Natasha Ruddock - File

TWO times former World Junior representative, Natasha Ruddock, made a winning start for Texas A&M University last Saturday as the second week of collegiate indoor track and field competition continued in the United States.

Ruddock, who had two outstanding years at the junior college level for Essex County College and who is expected to continue the same trend at the NCAA Division 1 level, cruised to an easy win in the 60 metres hurdles in 8.42 seconds at the Texas A&M Reveille Invitational meet at College Station.

Osaka World Championships 4x400 metres silver medallist , Davita Prendergast, continued her good early indoor form as she scored her second victory in two weeks. She clocked 53.31 seconds last Saturday to win the women's 400 metres at the Iowa State Holiday meet at Iowa University.

Two other former national senior representatives, Shellene Williams and Lanceford Davis, also scored victories at the same meet. Competing in the 300 metres, Williams clocked 39.22 to win the women's section while Davis won the men's equivalent in 33.61.

both competing

There were also success for former Camperdown High school sprinter Kimour Bruce and St Elizabeth Technical High past student Steve Banton who were both competing for Lincoln University. Bruce won the 60 metres in 6.81 with Banton taking the 400 metres in 48.30.

Competing the same day at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Coach O Collegiate meet in Maryland, 2008 Boys' and Girls' Championships Class One 110 metres hurdles champion, Akeem Smith, took the double. Competing for UMES, the former Wolmer's Boys and St Jago High standout took the 60 metres in 6.90 seconds and the 60 metres hurdles in 8.11 seconds.

It was also a double for former GC Foster College student Tanisha Wisdom. Wisdom who took a break from the track last year to concentrate on her masters degree, first won the 60m in 7.79 before taking the 200m in 25.25.

There were also good results for two other G.C.Foster College middle distance athletes, Tamica Thomas and Mereccia James. Competing for UMES, Thomas won the 3000m in 11:05.82 while James, competing unattached, finished second in the mile in 5:27.77.