KINGSTON, Jamaica – The LSU track and field program always has a strong presence at the Jamaican National Senior Championships year in and year out, and this year’s meet was no different as former LSU Lady Tiger Nickiesha Wilson won the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles during Saturday’s competition at The National Stadium in the capital city of Kingston.
Wilson, who has run a seasonal-best time of 55.68 in the event in 2010, was never pressed as she eased to the finish line in 57.09 seconds to win her first career Jamaican national title in the 400 hurdles.
The future of the Lady Tiger program was also represented in the final of the women’s 400-meter hurdles, as Class of 2010 signee and 19-year-old Nikita Tracey finished runner-up to Wilson in 58.24 to take silver in the event. Tracey owns a seasonal-best time of 57.42 in the 400-meter hurdles.
Senior sprinter Samantha Henry also saw action this weekend at the Jamaican National Championships as she earned a pair of bronze medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. After clocking a time of 11.29 in the 100-meter final on Saturday night, Henry ran 23.33 in the 200-meter final on Sunday afternoon.
Henry wrapped up her collegiate career two weeks ago at the 2010 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., where she earned three-All-America honors for the Lady Tigers. In four seasons at LSU, Henry racked up 15 career All-America honors to rank among the all-time greats for the Lady Tigers. She ranks in a tie for sixth place in all-time All-America honors at LSU.
In other action, Lady Tiger junior Melissa Ogbourne won the silver medal in the triple jump with a runner up finish at the Jamaican National Championships after posting a top mark of 42 feet, 10 ¾ inches.