The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE COVID-19 pandemic denied Shyrone Kemp an opportunity to compete at his inaugural NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, but the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons jumper has his sights set on a 2021 title.

The meet began yesterday and runs through March 13 at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.

“Making it to nationals and actually placing in top three in the nationals — that is one of my goals. I have a chance to come out on top. I’m just trying to stay healthy,” he said when profiled by the Dragons’ athletics website. “I want to control the things I can control and not stress about it too much. And to have fun. My long-term goal is to aim for 16 metres (52-6), my short-term goal for nationals is for 15.7 metres (51-6). Hopefully if I stay healthy, I’ll get that goal.”

Kemp heads into the competition for the second consecutive year as a qualifier in the triple jump. He qualified with his winning effort of 15.30m at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Indoor Championships. That mark is tied for third-best in the nation. That jump was also a school indoor record. Kemp earned All-Region honours from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

In March 2020, the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships were cancelled due to COVID-19.

Kemp had a standout season where he was named an NCAA Division II All- American by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). He also earned the All-American honour in the triple jump and was named the NSIC’s Newcomer of the Year.

“It was very disappointing, because of all of the hard work I put in,” he said.

Kemp was profiled by the Dragons digital network and credited the influence of Dragons’ assistant coach and two time Bahamian Olympian Trevor Barry.

“Shy hasn’t even tapped his potential yet. That’s the scary part,” Barry said.

“Definitely, I see him rising to the occasion.”

Kemp added: “To have a coach that is Bahamian I feel like we would have a connection and I would be more comfortable with others I came here with. My relationship with Trevor is strong, I can talk to him about things outside of track, he can be like a friend to me but I would also have respect for him,” Kemp said.

“The coaching played a very important role. I can give them most of the credit. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to improve like I did.”

Barry previously served as an assistant coach at North Dakota State. At NDSU during Barry’s time as an assistant, the Bison won nine Summit League women’s team titles and seven men’s team titles. He coached two NCAA All- Americans, seven national qualifiers and 10 school record holders.

“Shy is very raw. [In 2019] we just introduced him to the triple jump, he came in as a high jumper and just learned to long jump. In the triple jump he has improved by leaps and bounds but still has a long way to go. “Going into the indoor season, my expectation was for him to jump at least 50 metres, he exceeded that so it will be interesting to see what we get out of him,” Barry said.

“Expectations are great but he is still learning.”