Indoor 400m: Jamaica’s Oakley on top of the world
Published:Monday | February 2, 2026 | 12:16 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
WORLD Athletics Championships 4x400 metres silver medallist Dejanea Oakley continued her terrific winter season form at the weekend.
Competing at the Arkansas Razorback Invitational for the University of Georgia, she stormed to a world indoor-leading time of 51.11 seconds to win the women’s 400 metres. The former Clarendon College runner displaced American Zaya Akins (51.15) from the top spot. Another Jamaican, Shaquane Foote, also of Georgia, finished third as the former Petersfield High athlete clocked 51.55.
The meet was also an excellent one for former St Jago and Hydel High athlete Shanece Walker. Competing for Florida State University, Walker clocked a collegiate-leading time and personal best of 7.09 seconds in the semi-finals of the metres. Her time was also an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) best and fifth on the world top list in the event.
Walker also secured a second-place overall finish in the women’s 200m after winning her heat in 22.96 seconds. British Virgin Islands athlete Adejah Hodge, competing for the University of Georgia, was the overall winner after posting 22.53s to win her heat.
There was also a second-place finish at the meet for Nia Robinson in the women’s long jump with a distance of 6.67 metres.
Former Calabar High long jumper Jordan Turner was also a winner at the meet. Competing for Louisiana State University, he finished first in his pet event with a jump of 7.80 metres.
Two other Jamaican males also had top-three finishes. Representing the University of Arkansas, Jerome Campbell was third in the 60m hurdles in 7.57 seconds, behind winner Trey Cunningham of the United States, who clocked 7.42. There was also a third-place finish for Kobe Lawrence in the men’s shot put. Representing the University of Oregon, he produced a heave of 19.47 metres.
Meanwhile, former St Jago sprinter and hurdler Briana Campbell produced the fastest 200m time by a Jamaican female athlete this season. In what could be her final indoor meet of the season, Campbell, who is expected to undergo surgery on her hand, sprinted to 23.04 seconds to win the event at the Bob Johnson Terrier Classics. The time is also the fourth-fastest ever by a Clemson University female athlete.