The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ANTHAYA Charlton, joining the Bahamian connection for the Wildcats women’s track and field team, couldn’t ask for a better introduction to her collegiate career at the University of Kentucky.

Competing at the Cardinal Classic on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky, the freshman popped a personal best of 19-feet, eight-inches or 5.99m to win the women’s long jump at the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center, hosted by the University of Louisville.

In surpassing her previous best of 5.92, the 18-year-old Charlton put a short distance between her and her nearest rival, Ariel Lawrence of Louisville, who did 19-5 ½ (5.93m) for second.

Displaying her versatility, Charlton went on the track where she was fourth in 7.61 in the final of the 60 metres after qualifying with the fifth best time of 7.64.

Kentucky swept the top two spots with Shadajah Ballard and Kaylyn Heath running 7.38 and 7.46 respectively.

Charlton, one of three St Augustine’s College graduates competing for the Wildcats, also got eighth in the 200m in 25.31 with Kentucky again sweeping the top two spots with Kaylyn Health (23.91) and Masai Russell (23.93).

“I feel like it was a great start to my collegiate career,” said Charlton, who only didn’t get to compete in the 60m, another one of her events. “There’s still room for improvement though. I expect to set big PRs this season and make it to (NCAA) Nationals.”

Kentucky, by the way, is led by Bahamian head coach Lonnie Greene and assisted by “Golden Girl” Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie.

Instead of running in her speciality in the 400m for the Wildcats, Megan Moss moved up to the 500m where she clocked 1:13.21 for second place behind team-mate Alexis Holmes, who ran 1:12.59.

Moss, now in her junior year, also ran the second leg of Kentucky women’s A 4 x 400m relay team of Abby Steiner, Masai Russell and Shadajah Ballard that won in 3:39.48.

And Kentucky’s sophomore Jaida Knowles, limited to just relay duty after coming off an injury that hampered her freshman year, ran the third leg on the Wildcats’ C team of Annika Williams, Bryanna Lucas and DeAnna Martin for fourth place in 3:59.13.

The Wildcats will have the rest of the year off, but after the Christmas break, they will swing right back into action January 14-15 at the Jim Green Invitational in their Nutter Field House opener.

Alcine soars to victory

At the Kansas State Winter Invitational in Manhattan, Kansas State, Kyle Alcine came out on top of a keenly contested battle in the men’s high jump on the countback over Kansas State’s freshman Kamvren Garrett.

They both cleared 6-8 3/4 (2.05m), but Alcine, competing unattached for Kansas State, got the edge when he cleared the winning height on his first attempt. Garrett did it on his second.

Kaleb Clark, a senior at William Carey, was third with 6-4 3/4 (1.95m).