LEXINGTON, Kentucky, May 30,
2026 - Grenadian thrower Jamora Alves continued her remarkable rise in
collegiate athletics on Saturday, shattering her own national and school record
in the Women's Discus Throw to qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track
and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Competing at the NCAA East First
Round in Lexington, Kentucky, Alves unleashed a personal best throw of 57.56 metres on her second attempt to finish third overall and secure one of the
coveted qualifying spots for the national championships.
The performance marked the second
consecutive meet in which the St John's University senior has rewritten both
the Grenadian national record and the university record.
Just two weeks earlier at the BIG
EAST Outdoor Championships in Connecticut, Alves won her ninth individual
conference title and broke a 28-year-old St John's programme record with a
throw of 55.89 metres. On Saturday, she improved that mark by almost two metres
to continue what has become one of the finest seasons of her collegiate career.
For Alves, who attended Bishop's
College on the sister isle of Carriacou before continuing her development at St
Jago High School in Jamaica, the achievement represents another milestone in a
journey that has taken her from the Caribbean to the highest levels of NCAA
competition.
"This competition was all
about staying composed and trusting my training," Alves said. "I knew
I was capable of producing a big throw, but the main objective was to secure
qualification for Eugene. Once I saw the distance, I was excited because it
showed that all the hard work was paying off."
The reigning BIG EAST Most
Outstanding Field Performer entered the competition ranked 14th in the East
Region but rose to the top three with her record-breaking effort.
Florida's Alida Van Daalen
dominated the competition with a winning throw of 69.31 metres, while Miami's
Calea Jackson finished second with 58.26 metres. Alves edged competitors from
Auburn and LSU to secure third place and automatic qualification. Ava Roberts
of UMBC claimed the final qualifying position with a throw of 54.37 metres.
The qualification will send Alves
to the NCAA Finals for the third time in her collegiate career. She previously
earned USTFCCCA All-America Honourable Mention recognition in the discus in both
2023 and 2025 and now has another opportunity to compete against the nation's
elite at historic Hayward Field.
"It means a lot to return to
Nationals for a third time," Alves said. "Every time I compete there,
I gain more experience and confidence. This is my final NCAA season, and I want
to make it my best one yet. My goal is to compete at my highest level, execute
my throws when it matters most, and finish my collegiate career on a high
note."
She added, "Representing
Grenada, St John's University, my family, and everyone who has supported me
throughout this journey is something I never take for granted. I'm looking
forward to the challenge ahead."
The 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor
Track and Field Championships will be held June 10-13 at Hayward Field in
Eugene, Oregon.
Photo: Aliann Pompey (Director of T&F/Cross Country), Jamora Alves, Lexia Robinson (Throws Coach)
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