It is still too early to tell but if their performance over the weekend is any indication, St Lucia’s two top female high jumpers, reigning Sportswoman of the Year, Levern Spencer along with the reigning Junior Sportswoman of the Year, Jeannelle Scheper are in for one heck of a year.
St Lucia’s most prolific track and field athlete and multiple Sports Woman of the Year, Levern Donaline Spencer, jump started her 2014 season Sunday with a gold medal winning performance at the Auburn Indoor Invitational, in Alabama USA, setting a new meet record in the process.
The two-time Olympian opened her campaign at 1.77 metres (m) and apart from a stutter at 1.85 m, she had first attempt clearances up to her winning height of 1.91m. This winning mark is just 1cm below her personal best indoors and St Lucia’s national indoor record.
Winning the silver and bronze medal on the day were Leontia Kallennon from the University of Georgia and Saniel Atkinson-Greer (unattached), who cleared 1.88 m and 1.82 m respectively.
Chaunte Lowe, the US record holder and defending World Indoor Champion, was in the field, but coming off a lengthy lay off, she was only able to clear 1.77 on the day for sixth place.
Spencer, the region’s premier high jumper, is coming off a very successful 2013 season which saw her meet the “A” standard qualifying mark for the World Championships where she made it into the final 12 in the world.
During last year’s season, she also erased her eight year old CAC Championship record of 1.94 m when she won in Mexico with a clearance of 1.95 m. The prolific high jumper is currently preparing for the 2014 World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland in March. She is the only female high jumper from the CAC region who has to date, qualified for this global event.
The world class high jumper is heading to Europe to compete at a few indoor competitions, before flying back to the US in preparation for the World Indoor Championship in Poland.
In her 2014 debut, senior Scheper of the University of South Carolina, outclassed the field and cleared an NCAA leading height of 6’2’’ ¾ (1.90 m) in the women’s high jump to claim one of two Gamecock wins on the final day of competition at the Virginia Tech Invitational.
After passing the first four heights, Scheper entered the competition at 5’7’’ and promptly recorded six straight first attempted clearances. Having wrapped up the competition with her second clearance, Scheper continued to raise the bar. With the bar set at 6’4’’ ¾ (1.95 m), the St Lucia native looked to set a new school and personal record, but could not get over on three tries. Her mark of 6’2’’ ¾ is a new facility and meet record.
