The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN student athletes at various levels of collegiate track and field - ranging from the NAIA to NCAA Division I - were honoured with indoor season awards.

In the NAIA, Travis Joseph highlighted a stellar freshman season with a national championship title in the high jump for the Valley City State Vikings. He leapt 2.10m to win just the fourth national championship in programme history.

Joseph passed two heights and missed his first two attempts at 2.07m before the meet-winning clearance.

“I couldn’t be more proud or excited for Travis,” Vikings head coach Laquone Robinson told the school’s athletic website.

“The last few months have brought plenty of challenges for him, including a big move and a new college. He has faced a great deal of adversity off the track and today was no different.

“He cleared his first jump and had to wait over 90 minutes to clear his next jump. That’s a long time to stay physically prepared, but even more of a challenge to stay mentally focused.

“I am proud and honoured to celebrate his accomplishments with him. I look forward to seeing the achievement and success to come in his future.”

Joseph was one of several Bahamians to earn NAIA All-America honours, including Antonishka Deveaux of Indiana Tech (4x400) and Coshan Campbell of Wayland Baptist (4x800, DMR, 600m).

In NCAA Division II, Shyrone Kemp of the Minnesota State University Moorehead Dragons was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s Newcomer of the Year when the league announced the awards for its indoor season.

After declaring as a redshirt last indoor season, Kemp made his debut this year and was one of the top performers in the conference. He won the triple jump at the NSIC Indoor Championships with a leap of 49 feet, 2 ¼ inches.

He also earned an additional trio of all-conference honours.

In addition to the triple jump win, he was third in the high jump at 6 feet 10 ¼ inches and third in the long jump at 23 feet 5 ½ inches. He totalled 22 points at the meet. His indoor season also included a new school record in the triple jump at a leap of 49 feet 9 ¼ inches, to surpass a 43-year-old record.

His indoor season will conclude at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships on March 14.

In NCAA Division I, Acacia Astwood of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels was named to the Mountain West All-Conference Indoor Track and Field team. She finished second at the conference championships with a personal-best throw of 62-5 (19.02m).

The Summit League announced the 2020 Indoor Track and Field All-League team featuring 105 student athletes - 11 from Oral Roberts University - which included four Bahamians.

Gabrielle Gibson received recognition for the 60m hurdles, Kayvon Stubbs for the 60m, 200m, and 4x400m and three time Summit League athlete of the week this season - Sasha Wells in the 60m, 200m, 60m hurdles and 4x400m.

On the men’s side, Brad Dormeus was recognised for the 400m and 4x400m.