gainesville, Florida, on Sunday.

Mullings finished second behind Florida's Calvin Smith, who clocked 44.96 seconds, as they warmed up for next weekend's NCAA Regional Track and Field Championships.

The Jamaican's time makes him the sixth ranked athlete in the world over 400 metres.

Mullings, a junior at Mississippi States University, is the third Jamaican since 2007 to go under 45 seconds as only Ricardo Chambers, who clocked 44.80 seconds in 2008 and 44.62 in 2007 and Sanjay Ayre (44.98) in 2007, have gone under 45 seconds.

Double victory

At the same meet, former Kingston College (KC) jumper, Alain Bailey, registered a double victory.

Competing for Arkansas University, Bailey put behind an average season in 2008 to produce 7.84 metres - the best this season - to win the long jump; and then took the high jump with 2.17 metres.

Bailey's teammate Tarik Batchelor, himself a former KC athlete, also booked his regional ticket as he leapt 15.61 metres for third in the boys' triple jump and 7.65 metres for fifth in the long jump.

Former Queen's High athlete, Samantha Henry, was the best female Jamaican at the meet as the Louisiana State University athlete captured the women's 200 metres in 23.36 seconds, after finishing second in the 100 metres in 11.34 seconds. Her teammate, Kayann Thompson, formerly of Edwin Allen, also qualified for the regionals after finishing fourth in the women's 800 metres in 2:03.64.

Gordon's good form

At the Big 12 Meet in Lubbock, Texas, former Calabar star Nicholas Gordon continued his good form in the long jump. The Nebraska athlete, who won the long jump Indoor title in March, booked his regional ticket by winning the event with 7.91 metres. Former Wolmer's rep Julian Reid, now competing for Texas A&M University, finished second with 7.88 metres. Reid also qualified for the triple jump, after finishing second with 16.69 metres.

Former St Andrew High hurdler, Latoya Heath, now competing for Oklahoama University, also did well at the meet as she warmed up for the regionals by finishing second in the women's 100 metres hurdles in 13.33 seconds.

The other Jamaican to book a ticket to the Regional Meet was Beijing Olympic 4x100 metres reserve, Nickeisha Anderson. The former Herbert Morrison sprinter, competing for Kansas University, finished third in the 200 metres in 23.24 seconds and fourth in the 100 metres in 11.50 seconds.