The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE sprinter Carmiesha Cox recuperates from injury, sprinter/hurdler Devynne Charlton continues to turn in some impressive personal best times in her freshman indoor season for the Purdue University Boilermakers.

Competing at the Meyo Invitational over the weekend at the University of Notre Dame, Charlton placed fifth and sixth respectively in the final of the 60 metres hurdles and the 60m dash.

For her specialty in the 60m hurdles, Charlton clocked 8.53 seconds for fifth place. The race was won by Cindy Ofili of Michigan in 8.25, Ann Marie Duffus of Kent State was second in 8.43 and third place went to Jesica Ejesieme of Illinois in 8.51.

During the preliminaries, Charlton had the sixth fastest qualifying time of 8.47, a PR and probably the fastest ever posted by a Bahamian junior athlete. (However, there are no junior national indoor records to match it against). Ofili produced the fastest time of 8.29, followed by Kaila Barber of Notre Dame in 8.38 and Duffus third in 8.40.

Charlton ran 7.71 for sixth place in the 60m dash. Simbi Laaro of Wis.-Milwaukee ran 7.49 for the victory. Cindy Ofili of Michigan was second in 7.49 and Aijah Urssery of Notre Dame got third in 7.51.

In the preliminaries, Charlton came in with the same time of 7.61 (another PR) as Jalicia Clarke of Windsor, but she was awarded fifth place. Laaro had the fastest time of 7.41 with Ofili second in 7.47 and Winfrey was third in 7.50.

Cox, the Aquinas College speedster who signed at the same time with her St Augustine’s College and Star Trackers’ teammate Charlton, is currently nursing a slight hamstring injury and was unable to compete.

The Boilermakers are slated to be back in action on Saturday when they host the Fred Wilt Invitational.