Jonathan Jones has created history.
Earlier tonight at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2019, the Bajan sprinter finished fourth in the men’s 400 metres final with a new national record time of 44.64 seconds.
Not only did he run a personal best by erasing his old time of 45.02, Jones, of the University of Texas, became the first Barbadian to run under 45 seconds in the quartermile.
He also reached his goal of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, well within the standard of 44.90 seconds set by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Kahmari Montgomery (44.23) of Houston won the gold, North Carolina’s Trevor Stewart took the silver (44.25) while Wil London of Baylor came third (44.63). Jones missed a podium finish by the slimmest of margins.
Kahmari Montgomery chased down that #ncaaTF ?and caught it. pic.twitter.com/DgPkAxLBsB
Fellow sprinter and golden boy Mario Burke endured a tough going in Austin, Texas. Burke, who qualified with the second fastest time for the 100m, finished sixth, clocking 10.06.
COLLEGIATE LEADER ✅
WORLD LEADER ✅#ncaaTF Champion ✅
9️⃣.8️⃣6️⃣ pic.twitter.com/nXDx3vWDiQ
In the 200m the Houston university senior came fourth with a time of 20.11.
Divine Oduduru of Texas Tech won the 100m with a personal best time of 9.86 seconds. He then defended his 200m title with a new meet record of 19.73, erasing the 1988 mark of 19.87 seconds.
Cravon Gillespie of Oregon and Hakim Sani Browne of Florida were second and third respectively, in both events.
Gillespie clocked 9.93 to Browne’s 9.97. He also did 19.93 in the 200 metres, again followed by Browne in 20.08.
Burke has also qualified for the Olympic Games. (AG-B)
