Charisma Taylor continued her dominance this season, breaking her own school record in the triple jump outdoors with a leap of 13.48 meters (m) – 44’ 2-3/4” – to win that event at the Fresno State University West Coast Relays at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Fresno, California, on Friday.
Taylor was one of several Bahamians who performed at a high level on the collegiate stage this past weekend.
In addition to breaking the school record, the Washington State University (WSU) Cougars sophomore also broke the meet and stadium records. The previous meet record was 13.46m (44’ 2”), done by Sheila Hudson back in 1988. The stadium record was held by Ja’la Henderson – a mark of 13.37m (43’ 10-1/2”), done in 2018.
Taylor now has the eighth best mark in the triple jump this season in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. She now has the fifth-best mark in the NCAA Division I West Region. The former Queen’s College athlete has the best mark in the Pac-12 Conference this season.
The Cougars athlete was able to make that leap on her first attempt of the day. Her next three attempts were over 13 meters (42’ 8-3/4”), passing on the final two.
Finishing behind Taylor by at least a meter were two Fresno State Bulldogs athletes – Breanna Covington and Tijana Antic. Covington was second after recording a jump of 12.48m (40’ 11-1/2”). Antic jumped 12.14m (39’ 10”) to come away with the bronze medal.
Taylor was not finished putting on a show at the meet. She went on to cross the finish first in the women’s 100m hurdles. She comfortably won that event with a personal best time of 13.36 seconds which was the second-fastest time in program history. Finishing second was California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Mustangs’ Molly Ross. She ran 13.55 seconds to finish ahead of third-place finisher Eriana Henderson who clocked 13.56 seconds. Henderson ran for the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
Also inking her name in the record books was Wagner College Seahawks’ Tiffany Hanna, who finished with a program record in the hammer throw. The senior launched the hammer 51.65m (169 5”) to finish second at the Northeast Conference (NEC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Bryant Track in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
That distance broke a 21-year program record. The record-breaking throw came on her fifth throw to break Angelica Iannone’s record of 48.83m (160’ 2-1/2”) in that event. Hanna qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships set for May 15-16.
Winning that event was Sacred Heart University Pioneers’ Madelyn Bradway who posted a throw of 51.82m (170’). Finishing third was Mount St. Mary’s University Mountaineers’ Emily Eckard with a throw of 50.25m (164’ 10”).
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