Gordon ends college career on a high
FORMER HOLMWOOD Technical High quarter-miler Chris Ann Gordon ended her collegiate career in grand style last weekend at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Competing for the University of Texas, Austin, Gordon won the 400 metres in 50.51 seconds, ahead of Shakina Wimbley of the University of Miami, 50.68, and Kendall Ellis (51.06) of the University of Southern California.
It was Gordon’s first National Collegiate title and the third 400m title in four years for her school. She later returned to run a relay split of 49.41 seconds in the 4x400m final, the second-fastest in collegiate history, to help her team to fifth position.
“Winning this title means a lot to me. I want when they talk about Texas and the 4x400 metres that they mention Chris Ann Gordon’s name. It really feels good to be in the same league as Sanya Richards and Courteney Okolo,” Gordon said in a University of Texas press release.
Former Hydel High thrower Shadae Lawrence also won the discus, while Rushelle Burton and Kellion Knibb had top-three finishes in their events.
Lawrence gave Kansas State University their first-ever throwing title at the Championships with a best of 61.37 metres on her final attempt. Maggie Ewan of Arizona State was second with 60.11m, while another Jamaican, Kellion Knibb, was third with 59.19m.
Burton, Gordon’s teammate at the University of Texas, became the fastest ever freshman at the Championships in the women’s 100m hurdles. The former Camperdown High athlete was third in the final in 12.69 seconds. The University of Texas, El Paso athlete, Tobi Amusan, coached by Jamaican Olympian Lacena Golding Clarke, won the event in 12.57.