Razorbacks claim three titles at Jamaican National Championships

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Three Razorbacks claimed national titles during the Jamaican National Championships this weekend as Tyrice Taylor won the 800m while Arkansas alums Romaine Beckford and Carey McLeod captured high jump and long jump titles, respectively.

Athletes who have the standard qualify for the 2025 World Athletics Championships that will be held in Tokyo during September.

Taylor moved from fourth to first in the final 70m of the 800m race, winning in a time of 1:45.26 over Handal Roban of St. Vincent (1:45.31) while Navasky Anderson, the Jamaican national record holder at 1:44.61, finished third in 1:46.03.

The time by Taylor was just off his career best of 1:45.23 set during the semifinal of the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene earlier this month.

Taylor ranks as the No. 2 Jamaican performer with his 1:45.23 PR and now has the No. 4 and No. 5 performances on the Jamaican all-time list. Anderson has three performances ahead of Taylor with times of 1:44.61, 1:44.70, and 1:45.02.

McLeod won the long jump with a distance of 26-9.25 (8.16) in the second round of the competition. McLeod also had a mark of 26-6.5 (8.09) in round five. Arkansas alum LaQuan Nairn of the Bahamas finished sixth in the long jump with a mark of 24-10 (7.57).

Beckford won the high jump on Friday with a clearance of 7-4.5 (2.25) on his third attempt. Beckford then had three attempts at 7-5.75 (2.28).

Jerome Campbell, an incoming Razorback for the 2025-26 season, advanced to the final of the 110m hurdles as he posted a time of 13.33 (0.4 wind) to place second in his semifinal heat and was sixth overall.

The 110m hurdle final is scheduled for Sunday at 6:55 p.m. (CT) with Campbell racing in lane two.