Jaydon Hibbert holding his 2023 Bowerman Award trophy.
In his lone year competing at the NCAA level, Jaydon Hibbert undoubtedly cemented himself as the greatest jumper in collegiate history.
The now 19-year-old Arkansas sophomore became the youngest ever winner of the Bowerman Award after going unbeaten in the Triple Jump at the NCAA level in 2023, setting new collegiate Indoor and Outdoor records in the process.
Hibbert’s best jump came at the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 13 when he established a new World U-20 record with a massive 17.87m effort to win gold. He then went on to claim top spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June in addition to his wins at the SEC and NCAA Indoor Championships in February and March.
Hibbert’s associate head coach at the University of Arkansas, Travis Geopfert, put into perspective just how much of an impact his performances made at the collegiate level.
“His stamp on the history of NCAA Track & Field is already there in a very short period of time. That, we’re going to forever celebrate. His name is in the history books forever and I’m excited for that continue on the world stage as well,” he said.
Arkansas men’s head coach Chris Buckman also commented on Hibbert’s decision to turn professional.
“We’re so proud of Jaydon and all he’s accomplished here as a Razorback in such a short period of time,” he said.
“We’re just really, really happy that he’s able to take this next step and go to the next level. It really gives us a sense of satisfaction and pride. I wish him nothing but the best,” he added.
Now, Hibbert has decided to go the professional route while staying at Arkansas to complete his collegiate education.
He will continue to train under the guidance of Geopfert, who is excited about what the former Kingston College standout will be able to produce at the highest level.
“I’m super excited for him. It’s a great opportunity that he’s earned and I’m really excited for the work that he’s put in already this year and how that’s going to pay off going forward. The experience that I’ve been fortunate to have to work with a lot of professional athletes over the years, I’m excited for the setup that we have here for ’Hibby’ to make a smooth transition to the professional ranks,” he said.
Hibbert’s focus this year will be the outdoor season, according to Geopfert.
“We’re going to focus on the outdoor season. Training is going extremely well. He’s a lot stronger and getting faster. We’re working on some technical things that he can still clean up a little bit. Despite all that success last year there’s always room for improvement,” he said.
One specific area he is excited to work on with Hibbert is his approach to the board. For most of last season, Hibbert was operating using a short run-up but Geopfert says the extra time to train ahead of the outdoor season will give Hibbert time to work off his full run-up, meaning some scary distances could be in the near future.
“From a technical perspective, what I’m most excited about is him working on his full approach and getting more and more comfortable with the speed that he has. We have time to do that now,” he said.
Geopfert also commended Hibbert on the decision to stay in school despite making the jump to the professional ranks.
“I’m really proud of him for staying grounded and staying in school. It’s a terrific opportunity and I’m excited for what’s to come this year,” he said.
Bradley Jacks is a budding journalist and an avid sports fan. His love of research and sports has led him to SportsMax.tv, a place where those passions work hand in hand to allow him to produce content.
Naggo Head takes 12-point lead into decisive day of INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary Schools Central Champs
Naggo Head Primary surged to a 12-point lead heading in the final day of the INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary Schools Central Championship at GC Foster College, in St Catherine, on Tuesday.
They won three of the eighth relays, all in record fashion, which propelled them to 89 points after 11 finals. Naggo Head is followed by Greater Portmore on 77 points, while defending champions Spanish Town Primary are third with 74.5 points, with St John’s Primary (58 points) in fourth. Davis Primary rounds out the top five on 33 points.
There will be 29 finals on Wednesday's final day with the Central Champion to be crowned at the end.
The winning school will walk away with $350,000, with $250,000 going to the second-placed team, and $200,000 for third. Fourth to 10th place teams will collect $100,000 each.
In the day’s first final, Yasheka Lewis of Gregory Park won the Girls Cricketball Open with a throw of 43.86m smashing the record for the second time in two day. She earlier threw 41.09m.
Naggo Head got massive points finishing second and third courtesy of Tahnida Gordon (40.82m) and Deranique Gordon (38.73m).
Bridgeport Primary won the Girls Class Four 4x100 relay lowering the record they set on Monday to 1:01.50. Greater Portmore (1:01.82) was second, ahead Davis Primary (1:01.97).
In the Boys’ Class Four 4x100, Naggo Head sped to an impressive 58.94 and destroyed the previous record of 1:00.14 set earlier by Greater Portmore. Davis primary (59.87) and Greater Portmore (1:01.43) were the runners-up.
Naggo Head returned and won the Girls' Class Three relay in a record 55.28 and erased their own mark of 56.75 established in the heats. Davis Primary (56.31) continued their good showing in second position.
The Boys’ Class Three 4x100 relay was an exciting one, with Greater Portmore just edging Naggo Head in a thriller. They clocked a record 54.44 to Naggo Head's 54.48.
As the records continued to tumble, Naggo Head continued to pile up the points, as they captured the Girls' Class Two 4x100 in a record run of 52.73, ahead of Greater Portmore (53.40) and Spanish Town (54.83).
So impressive were Naggo Head girls that the boys in the same class, ran a record 53.12. That record was clocked by Greater Portmore, who won ahead of Southborough (53.32), and Ascot Primary (53.45).
Greater Portmore took the Girls' Class One 4x100 in 52.81, which was also a record. They won ahead of Naggo Head (53.07) and Spanish Town (53.09).
The final relay, the Boys' Class One, saw Spanish Town secure their only win, clocking 50.34 ahead of Southborough (50.65).
Charlton donates world record singlet and bib to Museum of World Athletics
Devynne Charlton has donated her Bahamian team singlet and name bib from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA).
The 28-year-old Charlton lowered her own world-record, which she set when she ran 7.67 in New York in New York on February 11, when she ran 7.65 to win her first global title in the Scottish capital.
She finished clear of France’s defending champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela. Charlton took silver behind the French athlete in Belgrade two years before.
Charlton handed over her Glasgow top to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe at the official press conference staged infield at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.
"Charlton’s near faultless final in Glasgow was one of two world records during a standout evening session," said Coe.
"On behalf of the Museum of World Athletics, I gratefully thank Charlton for her generous donation, which perfectly embodies her exceptional indoor season.
"In an Olympic year, it is worth reflecting that Charlton’s singlet joins an artefact of a sprint hurdling legend in the MOWA. Our museum’s collection holds the embroidered ‘Nederland’ badge which Fanny Blankers-Koen wore when winning the Olympic 80m hurdles gold, one of four victories achieved by ‘The Flying Dutchwoman’ at the London 1948 Olympic Games."
Charlton expressed joy and excitement at the donation.
"I am very happy to present my world indoor championship winning singlet and bib to the Museum of World Athletics. I will be excited to see them displayed online in 3D and exhibited around the world. I hope they help inspire future athletes and fans about the excitement of athletics,” she said.
"It is a great honour to have my achievements recognised in the museum alongside those of many all-time greats, whose careers I dream to emulate as I fulfil my track ambitions," she added.
Charlton’s World Athletics Indoor Championships winning kit will also sit with the shoes and clothing of two other world indoor 60m hurdles champions in the Heritage Collection of the MOWA.
Olympic champions Gail Devers of USA and Sally Pearson of Australia, respectively world indoor 60m hurdles champions in Birmingham 2003 and Istanbul 2012, donated their singlets, bib numbers and running spikes to the MOWA from their 2004 (60m gold, 60m hurdles silver) and 2014 (60m hurdles silver) world indoor campaigns.
Jamaica, Barbados engage partnership to enhance athletics in the Eastern Caribbean Island
If things go according to plans, then Jamaica and Barbados will execute a partnership with aimed at enhancing athletics training and coaching quality in Barbados.
This was revealed by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, who pointed out that plans are currently in the pipeline for a collaborative effort between the two island nations, which will involve an exchange of coaching expertise to elevate the standard of sports training.
“There’s a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Jamaica and us to exchange coaches to be able to work with them in terms of how we develop,” Griffiths revealed, adding that plans for the bilateral initiative was birthed by a similar partnership between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
“I was in Washington at a conference and had a sit-down with Minister [Olivia] Grange, Minister of Sports in Jamaica. They have worked with Trinidad in terms of developing the coaches there,” he noted.
Griffith acknowledged that there are concerns about the current coaching standards in Barbados and, as such, emphasized the necessity of having highly skilled coaches to match the calibre of world-class athletes.
“I won’t push it at this meeting, but I’m concerned with the level of coaches. I think that if you’re going to have a world-class athlete, you must match that athlete with a world-class coach,” he declared.
That said, Griffiths pointed out that upcoming infrastructural developments are in place to complement ongoing sporting initiatives within the country.
“I’m looking to see how we can have that marriage where we can fuse resources together in terms of working with Jamaica to develop the athletes on island. Hopefully by next week or the week after, you will see work starting on the old netball stadium to turn that into a multi-discipline facility for netball, basketball, and volleyball,” he shared.
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